Freshman Admission
Freshman applicants are expected to be high school graduates who have successfully completed a minimum of 17 secondary school units. The academic records of graduates from high schools that are not state approved will be examined in greater depth for admissions purposes.
Students who have not received a high school diploma may be admitted to the University upon receipt of a high school equivalency certificate obtained by satisfactorily completing the General Education Development Test (GED) with an average score of 550 or above. Students should also submit an official copy of their high school transcript that includes grades until the time that student stopped attending; as well as a personal statement addressing readiness to succeed at UNC.
Admission to UNC is based on standards developed by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as measured by a selectivity index created from high school performance and standardized test score. Eighty-one percent of the freshmen admitted must have a selectivity index of 94 or above. An index of 94 represents a cumulative high school GPA of 2.9 and an ACT composite of 21 or an SAT combined score of 970. A higher ACT/SAT score can compensate for a lower GPA and a higher GPA can compensate for a lower test score.
Applicants for freshman admission are required to have earned the following secondary school credits:
- English - four units with emphasis upon courses in composition.
- Mathematics - fours units, including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II and higher.
- Natural/Physical Science - three units, including two lab-based units.
- History/Social Science - three units, at least one unit of U.S. or world history.
- Foreign Language - one unit.
- Academic electives - two units.
Freshman Application Procedures. Applications and all supporting credentials should be received by March 1 for priority consideration for admission, financial aid and scholarships. (Or by November 1 for students entering spring semester.) However, they should be received at the Admissions Office no later than August 1 for students entering fall semester and December 1 for students entering spring semester.
Applications can be submitted on-line at: www.unco.edu/admissions.
The Application for Admission, the appropriate secondary school transcripts, standardized test scores and a $45 non-refundable processing fee must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Note: a personal statement and letters of recommendation are not required for admission, but are encouraged for students who have a selectivity index below 94.
An applicant should take the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and have examination results forwarded to UNC. Note: the writing sections of the ACT and SAT are not used for admission or scholarship consideration.
Upon receipt and evaluation of the completed Application for Admission and the relevant academic support material, an admission decision is made and applicants are notified at the earliest possible date.
Students planning to major in music are required to submit a separate application to the School of Music. The music application is provided by the School of Music upon request and auditions are required of these applicants. Information concerning auditions may be requested from the School of Music or at www.arts.unco.edu.
Students planning to major in musical theatre are required to submit an additional application to the Musical Theatre Program. The application and appropriate instructions are provided by the College of Performing and Visual Arts. Auditions are required of all applicants to the Musical Theatre Program. Information concerning auditions may be requested from the Coordinator, Musical Theatre Program or at www.arts.unco.edu.
Freshman On-Campus Living Requirements. All students with less than 20 semester hours earned (Credits earned through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or concurrent enrollment with high school do not apply towards the live-on requirement) and less than 21 years of age are required to live in a residence hall and hold one of the traditional meal plans offered to freshmen.
A student who has earned fewer than 20 semester credits is exempt from this requirement if he or she is:
- married or at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the contract period,
or
- is living with their legal guardian in the local area. Local area is defined by school district. Included school districts are Ault Highland RE-9, Eaton RE-2, Greeley 6, Platte Valley RE-7, Poudre R-1, Thompson R-2J, Weld County RE-5J, Weld RE-1 and Windsor RE-4. The decision to commute must be made before the beginning of the contract period.
If one of the above exceptions is met, the freshman student must write in advance to the Assignments Coordinator, Housing and Residence Life, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado 80639. This letter should include name, Bear number and detailed documentation supporting the request for an exemption, i.e., marriage certificate, or if living at home, a verifying letter from parent. A written response granting or denying the request will be made promptly. Additional information may be obtained from the Housing and Residence Life Office.