Program-Specific Admissions Criteria
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Admissions Requirements for First-Time Freshmen Applicants
- Complete and submit a Take Flight application or Common App
- Pay the non-refundable $30 application fee.*
- Submit your high school transcript.
*Students on free/reduced lunch do not pay the application fee.
**ACT and SAT scores are optional for students. Learn more about our policy.
***No letters of recommendation are required if you meet minimum standards.
Admission Requirements for General Admission to UofL
The University of Louisville seeks to admit college-ready students. 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 Program | Automatic Admission with ACT/SAT Scores | Minimum Requirements for Consideration Without ACT/SAT Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences*, Education & Human Development, Public Health, Social Work | 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 Business, Finance, Management, Marketing | GPA: 3.0 OR GPA: 3.3 | 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 Precalculus, 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 |
| Communication Sciences & Disorders | GPA: 3.0 22 ACT or 1100 SAT | GPA: 3.0 |
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 OR GPA: 3.0 | 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: 2.5 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 | GPA: 3.0 OR GPA 3.5 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 All programs require high school chemistry except for applied engineering and computer science (BA) Comprehensive high school transcript evaluation to view levels of courses (Successful completion of precalculus 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. You can learn more about applying to UofL without test scores on our Standardize & Optional Test Information page.
Beginning with applications for 2026 start terms, the University of Louisville will no longer require the Science Reasoning section of the ACT for admission to any programs. We will consider the score if it is sent in as part of the composite. UofL will not recalculate a composite ACT score to remove the Science Reasoning section if a score report includes it. For more information or additional questions, please reach out to your admissions counselor.
Admissions Requirements for Transfer Applicants
Application Requirements for All Students
- Submit the Take Flight application
- Send college transcripts from each institution you attended
- Pay the $30 non-refundable fee
Additional Materials may be requested, which could include:
- High school transcripts
- A personal statement to demonstrate your ability to succeed at the University of Louisville
- A resume demonstrating career longevity in your profession
- Licensure or certifications
Admission Requirements by School or Program
Academic Program | Transfer Student with 0-23 Credit Hours | Transfer Student with 24+ Credit Hours | Transfer Student with Prior Bachelor’s Degree | College Visitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
College of Arts & Sciences | 2.0 cumulative college GPA + minimum 2.5 High School GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA |
College of Business: BSBA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA + 3.0 minimum High School GPA + Advanced Math | 2.8 cumulative College GPA + completion of College Algebra | 2.8 cumulative college GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA |
College of Business: BBA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA + 2.75 High School GPA + Algebra II | 2.5 cumulative college GPA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA |
College of Education & Human Development | 2.25 cumulative college GPA + minimum 2.5 High School GPA | 2.25 cumulative college GPA | 2.25 cumulative college GPA | 2.25 cumulative college GPA |
School of Dentistry - Dental Hygiene: Lower Division* *Dental Hygiene is a two-step process. Students are admitted to the Lower Division and then apply internally for Upper Division after 3-4 semesters. | 2.8 cumulative college GPA + minimum 2.8 High School GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA |
| School of Medicine - Communication Sciences & Disorders | 3.0 cumulative college GPA | 3.0 cumulative college GPA | 3.0 cumulative college GPA | 3.0 cumulative college GPA |
School of Music** | 2.75 cumulative college GPA + minimum 2.75 High School GPA | 2.75 cumulative college GPA | 2.75 cumulative college GPA | 2.75 cumulative college GPA |
School of Nursing: BSN *Nursing admission is a two-step process. Students are admitted to the Lower Division and then apply internally to the Upper Division after 3-4 semesters. | 2.8 cumulative college GPA + minimum 3.5 High School GPA + Rigorous Math/English Curriculum*** | 12-23 CR: 3.0 cumulative college GPA + completion of College Algebra with a C or higher
24+ CR: 2.8 cumulative college credit, no more than two NUR course failures, and have not previously been dismissed from a nursing program | 2.8 cumulative college credit, no more than two NUR course failures, and have not previously been dismissed from a nursing program. | 2.8 cumulative college GPA |
School of Nursing: RN-BSN | 2.0 cumulative college GPA + completion of ADN/RN | 2.0 cumulative college GPA + completion of ADN/RN | ||
School of Public Health & Information Sciences | 2.0 cumulative college GPA + minimum 2.5 High School GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA | 2.0 cumulative college GPA |
School of Social Work & Family Science *Social Work is a two-step process. Students are admitted to the Lower Division and then apply internally for Upper Division after 3-4 semesters. | 2.5 cumulative college GPA + minimum 3.0 High School GPA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA | 2.5 cumulative college GPA |
Speed School of Engineering | 2.8 cumulative college GPA + minimum 3.5 High School GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA + completion of MATH 190/CHEM 101/ENGL 101 with a B- or higher | 2.8 cumulative college GPA | 2.8 cumulative college GPA |
*Admission into Dental Hygiene, Nursing and Social Work is a two-step process. Students are admitted to the Lower Division and then apply internally to the Upper Division after 3-4 semesters (or less).
**Audition required for admission into the School of Music.
***A rigorous math and english curriculum in high school for the School of Nursing can be found on their Admissions page.
Although a comprehensive list of admission requirements, the University of Louisville and its programs may require additional materials for admission decisions.