Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission for New Students

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.

• 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.

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

1. home-school transcript
2. high school transcript (if courses have been taken at the local high school)
3. college transcripts (if applicable)
4. official ACT or SAT scores (when submitted)

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

High School Preparation for Undergraduate Admission

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

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. Students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy (as noted on their official high school transcript) will satisfy UNI's world language requirement.

Undergraduate Admission for Transfer Students

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.

• 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:

• Be admitted unconditionally;
• Be admitted conditionally; or
• Be denied admission.

• 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.
• 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.

Health

All incoming students are required to submit evidence of having been adequately immunized against measles (rubeola), rubella, and mumps. Students must provide documentation of their immunization records which shows proof of TWO measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. For more information please see our Web site at www.uni.edu/health.

Community College Partnerships

Several statewide partnerships exist between the Regent institutions and Iowa community colleges. These articulation agreements can be found in the publication, "The Public Connection" found on the website, http://www.transferiniowa.org/. The reverse credit transfer agreement allows students to complete their A.A. or A.S. degrees after transferring by using UNI courses to complete the A.A. or A.S. degrees. The Transfer Connection Program provides students enrolled at the community college an adviser from UNI to help plan a course of study at the community college. In addition, other partnerships, known as articulation agreements, have been developed between UNI and all Iowa community colleges for specific UNI baccalaureate degree programs. These agreements show specific courses that need to be taken at each school to complete a program. If available, an articulation agreement typically results in the quickest route to graduation for a transfer student.

UNI has developed numerous articulation agreements between Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) programs at the community colleges and various majors/programs at UNI, including Bachelor of Applied Science programs, which allows for a greater number of Career-Technical credits to transfer.

Additionally, UNI has developed an online Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education Online Transfer Program. Students in this program can earn an A.A. or A.S. degree from an Iowa community college, or have completed a similar set of courses at another institution. The UNI course schedule for the online programs are offered through our Online and Distance Education Department. The Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education Online Transfer Program offers B.A. degrees in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education or Elementary/Middle Level Education dual majors. 

For more information contact:

UNI Office of Admissions
Cedar Falls, IA
Phone 319-273-2281

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, with a maximum of 16 career/technical (CT) credits from accredited two-year colleges unless otherwise stated by the academic program or department.
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.

Advanced Placement Program

The University of Northern Iowa participates in the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Qualified high school students can take AP exams in college-level subjects through special courses at their school. UNI grants college credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5 (minimum score of 4 for biology, chemistry, and computer science). Refer to the University Catalog for limits on credit earned by examination, such as AP. For further details and transfer information, visit admissions.uni.edu/freshmen/ap-credit or contact the Office of Admissions.

International Baccalaureate

The University of Northern Iowa provides advanced standing credit for students who complete and pass International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. Students must earn a score of 4 or above to receive advanced credit for Higher Level (HL) subjects and 5 or above for Standard Level (SL) subjects.

Up-to-date information on how course and credit are provided to students can be found at:

https://admissions.uni.edu/admitted-students/college-credit

For information about the transfer of IB credits, contact the Office of Admissions.

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.

Post-Baccalaureate Undergraduate Study

A student who has received a bachelor's degree may apply for further study at the University of Northern Iowa as an undergraduate rather than a graduate student. Inquiries should be made to the Office of Admissions. Undergraduate status will be accorded students who seek:

1. a second baccalaureate degree (designation as senior) or
2. teacher licensure (designation as senior) - a student who does not hold a teaching license and expects to be recommended by this university for an initial teaching license or student adding new endorsement(s) through UNI recommendation must also file an official transcript; this program requires the completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours at UNI before recommendation to the Board of Educational Examiners; or
3. courses for undergraduate credit (designation as unclassified)

Students with baccalaureate degrees do not earn graduate credit while in Post-baccalaureate Undergraduate status only. They must be admitted either to graduate Degree or Non-Degree Status before they can enroll in graduate courses (courses numbered 5000 or above). A student working toward a second bachelor's degree or teacher licensure and is admitted as a graduate student will pay graduate tuition for the entire enrollment if any of the enrollment is for graduate credit. No course can apply to both a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree except for combined degree programs.

Retroactive granting of graduate credit for course work taken while in post-baccalaureate, undergraduate status will not be done if, when the course work was taken, the student received financial aid dependent on undergraduate status. If an undergraduate course can be taken at the 5000-level for graduate credit, extra work is required from graduate students to earn the graduate credit.  This extra work cannot be completed after the course ends to change the course to graduate credit.