Most schools would expect international students have at least, a second-class upper division (2.1) for a master’s study. However, some schools can consider lower grades like 2.2 with other entry requirements. In the United States, some schools accept students with a GPA of 2.5–3.0 for masters. In this article, I will list US universities accepting 2.2 graduates.

A master’s degree in the United States, provides advanced training and specialized knowledge in a wide range of subjects, such as business administration, project management, engineering, social sciences, and more.

Tough academic instruction is provided by these programs, which frequently involve coursework, research, and occasionally practical’s or internships. Master’s program graduates get more advanced knowledge and abilities that position them for career growth, increased earning potential, and chances for additional study or professional

GPA in the USA is calculated on a 4.0 scale, and the minimum GPA required for MS in the USA is 2.5 (80%) in most universities. So, if you have grades within this scale, you can apply to any of these universities listed below:

US Universities Accepting 2.2 Graduates

1. California State University, East Bay

Founded in 1957, the university also known as CSU East Bay or CSUEB is a public university located in Hayward, California. It is part of the California State University system, which includes 23 campuses and offers 136 undergraduate and 60 post-baccalaureate programs.

The academic calendar at the university is semester-based, with intake seasons in the spring, fall, and winter. California State University, East Bay, is one of the US universities accepting 2.2 graduates for masters degree. Students with a GPA of 2.5 can apply for a full-time, part-time, or online master’s program.

Admission requirements

The graduate admissions application to Cal State East Bay is a two-part process. You must meet the requirements of both the university and the graduate department to be considered for admission. 

• Have the equivalent of a minimum 2.5 GPA. Some graduate departments have higher GPA requirements.
• Have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. If you were educated outside of the U.S., you must have earned a degree equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Accepted English Proficiency Exams:
Test	Minimum Score
TOEFL iBT Total Score	80
IELTS Academic Overall Score	6.5

How to Apply for Admission

Visit calstate.edu/apply. Click on the term you are applying for in the drop-down menu. Note that Cal State Apply is the centralized application system for all 23 universities in the California State University (CSU) system.

You only need to submit one Cal State Apply application, even if you are applying to multiple CSU universities. (Note: each campus you apply to requires a $70 fee.).

Required information and materials Make sure that you have the following before you begin your application:

1. Colleges attended
2. Degrees earned,
3. Units attempted and earned
4. Grade point average
5. Your Social Security number (Available to individuals in the US, already.
6. Application fees are due at the time of submission). Annual income for more resources to help you in your degree.

2. Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University is the second-largest university in Arkansas and the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System.

To apply for masters studies at this school, you should have a GPA of at least 2.75/4.0 on your undergraduate degree. However, some degree programs demand a higher-grade point average.

You must have a 3.0/4.0 overall graduate level grade point average if you have completed any prior graduate or degree master’s courses.

In addition, you’ll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate if your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.51. This will allow you to compete effectively against applicants with higher GPAs.

Admission Requirements:

• Application Fee
• Pay a non-refundable $50 application fee. There are no application fee waivers given.
• Lists of documents for admission
• College/University/Post-Secondary Transcript
• Financial Statement (with an ending balance of at least $23,000 U.S. dollars) If multiple accounts are needed to total the $23,000,
• Letters of Recommendation
• This program requires you to send two letters from your recommenders.
• Passport
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• University Diploma

Intake period: fall, spring, and summer

QUICK STEPS TO APPLY

1. Make sure you meet all the requirements. To check admission criteria and requirements, click on your educational level to the left of what you intend to apply for.
2. Fill out the online application by clicking Apply Now and paying the $50 application fee. Application fees are not refundable.
3. Upload documents in your application through your MyDen page or mail in documents to our address on the left.

3. Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon, is home to Oregon State University, a public land-grant research university. More than 200 undergraduate degree programs, as well as associate and doctoral degree programs, are available at the university.

More than 80 graduate degree programs in different fields are available at Oregon State University. The university accepts a second lower division for masters with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 for a master’s degree.

Admission requirements

1. Application fee: $85
2. Academic Records/Transcripts
3. Test Scores: Nigerians are exempted
4. Letters of Reference
5. Financial Documentation (INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY)
6. Oregon State University Certification of Finance Form is required of all applicants, regardless of funding source. This includes applicants who have been granted a teaching or research assistantship.
7. Supporting documentation and demonstrating sufficient financial resources for the desired academic program.
8. A photocopy of the applicant’s passport and the passport of any dependents (if a passport has already been issued, this is used to match the name on the passport and visa documents).

4. DeVry University

DeVry University is a private, for-profit university with branches throughout the United States. Its headquarters are in Naperville, Illinois. With a 2.5–3.25 GPA, students with a 2.2 (second division) can apply for a master’s program to study at DeVry University.

If you hold a bachelor’s degree from a university-recognized institution, you are eligible for graduate school admission to Keller.

As all instructions and services are provided in English, you will also need to fulfill Keller’s English-Language-Proficiency Requirements, as listed in the Graduate Academic Catalog. 

The Graduate Academic Catalog also details the math and verbal skills proficiency admission requirements.

Click on the apply now button to start the application process.

5. Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech University (also known as Louisiana Tech) is a public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. It is a member of the University of Louisiana System and is categorized as an “R2: Doctoral Universities—High Research Operation” university.

Its Graduate School provides the institutional structure, leadership, and guidance needed to sustain graduate education. The calendar year is divided into the fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. 

Admission Categories for Graduate Degrees

• Unconditional Admission

A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited American university or a foreign institution of appropriate and verifiable standing is needed for unconditional admission.

Minimum 2.50 (4.0 system) grade point average on all work attempted or 2.75 on the last 60 hours attempted.

Conditional Admission

1. The applicant must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. Minimum 2.25 (4.0 system) grade point average on all work attempted or 2.50 GPA on the last 60 hours attempted.
3. A maximum of nine semester hours may be earned while students fulfill the stipulated admission conditions. If conditions are not removed after 9 hours of graduate course work, the student will be dropped from the Graduate School.

Admission requirements for international students

• Copy of passport
• Copy of bank statement (less than 6 months old and showing the minimum yearly amount on the current affidavit of support)

Application Deadlines

Quarter	Domestic Applications *	International Applications**
Fall	August 1	July 1
Winter	November 1	October 1
Spring	February 1	January 1
Summer	May 1	April 1

How to apply

1. Creating Your Account 
2. Click here to apply now.
3. Once you’ve set your password, click “Start New Application” on the next screen and select “Graduate Application” from the drop-down menu.

6. The University of Central Missouri (UCM)

This is a public university in Warrensburg, Missouri. It is one of the best public universities in the state, offering 37 graduate programs. With a lower GPA of 2.8, you can pursue a masters program at the University of Central Missouri, USA.

The University of Central Missouri offers over 150 high-quality academic programs for international students.

The University of Central Missouri acceptance rate is around 71%. To get admission here, you are required to meet all the entry requirements.

The application process:

1. All international students interested in applying to UCM must do so directly through the International Student Services (ISS) office. All questions regarding international admissions should be forwarded to ISS at 660-543-4092 or intladmit@ucmo.edu.
2. Applicants should apply online at giss.admissions.ucmo.edu/apply. International students are strongly encouraged to submit their online application and the required supporting materials as early as possible.
3. Individuals whose applications are complete before the deadlines listed below are given priority for processing.

Admission requirements

International graduate applicants must submit the following items:

Application for admission:

1. $75 (US dollars) non-refundable application fee
2. Demonstration of English proficiency. Proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the followings:

• TOEFL exam score of 79 (IBT*)
• IELTS Academic Exam Score: 6.0*
• Duolingo score of 120
• UCM English Proficiency Exam score of 79

Additional documents:

1. An earned degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university.
2. Earned at least 24 semester hours of regular university credit from an accredited United States college or university with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or higher or a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
3. Applicants whose native language is English and who are citizens of a country where English is the official language will be considered to have fulfilled the minimum English requirement. 

You may want to check this article: Seeking Asylum in Canada as a Nigerian.

Conclusion

Note that the admission requirements for each schools differ. To apply to any of these US universities that accept second-class lower division for masters, you should also check other admission requirements.

Now you can see that with your 2.2 in the University, you can still further your education through a direct masters degree. For assistance, write to us using the comment button or any of our social media handles.