Admissions Criteria
Test-Optional AdmissionCriteria for High School Graduates
TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSION CRITERIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
| College | Business & Administration | Engineering & Applied Science** | Letters, Arts & Sciences, Education, & Public Affairs | Helen & Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing Nursing Prep Majors*** | Helen & Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing Health Sciences Majors |
| GPA | 3.25 or higher | 3.2 or higher | 2.5 or higher | 3.8 or higher | 2.5 or higher |
| Class Rank | Top 50% | ||||
| Additional consideration factors | Attention will be paid to cumulative GPA, strength of curriculum, grade trends, and academic course rigor (HEAR). | Meet HEAR, plus completion of higher level math (trig, pre-calc, calc, etc.) and higher level sciences (chem., physics, etc.) with grades of B- or higher. | Attention will be paid to cumulative GPA, strength of curriculum, grade trends, and academic course rigor (HEAR). | Meet HEAR, plus 3.50-3.79 with demonstrated success (A grades or higher) in Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy/Physiology. 3.0-3.49 demonstrated success in enhanced academic curriculum (example: Honors/ AP/IB/Dual College Credit/etc). | Attention will be paid to cumulative GPA, strength of curriculum, grade trends, and academic course rigor (HEAR). |
ALTERNATE CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS WITH TEST SCORES WHO DO NOT MEET GPA REQUIREMENTS | |||||
| ACT | 21 Composite | 25 Composite | 21 Composite | 24 Composite | 18 Composite |
| SAT | 1150 Composite | 1190 Composite | 1070 Composite | 1150 Composite | 920 Composite |
***Applicants with the above ACT/SAT minimums may be eligible for admission with lower GPAs upon review of academic rigor and strength of curriculum.***
Click here for additional information on admissions requirements and HEAR academic courses.
Additional Information
Additional Sources of Credit-By-Exam
UCCS accepts additional sources of credit-by-exam in the form of A-Level exams and specific Great Books programs. Please visit the Credit-By-Exam website for more information.
Applicants Without Approved High School Graduation
An applicant who has not graduated from high school must submit satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development Test (GED) or the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) or the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) and a Certificate of Equivalency from any state department of education. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis.
Students Not Granted Admission
An applicant who is not granted admission as an entering freshman may wish to consider a transfer to the university after one or two years of study elsewhere (see transfer requirements section). In the best interest of students pursuing educational goals for which they lack some academic preparation, the Letters, Arts and Sciences/Campus Admissions committee often recommends that such applicants complete at least one full year of college level coursework at a regionally accredited college. The personal attention and the appropriate courses there will prepare the student for an eventual successful experience at the University of Colorado.
High School Dual Enrollment
High school juniors and seniors with proven academic abilities may be admitted for one term at a time with approval from the admissions office at the direction of the admission director. Credit for courses taken may subsequently be applied toward a university degree program. For more information and application instructions, contact the Office of Admissions.