Freshman Admission

A student is considered a freshman applicant when:

1. The student has been awarded a high school diploma or GED certificate.
2. The student was not attended any post-secondary institutions other than to complete high school concurrent work.

Freshman applicants are expected to be high school graduates who have successfully completed the Higher Education Admission Requirements for Colorado (HEAR). The academic records of graduates from high schools that are not state approved will be examined in greater depth for admissions purposes.

Admission to UNC is based on standards developed by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education as measured by an index score created from high school performance and standardized test score. Eighty-one percent of the freshmen admitted must have an index score of 94 or above. For example, an index score 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.

Students with an index score of 104 or higher are exempt from the HEAR requirements listed below. A student who has not completed HEAR requirements will be considered for admission on an individual basis.

Applicants for freshman admission will 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.

High School Concurrent Coursework Students who have successfully completed college coursework from a regionally accredited institution while in high school must submit an official transcript from the college/university before the coursework can be evaluated. College credit completed while in high school may count towards UNC degree requirements but cannot be used to classify a student as a transfer student for admission and/or transfer scholarship eligibility purposes.

General Education Diploma (GED) 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 must 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.

Freshman Application Procedures. 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 an index score 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.

Freshman Application Deadlines. Applications completed by the Priority Deadline receive priority consideration for admission, financial aid, and scholarships.

Applications can be submitted on-line at: www.unco.edu/admissions.

Additional Program Requirements. Some programs require a separate application. Please refer to the specific pages describing the details for the following Bachelor degree programs:

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 Residential Education, 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 Residential Education Office.