EAGLES Program Resources

An intellectual disability is a disability originating before the age of 18 that is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and in adaptive behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills. For consideration of admission into the EAGLES program, an intellectual disability should be documented by a psychological or psychoeducational evaluation from a licensed psychologist or other qualified professional. A psychological or psychoeducational evaluation is a comprehensive report from a psychologist or other qualified professional that includes test results for IQ, adaptive behavior, mental health, and emotional evaluation. The document should also include interpretations and conclusions of results and recommendations regarding interventions and strategies that may be most helpful in supporting the student. A vocational evaluation is highly encouraged.

All applicants must submit recent testing/evaluations conducted within three years of the submitted date. Documentation must include IQ scores, adaptive behavior scores, and evidence of intellectual disability before age 18.

• According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2019), “No. The evaluation and classification of an intellectual disability is a complex issue. There are three major criteria for intellectual disability: significant limitations in intellectual functioning, significant limitations in adaptive behavior, and onset before the age of 18.

  • The IQ test is a major tool in measuring intellectual functioning, which is the mental capacity for learning, reasoning, and problem solving. A test score below or around 70—or as high as 75—indicates a limitation in intellectual functioning.

  • Other tests determine limitations in adaptive behavior, which covers three types of skills:

    • Conceptual skills—language and literacy; money, time, and

      number concepts; and self-direction.

    • Social skills—interpersonal skills, social responsibility, self-esteem, gullibility, naïveté, social problem solving, and the ability to follow rules, obey laws, and avoid being victimized.

    • Practical skills—activities of daily living (personal care), occupational skills, healthcare, travel/transportation, schedules/routines, safety, use of money, use of the telephone.

• Retrieved from: aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition/faqs-on-intellectual-disability

• All applicants must submit recent testing/evaluations that was conducted within 3 years of the date submitted. Documentation must include IQ scores, adaptive behavior scores, and evidence of intellectual disability prior to age 18. 

Depending on whether you went to a public or private high school and which state you attended, diploma options and the standards outlined to achieve the diploma requirements vary. The EAGLES program does not consider the type of diploma the student earned as part of the admission process. Instead, the program considers the individual, their psychological or psychoeducational evaluation, current functioning in comparison to the stated admission criteria, and the diagnosis of an intellectual disability or not. A student pursuing a degree-seeking college program would not be a candidate for the EAGLES program.

The mission of the EAGLES program is to prepare students with intellectual disabilities to accomplish their potential as they transition to become a contributing member of society by providing students with an inclusive and residential postsecondary education. The EAGLES curriculum focuses on academic enrichment, leadership and advocacy skills, social skills instruction, career development, and health awareness.

For Auburn University courses, the EAGLES students are taught by professors, instructors, or graduate assistants. For EAGLES program-specific courses, the EAGLES students are taught by the EAGLES program Instruction Coordinators, faculty, and graduate students.

Admission criteria can be found on the EAGLES Admission Criteria page.

We will accept between 6 and 8 students. This is contingent upon students meeting the criteria for admission and scoring appropriately during an on-campus interview that includes situational assessments and individual interviews with the prospective candidate and at least one parent or legal guardian.

• To apply for Fall 2026 admission, submit a completed EAGLES application, including all requested documentation and references. The application will open July 1, 2025, and close October 10, 2025 at noon CST.

• An anonymous screening committee will review all completed applications after the deadline—no exceptions are made to our timeline. If an applicant is selected for an interview, an email notification will be sent to schedule a mandatory on-campus one-and-a-half-day interview on November 18-20, 2025.

• All applicants accepted for the 2026 Fall EAGLES cohort will be notified in December. Full admission into the program is contingent upon completing the required “next steps” by a date to be communicated to accepted applicants. The “next steps” include:

  • Completing a separate Auburn University application

  • Paying the $50.00 application fee

  • Paying the $250.00 Auburn University enrollment fee

  • Paying the $5,000.00 EAGLES Program deposit (credited to your student’s e-bill)

  • If you have any questions, please contact the EAGLES program by email

The EAGLES program is a residential program, meaning students are required to live on campus in the dorms during the first two years of the program and in approved off-campus housing in Auburn during the last two years. Students must be invited back to attend each year. At this point, there is no commuter student option.

The basic program is two years and the advanced program is two years for a total of four years.

Upon successfully completing and exiting the EAGLES basic program, students earn a Career Readiness Certificate endorsed by Auburn University, not the State of Alabama. Upon successfully completingand exiting the EAGLES advanced program, students earn an Independent Living Readiness Certificate endorsed by Auburn University, not the State of Alabama.

The EAGLES program is not able to accommodate all requests to schedule 1:1 tours of the EAGLES program. On rare occasions, this may be possible. The best way to learn more about the program, gain a comprehensive overview of our structure and supports, take a tour, and speak to students, staff, and peer mentors is to register to attend a Preview Day! The next Preview Day is scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025. Preview Day registration is required and is found on The EAGLES Program website main page.

• Academic Tuition: In accordance with Auburn University’s tuition fees.

  • EAGLES program fee: $15,000 per semester.

  • Required Auburn University Dining Plan: Approximately $1,400 per semester.

  • Housing and Residence Life: Approximately $6,000 per semester.

  • Financial assistance and limited scholarships may be available.

  • Costs do not include books, materials, or other course-required expenses for a college student.

Please visit the EAGLES Curriculum page to find out more about the classes taken by the EAGLES students.

There are 24 residence halls located in seven residential communities on Auburn University’s campus. Resident assistants, or RAs, provide support to students living in the dorms on campus. In addition to RAs, students in the EAGLES program have the support, as needed, of Independent Living Student Workers who empower EAGLES students to develop independent living and social skills through hands-on support. They will help foster autonomy by providing structured guidance and gradually individualizing, as students gain confidence and independence.

Students enrolled in the Basic 2-Year Program are required to live in an assigned inclusive residence hall. Students reside in suite-style housing that includes individual bedrooms. Depending on the suite layout, students will either have a private bathroom or share a bathroom with another student. Each suite also features a shared common area and kitchenette.

Bedrooms are furnished with a bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers, and an open closet. The shared living/dining areas are equipped with a sofa, an accent chair, and two bar stools at the kitchen counter. The kitchenette includes a microwave, refrigerator, sink, countertop, and cabinet space. Each suite also has its own washer and dryer.

Students who are accepted into the Advanced 4-Year Program are required to live off-campus in an approved apartment secured through Auburn University Housing. The EAGLES Program provides support as students transition from on-campus to off-campus living.

Students reside in fully furnished 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom apartments. Each student has a private bedroom and bathroom, furnished with a full XL-sized bed, nightstand, stackable chest of drawers, desk and chair, USB power outlet, and a shelved closet with mirrors.

The shared living area includes a leather-style sectional sofa, coffee and side tables, an entertainment stand, and hardwood-style flooring. The dining area features a fully equipped kitchen with bar stools, quartz stone countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, including a microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, oven, and stovetop. Each apartment also includes a washer and dryer.