IDEAL Admissions
Start Your Journey with the IDEAL Program
Lipscomb University’s IDEAL program provides a supportive, college experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are ready to grow academically, socially, and professionally. If you’re motivated to learn, build community, and prepare for meaningful employment, we invite you to explore our admissions process and take the first step toward joining the IDEAL community.
Summer Academy
We encourage students to attend Summer Academy prior to beginning their application process. Summer Academy is offered the first week of June every year and is open for students ages 17 and up.
IDEAL Summer AcademyFall 2026 Admissions Timeline
Application Window:
| Decision Deadlines:
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Applications will be reviewed only after all required materials have been submitted. A select number of applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus Experience Day. All correspondence and decisions will be sent to the email address provided in the application.
Note: Due to space limitations, not all applicants who meet the criteria will be interviewed or admitted.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 18-26 at the time of admission
- Have a documented disability and qualify for an IEP in high school
- Have graduated from high school with a traditional, special education, occupational or alternative diploma
- Demonstrate motivation and interest in how IDEAL can meet their personal goals
- Demonstrate the desire to be employed after graduation
- Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who encourage the student’s independence and future goals
Be able to:
- Demonstrate independence with hygiene and self care routines
- Manage their own medication, specialized dietary and medical needs (Lipscomb University staff is not available to manage/administer medications)
- Manage feelings and behaviors with minimal support
- Make safe choices and manage changes to routine with minimal support
- Use functional communication and engage socially
- Attend to a full day of activities, coursework, and campus life with minimal support
- Follow a schedule and navigate campus with minimal support
- Demonstrate motivation and desire to engage socially with peers with minimal support
- Demonstrate technology skills for using a phone and computer with minimal support
- Show functional reading and math skills (e.g., demonstrate comprehension of basic text, ability to apply basic math applications such as addition and subtraction, identification, and basic understanding of money, etc.)
Preference will be given to students who:
Have a diagnosed intellectual disability
and/or
Have a full-scale IQ of 70 or below and deficits in adaptive behavior
Have work and/or volunteer experience
Are actively involved in their school or community
How to Document an Intellectual Disability:
IEP eligibility category listed as intellectual disability
Providing a psychoeducational evaluation and diagnosis of an intellectual disability from a psychologist or other qualified professional
Required Admissions Materials
All materials must be uploaded through the IDEAL admissions portal:
Online application
Most recent IEP or learning plan
Psychoeducational evaluation (including Full Scale IQ)
Contact information for two professional/academic references
Personal statement video answering:
Tell us about yourself
Why do you want to go to college?
Is there anything else you want the IDEAL admissions team to know?