Admission Requirements

admissions.uni.edu

This section contains the following information:

• Admission of Undergraduate Students Directly from High School
• High School Preparation for Undergraduate Admission
• Admission of Undergraduate Students by Transfer from Other Colleges
• Admission Requirements for Graduate Students
• Classification of Residents and Nonresidents for Admission, Tuition, and Fee Purposes

Admission of Undergraduate Students Directly from High School

Applicants must submit a formal application for admission, together with a $40 application fee ($50 for international students), and have their high school provide an official transcript of their academic record, including credits and grades, and certification of graduation. The American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or the equivalent is required for domestic students. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of international students whose first language is not English. For undergraduate international students the minimum score for full admission is 79 on the TOEFL. There are several alternatives to the TOEFL for students to prove English proficiency: admissions.uni.edu/international/english-proficiency. Students with scores below this may qualify for conditional admission. Applicants may be required to submit additional information or data to support their applications. International applicants (undergraduates and graduates) should consult the website at admissions.uni.edu/international.

1.    Admission of undergraduate students directly from high school will be based on the Regent Admission Index (RAI) described below. In addition, applicants must meet the minimum high school course requirements.

           (3 x ACT composite score) +

           (30 x cumulative GPA) +

           (5 x number of high school core courses) = 

            ____________________________________________

            Regent Admission Index

Applicants who achieve at least a 245 RAI score and who meet the minimum number of high school courses required will qualify for automatic admission. Applicants who achieve less than a 245 RAI score may also be admitted; however, the university will review these applications on an individual basis.  After such review, applicants may:

be admitted unconditionally;

be admitted conditionally; or

be denied admission. 

For purposes of calculating the RAI, SAT (critical reading and math) scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents, 99% is the top value for high school rank, 4.00 is the top value for GPA, and the number of high school core courses completed is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years (e.g., one semester equals 0.5 year).

The Regent Admissions Index is the primary means for admission; however, the Board of Regents institutions also provide a path to admission for students who elect to not provide the ACT/SAT as a component of the admissions process. Students who do not submit test scores will be considered for admission based upon an individual review of their academic record.

The University of Northern Iowa recognizes that the traditional measures of academic performance do not adequately describe some students’ potential for success. Therefore, all interested students are encouraged to apply for admission. Applicants who believe their academic record is not an accurate reflection of their potential for success may provide a written explanation of their circumstances.

2.    Applicants who are graduates of non-approved high schools will be considered for admission in a manner similar to applicants from approved high schools, but additional emphasis may be given to scores obtained on standardized examinations.

3.    Home schooled applicants are considered for admission based on an individual review of:

a.  home-school transcript

b.  high school transcript (if courses have been taken at the local high school)

c.  college transcripts (if applicable)

d. official ACT or SAT scores (when submitted)

4.   Applicants who are not high school graduates, but whose classes have graduated, may be considered for admission. They will be required to submit all academic data to the extent that it exists and achieve minimum scores on standardized examinations, such as the HiSET or the GED.

HiSET Applicants: To qualify for automatic admission to the University of Northern Iowa, students must earn a minimum total score of 75 on the HiSET. Students who do not meet this minimum requirement may be considered on an individual basis.

GED Applicants: To qualify for automatic admission to the University of Northern Iowa, students who have taken the GED must have received a score of 170 or higher on each of the four content areas. Students who do not meet this minimum requirement may be considered on an individual basis.

An official score report of an equivalency diploma (for both a HiSET and GED) is required and can be requested from the state Department of Education website.

5.   Students with superior academic records may be admitted, on an individual basis, for part-time university study while enrolled in high school or during the summer prior to high school graduation.

6.   In rare situations, exceptional students may be admitted as full- time or part-time students before completing high school. Early admission is provided to serve persons whose academic achievement and personal and intellectual maturity clearly suggest readiness for collegiate-level study. The university will specify requirements and conditions for early admission.

High School Preparation for Undergraduate Admission

Freshman applicants must complete the minimum high school course requirements as follows:

HS prep for undergrad admin

Subject	Requirement	Explanation
English	4 years	Must include 1 year of composition. May include 1 year of speech, communications and/or journalism.
Mathematics	3 years	Must include equivalent of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra.
Science	3 years	General science, biology, chemistry, earth science and/or physics. Laboratory experience is highly recommended.
Social Studies	3 years	Anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, psychology, and/or sociology.
Electives	2 years	Additional courses from the required subject areas, world language* and/or fine arts.

Optimum recommendations for success are at least four years of mathematics and four years of science.

*

Two years of one world language in high school with a C- or above in the last term meets the university graduation requirement. The university highly recommends that students fulfill this requirement while in high school.

Admission of Undergraduate Students by Transfer from Other Colleges

Applicants must submit an online application for admission, together with a $40 application fee ($50 for international students), and request that each college they have attended send an official transcript of record to the UNI Office of Admissions. Failure to provide transcripts from all colleges or universities attended may result in denial of the application or dismissal from the university. If less than 24 semester hours of graded transferable college credit will be completed prior to initial enrollment, applicants should also request that their official high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores (if taken) be sent to the Office of Admissions. Other transfer applicants may be asked to provide high school academic information. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of international students whose first language is not English. For undergraduate international students the minimum score for full admission is 79 on the TOEFL. Students with scores below this can qualify for conditional admission. International students transferring from U.S. institutions can have the TOEFL waived if they complete 24 or more semester hours of transferable credit with required grade point average from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. In addition to TOEFL, there are other ways a student may demonstrate English proficiency: admissions.uni.edu/international/english-proficiency.

1.  Transfer students are defined as those with twenty-four (24) semester hours of transferable college credit. Transfer students must have or exceed the following combination of grade point and total graded transferable semester hours for admission to UNI.

• 1-23 transferable hours, 2.25 cum GPA plus meet requirements for incoming freshman*
• 24-59 transferable hours, 2.25 cum GPA
• 60 or more transferable hours, 2.00 cum GPA

*

Admission of students with fewer than 24 semester hours of transferable college credit will be based on high school academic and standardized test records in addition to review of the college record.

Transfer applicants who have not maintained the level of academic performance given above may, after a review of their academic and test records, and at the discretion of the admissions officers:

1. Be admitted unconditionally;
2. Be admitted conditionally; or
3. Be denied admission.

2. Transfer applicants under disciplinary suspension will not be considered for admission until information concerning the reason for the suspension has been received from the college assigning the suspension. Applicants granted admission under these circumstances may be admitted on probation. Applicants who are on academic suspension will typically not be admitted until the suspension has ended.

3. Transfer applicants of colleges and universities not regionally accredited will be considered for admission on an individual basis taking into account all available academic information.

Deadline for admission is the first day of class for any given academic term. Exceptions must be approved by the Director of Admissions.

Transfer Credit Practices

The University of Northern Iowa endorses the Joint Statement on Transfer and Award of Academic Credit approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). The current issue of Transfer Credit Practices of Selected Educational Institutions, published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and publications of the American Council on Education are examples of references used by the university in determining transfer credit. The acceptance and use of transfer credit are subject to limitations in accordance with existing educational policies of the University of Northern Iowa.

1. Students from regionally accredited colleges and universities: Credit earned at regionally accredited colleges and universities is acceptable for transfer, notwithstanding that credit in courses determined by the university to be of a remedial or career and technical nature, or credit in courses or programs in which the institution granting the credit is not directly involved, may not be accepted, or may be accepted to a limited extent.
   No more than 65 semester hours of credit earned at two-year colleges can be applied to a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
2. Students from colleges and universities which have candidate status:  Credit earned at colleges and universities which have become candidates for accreditation by a regional association is acceptable for transfer in a manner similar to that from regionally accredited colleges and universities if the credit is applicable to the bachelor's degree at the University of Northern Iowa.
   Credit earned at the junior and senior classification from an accredited two-year college which has received approval by a regional accrediting association for change to a four-year college may be accepted by the university.
3. Students from colleges and universities not regionally accredited: Credit earned at colleges and universities that are not regionally accredited is not accepted in transfer. When students are admitted from colleges and universities not regionally accredited, the University of Northern Iowa will determine if the student may validate credit by satisfactory academic study in residence, or by examination. The university will specify the amount of transfer credit and the terms of the validation process at the time of admission. In determining the acceptability of transfer credit from private colleges in Iowa which do not have regional accreditation, the Regent Committee on Educational Relations, upon request from such institutions, evaluates the nature and standards of the academic program, faculty, student records, library, and laboratories.
4. Students from outside the United States colleges and universities: Transfer credit from foreign educational institutions may be granted after a determination of the type of institution involved, its recognition by the educational authorities of the foreign country, and after an evaluation of the content, level and comparability of the study to courses and programs at this university. Credit may be granted in specific courses, but may be assigned to general areas of study. Resources such as professional journals and reference materials may be used, insomuch as they describe the educational systems and programs of individual countries.
5. Students having served in the United States Armed Forces: Transfer credit is granted based on a credit evaluation of transcripts from academic institutions attended, plus the Joint Services Transcript (JST), or the Community College of the Air Force Transcript. The University of Northern Iowa follows the American Counsel of Education (ACE) guidelines in the acceptance of military credit.
6. For all transfer credit other than career/technical credit, transfer course grades for students completing their first bachelor degree will be listed on the transcript and will count toward the transfer and total cumulative grade point averages.
7. For students completing a Post-Baccalaureate program, transfer course grades completed prior to the start of the Post-Baccalaureate program will not be reflected either on the UNI transcript or count toward the transfer and total cumulative grade point averages.
8. Credit for a previously failed course must be earned in an on-campus or online setting at an accredited institution. A course that has previously been attempted and failed cannot be granted credit through CLEP or other test examination services.

Transfer Credit by Examination

A maximum of 32 credits may be transferred in through College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advance Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. For specific information regarding CLEP, AP, or IB please see the academic regulation section of the catalog or https://admissions.uni.edu/admitted-students/college-credit.

Admission Requirements for Graduate Students

Classification of Residents and Nonresidents for Admission, Tuition, and Fee Purposes

https://registrar.uni.edu/students/current-students/residency-determination

General

A.  A person enrolling at one of the three state universities shall be classified as a resident or nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes by the Registrar or someone designated by the Registrar. The decision shall be based upon information furnished by the student and other relevant information.

B.  In determining resident or nonresident classification, the issue is essentially one of why the person is in the state of Iowa. If the person is in the state primarily for educational purposes, that person will be considered a nonresident. For example, it may be possible that an individual could qualify as a resident of Iowa for such purposes as voting, or holding an Iowa driver's license, and not meet the residency requirements as established by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.

C. The Registrar, or designated person, is authorized to require such written documents, affidavits, verifications, or other evidence deemed necessary to determine why a student is in Iowa. The burden of establishing that a student is in Iowa for other than educational purposes is upon the student.   

A student may be required to file any or all of the following:

• A statement from the student describing employment and expected sources of support;
• A statement from the student's employer;
• A statement from the student's parents verifying nonsupport and the fact that the student was not listed as a dependent on tax returns for the past year and will not be so listed in future years;
• A statement from the student’s spouse related to sources of family support, length of residence in Iowa, and reasons for being in the state of Iowa.
• Supporting statements from persons who might be familiar with the family situation;
• Iowa state income tax return.

D. Change of classification from non-resident to resident will not be made retroactive beyond the term in which application for resident classification is made.

E. A student who gives incorrect or misleading information to evade payment of nonresident fees shall be subject to disciplinary action and must also pay the nonresident fees for each term previously attended.

F. Review Committee. These regulations shall be administered by the Registrar or someone designated by the Registrar. The decision of the Registrar or designated person may be appealed to a University Review Committee. The finding of the Review Committee may be appealed to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

Guidelines

The following guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a student for admission, tuition, and fee purposes.

1.  A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa after the student is enrolled remains a resident provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. A financially dependent student whose parents move from Iowa during the senior year of high school will be considered a resident provided the student has not established domicile in another state.

2.  In deciding why a person is in the state of Iowa, the person's domicile will be considered. A person who comes to Iowa from another state and enrolls in any institution of post-secondary education for a full program or substantially a full program shall be presumed to have come to Iowa primarily for educational reasons rather than to establish a domicile in Iowa.

3. A student who was a former resident of Iowa may continue to be considered a resident provided absence from the state was for a period of less than twelve months and provided domicile is reestablished. If the absence from the state is for a period exceeding twelve months, a student may be considered a resident if evidence can be presented showing that the student has long-term ties to Iowa and reestablishes an Iowa domicile.
       A person or the dependent of a person whose domicile is permanently established in Iowa, who has been classified as a resident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes, may continue to be classified as a resident so long as such domicile is maintained, even though circumstances may require extended absence of the person from the state. It is required that a person who claims Iowa domicile while living in another state or country will provide proof of the continual Iowa domicile such as evidence that the person:

• Has not acquired a domicile in another state,
• Has maintained a continuous voting record in Iowa, and
• Has filed regular Iowa resident income tax returns during absence from the state.

4. A student who moves to Iowa may be eligible for resident classification at the next registration following twelve consecutive months in the state provided the student is not enrolled as more than a half-time student (six credits for an undergraduate or professional student, five credits for a graduate student) in any academic year term, is not enrolled for more than four credits in a summer term for any classification, and provides sufficient evidence of the establishment of an Iowa domicile.

5. A student who has been a continuous student and whose parents move to Iowa may become a resident at the beginning of the next term provided the student is dependent upon the parents for a majority of financial assistance.

6. Additional guidelines are used in determining the resident classification of a veteran, qualified military person, and dependent children and spouses of a veteran or qualified military person for purposes of admission and undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees:

• A person who is stationed on active duty at the Rock Island Arsenal as a result of military orders, or the dependent child or spouse of such a person, is entitled to resident status for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. However, if the arrival of the person under orders is subsequent to the beginning of the term in which the dependent child or spouse is first enrolled, nonresident fees will be charged in all cases for the dependent child or spouse until the beginning of the next term in which the dependent child or spouse is enrolled. If the qualified military person is transferred, deployed or restationed while the person’s spouse or dependent child is enrolled in an institution of higher education under the control of the Board of Regents, the spouse or dependent child shall continue to be classified as a resident under this subparagraph until the close of the fiscal year in which the spouse or dependent child is enrolled.

• A veteran who is domiciled or moves to the state of Iowa and who is eligible for benefits, or has exhausted benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, is entitled to resident status for purposes of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. The dependent child or spouse of a veteran who meets these requirements is entitled to resident status for undergraduate tuition. However, if the arrival of the veteran in Iowa is subsequent to the beginning of the term in which the dependent child or spouse is first enrolled, nonresident fees will be charged in all cases for the dependent child or spouse until the beginning of the next term in which the dependent child or spouse is enrolled.

• A person who is moved into the state as the result of military or civil orders from the government for other than educational purposes, or the dependent child or spouse of such a person, is entitled to resident status. However, if the arrival of the person under orders is subsequent to the beginning of the term in which the dependent child or spouse is first enrolled, nonresident fees will be charged in all cases until the beginning of the next term in which the dependent child or spouse is enrolled. Legislation, effective July 1, 1977, requires that military personnel who claim residency in Iowa (home of record) will be required to file Iowa resident income tax returns.
   
• A military veteran or a "covered individual" (such as a spouse or dependent), although living in another state, may be eligible for the in-state rate as provided in Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. Appropriate documentation may be required, such as the Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration, or the DD214.

7. A person who has been certified as a refugee or granted asylum by the appropriate agency of the United States who enrolls as a student at a university governed by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, may be accorded immediate resident status for admission, tuition, and fee purposes where the person:

• Comes directly to the state of Iowa from a refugee facility or port of debarkation, or

• Comes to the state of Iowa within a reasonable time and has not established domicile in another state.

        Any refugee or individual granted asylum not meeting these standards will be presumed to be a nonresident for admission, tuition, and fee purposes and thus subject to the usual method of proof of establishment of Iowa residency.

8. An alien who has immigrant status establishes Iowa residency in the same manner as a United States citizen.

9. At the Regent institutions, American Indians who have origins in any of the original people of North America and who maintain a cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition with one or more of the tribes or nations connected historically with the present state of Iowa, including the Iowa, Kickapoo, Menominee, Miami, Missouri, Ojibwa (Chippewa), Omaha, Otoe, Ottawa (Odawa), Potawatomi, Sac and Fox (Sauk, Meskwaki), Sioux, and Winnebago (Ho Chunk), will be assessed Iowa resident tuition and fees.

Facts

1. The following circumstances, although not necessarily conclusive, have probative value in support of a claim for resident classification.
   1. Reside in Iowa for twelve consecutive months, and be primarily engaged in activities other than those of a full-time student, immediately prior to the beginning of the term for which resident classification is sought.
   2. Reliance upon Iowa resources for financial support.
   3. Domicile in Iowa of persons legally responsible for the student.
   4. Former domicile in the state and maintenance of significant connections therein while absent.
   5. Acceptance of an offer of permanent employment in Iowa.
   6. Other facts indicating the student's domicile will be considered by the universities in classifying the student.
2. The following circumstances, standing alone, do not constitute sufficient evidence of domicile to effect classification of a student as a resident under these regulations:
   1. Voting or registration for voting.
   2. Employment in any position normally filled by a student.
   3. The lease of living quarters.
   4. Admission to a licensed practicing profession in Iowa.
   5. Automobile registration.
   6. Public records, for example, birth and marriage records, Iowa driver's license.
   7. Continuous presence in Iowa during periods when not enrolled in school.
   8. Ownership of property in Iowa, or the payment of Iowa taxes.