Freshman Admission

Freshman applicants are expected to be high school graduates who have successfully completed a minimum of 15 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.

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.

Nineteen percent of the freshmen admitted to UNC may have a selectivity index of 93 and below. Those applicants are evaluated on an individual basis.

Applicants for freshman admission are required to have earned the following secondary school credits:

Mathematics - three units of higher mathematics of algebra or above.

Applicants are expected to have earned at least the following distribution:

English - four units with emphasis upon courses in composition.
History/social science - three units.
Natural science - three units including a laboratory course.
Academic electives.

Freshman Application Procedures. Both applications and supporting credentials may be submitted at any time after completion of the junior year of high school. However, they should be received at the Admissions Office no later than three weeks before the academic semester in which the student intends to enroll.

Prospective students are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible. Applications can be submitted on-line at: www.GoBears.unco.edu.

The Application for Admission, the appropriate secondary school transcripts and a $40 non-refundable processing and evaluation fee must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

An applicant should take the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and have examination results forwarded to UNC.

Upon receipt and evaluation of the completed Application for Admission and the relevant academic support material, an admission decision is made. Applicants who provide all required credentials at the time of application receive immediate processing and 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 or upon receipt of an Application for Admission that specifically indicates a music major. 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 and under 20 years of age are required to live in a residence hall and will be assigned a full meal plan (19 meals a week).

A student who has earned fewer than 20 semester credits is exempt from this requirement if he or she is:

married or at least 20 years of age at the beginning of the contract period,

or

is living at and commuting from the home of a parent or legal guardian who lives within a 30 mile radius of the campus throughout the contract period. 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.