Walden is built for access: rolling starts across the year, "in class in a few weeks" positioning, and per-program requirements rather than one universal gate. The two structural choices that matter more than admission itself are calendar and format, quarter versus semester programs, and course-based versus Tempo Learning, because they decide your deadlines, your billing, and how fast the degree can actually move. Tempo adds a start on the first Monday of every month, twelve entry points a year.
The fast facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Starts | Multiple per year on both calendars; Tempo starts the first Monday of any month |
| Formats | Course-based (weekly deadlines, letter grades) or Tempo Learning (competency subscriptions) on eligible programs |
| Entrance exams | No GRE or GMAT emphasis in Walden's published admissions positioning; confirm specifics for your program |
| Extra materials | Some programs ask for goal statements or program-specific items |
| Classroom | Canvas, entered through the myWalden portal |
The two calendars, because your deadlines depend on them
Walden runs quarter-based programs, four 11-week terms a year across fall, winter, spring, and summer, and semester-based programs, three terms of roughly 16 weeks. Some programs appear in the catalog under both, tagged "(Quarter)" or "(Semester)", and the tag is easy to misread: it names the calendar, not the format. Tempo is a separate thing entirely, subscriptions rather than terms. Before you enroll, know which of the three billing rhythms your exact program uses, because everything on our tuition guide flows from it.
Requirements, by level
Requirements are set per program, so treat these as the shape rather than the rule: bachelor's programs center on prior schooling and transferable credit; master's programs on an accredited bachelor's, with GPA expectations and occasional goal statements; doctoral programs on the prior degree plus program-specific materials, and the clinical doctorates layer licensure and practicum prerequisites on top. Where Walden stands out is posture, the process is built to say yes quickly when the paperwork is in order, with decisions and enrollment measured in weeks, not admission seasons.
Transfer credit, the quiet discount
Walden's published summaries describe generous ceilings: undergraduates may bring in a large majority of the degree, with a minimum residency completed at Walden, and graduate transfer is accepted for recent coursework at a B or better, with preliminary evaluations returned in a few business days. Exact ceilings vary by program and change, so get your official evaluation before enrolling and treat every accepted credit as tuition you will never pay. It is the single best financial move in the whole process.
The process, step by step
Choose program, calendar, and format together
The trio decides your week and your bill. If your program offers Tempo and you can pace, the subscription math deserves a hard look before you default to course-based.
Apply online and send transcripts
Application plus official transcripts, and whatever program-specific materials apply, goal statement included where asked.
Request the transfer evaluation immediately
Preliminary evaluations come back fast; make the credit decision part of choosing your start date, not an afterthought.
Enroll, orient, meet Canvas
Orientation lands you in myWalden and the Canvas classroom, and the first week's discussion prompt will already be waiting.
After you're in: the part that actually decides your timeline
Admission is the easy yes. Week one starts the real cadence, discussions, APA assignments, and the 10:59 p.m. Central clock on course-based, or the rubric-row grind toward Mastered on Tempo. That is our half: the weekly cadence service and the Tempo pipeline exist so the format you chose stays the format that works for you.
Enrolling now?
Tell us your program and format in chat and we will map your first term before it starts, free sample included.
Sources and verification
Official and independent sources supplied the facts on this page, and any figure that matters deserves a look at source:
- www.waldenu.edu: Walden's own site, the source for admissions and program statements
- catalog.waldenu.edu: the official Walden University catalog
- www.hlcommission.org: Higher Learning Commission, the institutional accreditor
- www.ccneaccreditation.org: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, accreditor of the nursing side
- apastyle.apa.org: APA Style, where the citation and formatting standards live