High School Preparation

To be eligible for admission to the university as a freshman an applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent. A high school record that demonstrates achievement in the most challenging academic course work available is the best single predictor of academic success. Beginning freshmen must submit an official high school transcript before classes begin in order to verify graduation and completion of required courses.

The minimum high school units required for admission include:

  1. English/Language Arts
    Required: Four units of English to include English I, II, III and IV or higher
  2. Science
    Required: Four units of science to include at least one unit of Biology, Chemistry  and two advanced sciences such as Physics, Environmental Science, or Anatomy and Physiology. 
    Strongly recommended: Three units of laboratory science including Chemistry and Physics. 
  3. Language other than English
    Required: Two units in a single language (American Sign Language courses included)
  4. Mathematics
    Required: Four units of math to include Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and advanced math courses such as pre-calculus, calculus, and statistics
  5. Social Studies
    Required: Three units to include world/human geography or world history, US history since 1877, US government and economics.
  6. Electives
    Required: Additional one credit in fine arts and/or computer science and physical education to satisfy high school graduation requirements

High School Rank in Class and SAT (ACT) Score

  1. An applicant who graduates from an accredited high school in one of the two years preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for admission and who has a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the applicant’s high school graduating class will be admitted automatically (subject to applicable enrollment limit). SAT (ACT) scores must be submitted.
  2. An applicant who does not qualify for admission under item (1.) but meets the following criteria also qualifies for regular admission:

High School
Rank in Class

ACT 

SAT
(Math & Critical Reading)   
 

Top 25%

20

1040

Second 25%

21

1080

Third 25%

22

1110

Fourth 25%

23

1140

Home schooled students:  Requirements for home schooled students entering as freshmen are as follows:

  1. SAT or ACT test scores.
  2. TSI, if applicable.
  3. Official Notarized HS transcript or GED scores.

Additional Criteria

In addition to the current university requirements for admission, applicants must also have either: successfully completed the curriculum requirements for the foundation with endorsement or distinguished level of achievement high school program or its equivalent; or satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment application to the applicant, or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1090 out of 1160 or the equivalent.

The above requirement may be satisfied if the applicants official high school transcript or diploma states that the applicant completed the portion of the foundation with endorsement or distinguished level of achievement curriculum or its equivalent that was available to the applicant, but was unable to complete the remainder of the curriculum solely because courses necessary to complete the remainder were unavailable to the applicant at the appropriate times in the applicant's high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the applicant's control.

An applicant may be given additional consideration based upon a holistic review process. Students will be given up to but no more than two additional points based on the holistic review process.  Points can be added when a student earns an ACT/SAT score below the quartile requirements.

1 point can be earned from leadership.

1 point can be earned from ONE of the following categories:

  • Underrepresented High School, or
  • Bi/Lingual, or
  • First generation college student