Program-Specific Admissions Criteria

First-Time Freshmen Applicants
Transfer and Adult Applicants about

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Admissions Requirements for First-Time Freshmen Applicants

*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 WorkGPA: 2.5
20 ACT or 1030 SAT
  • GPA: 2.5
  • Comprehensive review of high school transcript, including grades & courses (particularly college preparatory courses)

Business**

Accountancy, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Equine Business, 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 Precalculus, IB Math, Dual Credit College Algebra, Dual Credit Pre-Calculus , Dual Credit Calculus, Dual Credit Statistics
     

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
Communication Sciences & DisordersGPA: 3.0
21 ACT or 1060 SAT
  • GPA: 3.0
  • Comprehensive review of high school transcript including grades and course curriculum rigor

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 or 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)
Engineering

GPA: 3.0
25 ACT or 1200 SAT
25 ACT Math or 590 SAT Math

OR

GPA 3.5
24 ACT or 1160 SAT
24 ACT Math or 580 SAT Math

  • GPA: 3.5
  • Dual Credit College Algebra or higher (already completed or in progress with all As and Bs in prior math courses) or completed AP or IB Pre-Calculus or Calculus (with acceptable scores)
  • Successful completion of or enrollment in high school calculus or pre-calculus and chemistry
  • High school chemistry is not required for admission to Computer Science BA and Applied Engineering.

Music****
 

Audition required for admission into the School of Music, except for Music, New Media. Music, New Media requires a portfolio, interview and musicianship assessment.

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)

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/Dual Credit College Algebra/Dual Credit PreCalculus/Dual Credit Calculus

* 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 the School of Music, except for Music, New Media. Music, New Media requires a portfolio, interview and musicianship assessment.

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 and Adult 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

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

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

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

Communication Sciences & Disorders3.0 cumulative college GPA3.0 cumulative college GPA3.0 cumulative college GPA
  • 3.0 cumulative college GPA
  • Earned a B- or better in
    • any social-behavioral course
    • MATH 109, CHEM 101 or PHYS 111, BIOL 102 or their equivalents
    • CMDS 245 or equivalent
  • CMDS 270 (grade of pass) or equivalent

Dental Hygiene*

*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

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

 Engineering

  • 2.8 cumulative college GPA

  • Minimum 3.5 High School GPA

  • 2.8 cumulative college GPA

  • Pre-calculus, chemistry and English in a B- or higher 

2.8 cumulative college GPA

2.8 cumulative college GPA

Music**

Audition required for admission into the School of Music, except for Music, New Media. Music, New Media requires a portfolio, interview and musicianship assessment.

  • 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

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.

Minimum 3.5 High School GPA

  • 2.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA of all colleges attended

  • No more than one failure with grade below C in the following same couses or their equivalents:

    • Anatomy and Physiology I lecture OR Anatomy and Physiology I lab OR Anatomy and Physiology II lecture OR Anatomy and Physiology II lab OR College Algebra.

  • Does not have two or more NURS prefix grades of C- or below from previous institutions.

  • Not previously dismissed from a Nursing program.

  • 2.8 cumulative college credit

  • No more than two NUR course failures

  • Have not previously been dismissed from a nursing program.

2.8 cumulative college GPA

Nursing: RN-BSN

 

  • 2.0 cumulative college GPA

  • Completion of ADN/RN

  • 2.0 cumulative college GPA

  • Completion of ADN/RN

 
School of Nursing: Second Degree Accelerated BSN
  • 2.4 cumulative college GPA of all undergraduate colleges attended
  • Proof of bachelor's degree earned from regionally accredited instituition (degree can be in progress but must be completed prior to starting accelerated BSN lower division at UofL)
  • No more than 2 NUR course failures with grade below C + not previously dismissed from another nursing program
  • Students who have less than a 2.4 cumulative college GPA and meet all other requirements may petition to BSN AA Committee.

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

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

*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, except for Music, New Media. Music, New Media requires a portfolio, interview and musicianship assessment.
***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.