Admissions Requirements

Application Requirements for All Students

*Students on free/reduced lunch do not pay the application fee.

Admission Requirements for General Admission to UofL

The University of Louisville seeks to admit students who are college-ready. Students with strong high school grades and a pre-college high school curriculum are generally admitted. The middle 50% of our first-year students scored between 22 and 28 on their ACTs. 25% scored 29-36 and the final 25% scored below 22. Students with lower test scores (or students who apply without  ACT/SAT test scores) will be considered if they demonstrate strong high school grades in a rigorous high school curriculum. A UofL admissions counselor may request additional materials, such as a resume that displays involvement outside the classroom,  letters of recommendation or a personal essay to demonstrate a student’s ability to succeed at the University of Louisville.  Students applying to Speed Engineering, School of Nursing or College of Business with the required minimum GPA can also demonstrate readiness for direct admission through our placement exam, Accuplacer.  Reach out to your admissions counselor for more details. 

Admission Requirements by School or Program

Academic Unit or Program

Automatic Admission with

ACT/SAT Scores

Minimum Requirements for Consideration Without

ACT/SAT Scores

Arts & Sciences*, Public Health, Social Work, College of Education & Human Development

 

GPA: 2.5

20 ACT or 1030 SAT

GPA: 2.5

Comprehensive review of high school transcript, including grades & courses particularly college preparatory courses

College of Business**

Accountancy, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Equine Industry, Finance, Management, Marketing

GPA: 3.0

25 ACT or 1200 SAT

22 ACT Math or 540 SAT Math

 

OR

 

GPA: 3.3

22 ACT or 1100 SAT

22 ACT Math or 540 SAT Math

GPA: 3.0

Completion of rigorous Math curriculum with A/B grades in 10th grade math and and beyond. 

Algebra 2 completed

Enrolled in Advanced Math:  Algebra 3, Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Pre-Calculus, IB Math, Dual Credit College Algebra, Dual Credit Pre-Calculus , Dual Credit Calculus, Dual Credit Statistics

College of Business**

Business Administration

GPA: 2.75

23 ACT or 1130 SAT

22 ACT Math or 540 SAT Math

GPA: 2.75

Algebra 2 completed
As & Bs in 10th grade math and beyond

Dental Hygiene***

Dental Hygiene is a two-step process. Freshmen are admitted to the lower division and then apply for upper division after 3-4 semesters.

GPA: 2.8

21 ACT of 1060 SAT

 

OR

 

GPA: 3.0

20 ACT or 1030 SAT

GPA: 2.8

Comprehensive review of high school

transcript including grades and courses,

particularly college preparatory courses.

School of Music****

Audition required for admission into School of Music

GPA: 2.75

21 ACT or 1060 SAT

 

OR

 

GPA: 3.0

20 ACT or 1030 SAT

GPA: 2.75

Comprehensive review of high school 

transcript including grades and courses,

particularly college preparatory courses.

School of Nursing***

Nursing admission is a two-step process. Freshmen are admitted to the lower division and then apply for upper division after 3-4 semesters

GPA 3.0

22 ACT or 1100 SAT

22 ACT Math or 540 SAT Math

GPA: 3.5

Completion of 4 years of ENGL with 3.0 GPA

Completion of rigorous Math curriculum with A/B grades. Math to include one of the following in the junior or senior year:

AP Calculus/AP PreCalculus/AP Statistics*/Dual Credit College Algebra/Dual Credit PreCalculus/Dual Credit Calculus/IB Math

*Effective Fall 2025 AP Stats will not be considered as an advanced math for test score optional.

J.B. Speed School of Engineering:

All undergraduate programs

GPA: 3.0

25 ACT or 1200 SAT

25 ACT Math & 25 ACT Science or

590 SAT Math

 

OR

 

GPA 3.5

24 ACT or 1160 SAT

24 ACT Math & 24 ACT Science or

580 SAT Math

 

Students who choose to submit

test scores and do not meet the minimum

ACT/SAT requirements, but who meet

GPA and course requirements will be

admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences

as pre-engineering

GPA: 3.5

Comprehensive high school transcript 

evaluation to view levels of courses .

(Successful completion of pre-calculus

required and enrollment/completion

of chemistry, preferably AP calculus)

 

Student resume may be requested (extra-

curricular activities and leadership positions)

* Students applying to programs in the Hite Art Institute must apply to those programs separately, in addition to applying to UofL.

**Advanced math courses (AP, IB and dual credit) that demonstrate readiness for success in College Algebra are required when the application is being reviewed without test scores.

***Dental Hygiene and Nursing admission has a two-step process. Freshmen are admitted to the lower division and then apply for upper division after 3-4 semesters. 

****Audition required for admission into School of Music. 

Test-Optional Admission
All students applying without test scores will receive a comprehensive high school transcript review of grades and courses, particularly college preparatory courses.

The University of Louisville is aware of upcoming changes to the format of the ACT which will make the Science Reasoning portion of the test optional. Currently, the only majors that review the Science Reasoning section of the ACT are our Speed School of Engineering programs. For students applying for 2025 terms, the Science Reasoning section will still be reviewed as part of the automatic admission process for engineering applicants. More information regarding applications for future terms will be posted here once available. Please note that UofL remains test optional for all majors, and there are pathways for admission to all of our programs without the ACT or SAT.