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High School Graduates Before 1997

Admissions Requirements

If you graduated from high school prior to 1997, and you are ready to continue your education, here are the requirements for admission.

You must first meet the core course requirements listed below for general admission. If you would like to study in a specific college, you must meet their specific requirements to be admitted.

Note: Students who only meet general admission requirements will be admitted to and advised in the Explore Center.

Core Course Requirements

A unit is one year of high school study or a semester/quarter of college coursework.

Core Courses

Required academic courses
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 4 units lang arts:
  • 3 units English; includes 1 unit English comp
  • 1 unit from English, speech, journalism, lit, or foreign lang
Mathematics 2 units math:
  • 1 unit algebra
  • 1 unit geometry, adv. algebra, trig, calc, or algebra-based computer science
Natural Sciences 2 units of sciences:
  • biology
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • earth
  • OR life sciences
Social Sciences 2 units social sciences:
  • American government
  • American history
  • world history
  • anthropology
  • psychology
  • OR sociology
Class Rank or ACT/SAT Must have taken the above courses:
  • OR graduate in the upper half of your class
  • OR have a 20 ACT or SAT (Critical Reading and Math only) of 950)
Transfer Requirements You also must have:
  • a cumulative GPA of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended

College Specific Requirements

College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Agricultural sciences and natural resources requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts
  • 3 units of English
  • 1 unit of language arts
Mathematics 3 units of math
Natural Sciences 2 units of natural sciences
Social Sciences 2 units of social sciences
Electives 5 units electives
Transfer Requirements You also must have:
  • a cumulative GPA of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended
College of Architecture
Architecture requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 4 units language arts
  • 2 units English
  • 1 unit English composition
  • AND 1 unit from
    • speech
    • journalism
    • literature
    • OR world language
Mathematics PreArch:
  • 2 units algebra
  • 1 unit geometry
  • .5 unit trigonometry or precalculus
Pre-Interior Design:
  • 2 units algebra
  • 1 unit from geometry, trigonometry, or precalculus
Natural Sciences 2 units of natural sciences
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • biology
  • botany
  • geology
  • OR physiology
Social Sciences 2 units of social sciences
  • American government
  • American history
  • world history
  • psychology
  • sociology
  • OR anthropology
Other Requirements Pre-Arch Only: First-year college students must submit complete application materials by Mar. 15. Students will be admitted only once a year, with classes beginning fall semester
Class Rank or ACT/SAT Graduate in the upper quarter of your high school class or have a:
  • 22 ACT (comp)
  • OR 970 SAT (Critical Reading and Math only)
Transfer Requirements

Cumulative GPA of 2.6 and be in good standing.

PreArch only:
You must submit materials by Feb. 15 of each year
College of Arts & Sciences
Arts and sciences requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 3 units of English (literature or composition)
World Language 2 units of one world language
Mathematics 3 units math:
  • 2 units of algebra
  • 1 unit geometry
Other Requirements 8 units selected from:
  • English
  • world language
  • math
  • natural science
  • social sciences
Transfer Requirements You also must have:
  • GPA of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended
NOTE: Requirements differ for pre-professional programs.
College of Business
College of Business Requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 3 units of English
Mathematics 3 units math:
  • 2 units of algebra
  • 1 unit geometry
Other Requirements 5 units selected from:
  • 2 units from world language
  • OR 2 units from social sciences
Electives 5 units of electives
Transfer Requirements You also must have:
  • cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher
  • 2.0 for the most recent term attended
College of Education & Human Sciences
Education & Human Sciences Requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts
  • 4 units of language arts
  • 3 units of English includes:
    • 1 unit of English comp
    • 1 unit from speech, journalism, literature, world language
Mathematics 2 units of math includes 1 unit from:
  • geometry
  • advanced algebra
  • trigonometry
General math not accepted.
Natural Sciences 2 units of sciences:
  • biology
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • earth
  • life
  • general sciences
Social Sciences 2 units of social sciences:
  • American government
  • American history
  • world history
  • anthropology
  • geography
  • psychology
  • sociology
  • economics
Electives 6 units of electives
Class Rank or ACT/SAT
  • Graduate in the upper half of your class
  • OR have a 20 ACT (comprehensive)
  • OR 950 SAT (combined)
Transfer Requirements
  • a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended
College of Engineering
Engineering Requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 3 units of English
Mathematics 3.5 units of math includes:
  • 2 units algebra
  • 1 unit of geometry
  • 1 unit pre-calculus/trigonometry
Natural Sciences 2 units of natural sciences includes:
  • 1 unit of physics
  • 1 unit chemistry
Other Requirements 4 units selected from:
  • English
  • math
  • world language
  • social sciences
  • OR natural sciences
Electives 3.5 units of electives
Class Rank or ACT/SAT Must have a:
  • 24 ACT (comprehensive)
  • OR 1110 SAT (combined)
Transfer Requirements Meet GPA requirements:
  • 2.5 for NE residents
  • 2.5 for nonresidents from ABET or CEAB accredited engineering schools
  • OR 3.0 for nonresidents from other colleges and universities
Hixson-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts
Fine & Performing Arts Requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 3 units of English (literature or composition)
World Language 2 units of 1 world language
Mathematics 3 units of math includes:
  • 2 units of algebra
  • 1 unit geometry
Other Requirements 8 units from:
  • English
  • world language
  • math
  • natural science
  • OR social science
Music major or minor only:
Transfer Requirements
  • cumulative GPA of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended
College of Journalism & Mass Communications
Journalism & Mass Communications Requirements
Category Requirements
English/Language Arts 3 units English
World Language 2 units of one world language
Mathematics 3 units of math includes:
  • 2 units of algebra
  • 1 unit geometry
Other Requirements 9 units selected from:
  • English
  • world language
  • math
  • natural science
  • OR social sciences
Transfer Requirements
  • cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher
  • AND a 2.0 for the most recent term attended

Transcript

You will self-report your academic record. Use an unofficial transcript to fill in your information.

ACT/SAT

After you've taken the ACT/SAT, request the testing institution to send us your official scores.

Our codes are:

  • ACT: 2482
  • SAT: 6877

Application Deadlines

  • Summer/Fall: May 1
  • Spring: December 1
Applications Received After Published Deadlines

Any application received after the published deadline may be placed on a waitlist. The admissions committee will prioritize the waitlist based upon candidates that meet Nebraska's assured admission requirements.

Find out more about University of Nebraska–Lincoln assured admission requirements.

Note: There is no guarantee of admission for waitlist applicants.

Application Fee

There is a $45 application fee payable with a credit card or a check. If you participate in the free/reduced lunch program or are a military service member, military spouse or military dependent, you may request to waive this fee at the end of the application. Make the check payable to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and put the applicant's full name on the memo line.

Note: You do not need to pay the $45 admission fee if you have applied for undergraduate admission at UNK or UNO within the last year and submitted an application fee to either of those campuses.

Scholarship Statement

To be considered for Leadership, Service and Diversity Enhancement scholarships, you must write a 500-word essay all about you. Focus on leadership, career goals and community service. Complete your Scholarship Statement.

International Students

International students have additional requirements and information.

Admissions Committee

Per Admissions Office Procedures Manual in Accordance with RP- 5.2.1-4b—an Admissions Committees may admit students that do not meet the Board of Regents assured admissions requirements for full admission. These decisions are based upon a holistic review of an individual applicants student record including but not limited to: academic achievement (GPA, academic courses, class rank, standardized test scores), high school course availability, recommendation letters, and retention services. The Admissions Committee will utilize this information through the holistic review process to determine whether there are other indicia in the record that would contribute to the applicant's academic success at the University. The Office of Admissions has three committees that perform the above described work: First-Year college students; Transfer/International and Special Circumstances.

The Special Circumstances Committee will holistically review applicants with special merit that are required to participate in intrusive and successful retention programs such as, but not limited to, Nebraska College Preparatory Academy, William H. Thompson Scholars, and Nebraska Athletics Support Services. The Director of Admissions must approve retention programs to be considered for the Special Circumstances Committee. Members of this committee will be appointed by the Director of Admissions.

Admission Based Upon Special Talents

In Accordance with RP- 5.2.1-4b, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln may admit students with special talents who do not meet the Board of Regents assured admissions requirements for full admission. Prospective students who do not meet assured admission requirements and who can provide evidence of special talents, such as outstanding artistic skills, unique educational experience or remarkable career achievements can be considered for admission with executive-level sponsorship. Each academic college and the Athletic Department are permitted to recommend no more than 15 special talent appeals to the director of admissions each term. To be considered for admission based on special talent, an applicant must:

  • Identify an executive sponsor (executive-level sponsors are considered a college dean, associate dean, the athletic director or associate athletic director):
    • The executive sponsor must write a letter of reference to the director of admissions which details the prospective student’s special talent, explains why the sponsor believes the student is deserving of admission and provides specifics regarding how the unit will academically ensure the student’s success;
  • The prospective student may request an executive sponsorship before or after an initial admission decision has been determined:
    • If the prospective student requests admission based upon special talents prior to applying for admission, the executive sponsor’s reference letter should be accompanied with unofficial of transcripts, standardized test scores, and English proficiency scores (for all international students or students for whom English is a second language);
      • In this case, the director of admissions will review the unofficial documents and executive sponsor’s reference letter and will make a provisional admissions decision—pending the student’s formal application for admission and submission of official documents by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s established admissions deadlines;
    • If the student requests admission based upon special talents after an initial admission decision, the prospective student may request an executive sponsor send the reference letter to the director of admissions;
      • The executive sponsor should include the prospective student’s birth date and NUID number in the letter;
      • The director of admissions will review the prospective student’s academic file and notify the applicant and executive sponsor of the admission decision.

Revocation of Admission and/or Degree

Admission to or a degree awarded from the University may be revoked for: Fraud; misrepresentation; violation of University standards in obtaining the degree; serious violation committed by an applicant or student prior to course enrollment, matriculation, or graduation; or other significant infractions endangering the safety and/or well-being of the university community.

Don't Forget

After meeting these requirements, you have to apply for admission and pay the $45 application fee to be considered for admission.