Detailed Admission Requirements
Information for All Undergraduate Applicants
The following general University policies are applicable to all undergraduate applicants at both the beginning freshman and transfer student levels.
To be eligible for consideration for admission, an applicant must meet certain requirements in terms of age, high school graduation, high school credits and competence in English.
Age
An applicant must be at least fifteen years of age by the time of desired enrollment.
High School Graduation
An applicant must be a graduate of a regionally accredited high school, a school in Illinois recognized by the state superintendent of education, or a school elsewhere with a rating equivalent to full recognition; graduates of other secondary schools and nongraduates of secondary schools may be admitted under the provisions for use of the General Education Development Test.
General Educational Development Test (GED)
The achievement of satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development Test is acceptable in lieu of graduation from an accredited high school. This test alone will not fulfill all of the college preparatory subject requirements.
A minimum score of 410 on each test and an overall average of at least 450 are needed to provide the following high school credit: 9 semester of English and 8 semesters of social studies. To be eligible to take these tests, applicants must be at least eighteen years or age or have been out of school for at least one year.
If to be used in lieu of high school graduation, General Educational Development Test scores should be sent by the testing center directly to Undergraduate Admissions.
High School Credits
Freshman applicants for admission to all majors must present a total of at least 15 units of acceptable college preparatory schoolwork. A unit course of study in the secondary school is a course covering an academic year and including not less than the equivalent of 120 sixty-minute hours of classroom work. Two hours of work requiring little or no preparation outside the class are considered as the equivalent to one hour of prepared classroom work.
A freshman applicant who lacks a required high school subject may satisfy the requirement at either a community college or elsewhere prior to enrollment at the University. This information must be communicated on the application for admission. One semester in college is the equivalent of two semesters of high school coursework.
Under extenuating circumstances, a specific subject requirement may be waived for otherwise well-qualified freshman applicants. An applicant seeking a waiver of the subject pattern requirement should use the Additional Information question on the application to state the rationale for requesting such action.
The subject pattern requirements are waived for transfer applicants, but such applicants can fulfill the foreign language transfer and/or graduation requirements through high school coursework.
Description of Acceptable High School Courses
English: Studies in language, composition, and literature requiring practice in expository writing in all such work. Coursework should emphasize reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Foreign Language: Two years of any one foreign language (or completion of second level) fulfills the admission requirement.
Laboratory Science: Laboratory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics are preferred. Laboratory courses in astronomy and geology are also acceptable. General science is not acceptable.
Mathematics: Algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics. Applied business mathematics, pre-algebra and computer courses are not acceptable. Approved mathematics courses taken before high school will be counted toward the requirement.
Social Studies: History and government. Additional acceptable social studies include anthropology, economics, geography, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology.
Flexible Courses: Two courses from any of the above five subject categories. Approved art, music or vocational education courses may be counted in the flexible academic units category.
Competence in English. A minimum requirement for competence in English applies to all University students. Undergraduate applicants for admission may satisfy this minimum requirement by certifying that one of the following conditions has been fulfilled in a country where English is the primary language and in a school in which English is the primary language of instruction:
- Graduation with credit for four units, or the equivalent, of English from a secondary school;
- or successful completion of a minimum of two academic years of full-time study at the secondary school or collegiate level immediately prior to the proposed date of enrollment in the University.
For an applicant who does not meet one of the above conditions, evidence can be provided by achieving a satisfactory score on a test of competence in English. The test(s) to be used and the minimum scores(s) shall be subject to approval by University committees. This requirement may be waived upon agreement by the director of Undergraduate Admissions and the dean of the college concerned if evidence of competence in English presented by the applicant clearly justifies such action.
Admission Test Information
Each beginning freshman and lower-division transfer applicants, regardless of rank in class or length of time out of school, is required to submit an admission test score from either the American College Testing (ACT) program or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). An applicant will not complete the admission requirements until the test score is received by Undergraduate Admissions in the form of an official score report sent directly from the testing agency concerned. Complete information concerning the test, the dates of test administration, and the location of testing centers may be obtained from high school counselors.
Delayed Admission
The delayed admission program allows a newly admitted, degree-seeking student to defer the start of attendance to allow a planned interlude for specific, acceptable reasons between the term of acceptance and actual University attendance. A deferral may be requested for one or two semesters. (Certain programs may not be delayed for only one semester.) A delay for up to two years may be granted to a student whose United States military commitment has been extended for more than one year. A delay can be requested only for the same program to which the student was admitted.
The intent of this program is to allow students time to participate in rare, unique, extraordinary opportunities. Unfortunately, some students must delay admission due to unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies, serious health conditions and military orders. Financial complications or attendance at another academic institution are not regarded as reasons to delay admission to the University. Each individual’s situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The college to which the student was accepted must approve the request to delay admission.
For more information or to request a delay in your attendance term, contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Undergraduate Application Fee Waivers
Applicants for admission must submit a $40 ($50 for international applicants) application fee (amount subject to change) to help defray processing costs. The fee is nonrefundable. The application fee will be waived if the applicant meets one of the criteria listed below:
- The applicant submits our Undergraduate Application Fee Waiver form. Please note that the form must be signed by a school counselor, financial aid officer, social worker or other person who, on a professional basis, has some knowledge of the applicant's financial situation. A waiver that is signed by the applicant or a relative will not be accepted.
- The applicant is currently an employee of the University of Illinois or an allied agency (if eligible). Fee waivers are given to permanent academic and non-academic employees of the UI who have a 50-100% appointment and to certain employees of affiliated agencies whose appointments are in effect at the time the application is filed.
- The applicant is currently registered at the University of Illinois at Chicago or Springfield.
- The applicant submits proof of eligibility for a ACT/SAT fee waived.
- The applicant submits proof of eligibility for a Pell Grant.
- The applicant is a University of Illinois faculty, academic or staff retiree.
- The applicant is eligible under the Illinois Veteran Grant Program.
- Applicants under approved foreign exchange programs in which the University participates, and foreign students participating in approved exchange programs in which the waiver of fees is reciprocal.
- Students from other universities participating in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Program by taking courses at the University of Illinois.
- Cooperating teachers and administrators who receive assignment of practice teachers, who receive assignment of students meeting the clinical experience requirement in teacher education, or who cooperate in research projects related to teacher education, cooperating librarians, school-nurse teachers, social welfare field supervisors, recreation field supervisors, health-education field supervisors, speech pathology supervisors, developmental child care field supervisors, educational psychology supervisors, continuing education supervisors, industrial relations field supervisors, and physicians participating without salary in the instructional program of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign.
- Illinois Teacher of the Year recipients.
Health Requirements
Illinois law requires that all college students be immunized against certain vaccine-preventable diseases. These include:
| Disease |
Requirement |
| Measles |
Two vaccinations required, on or after the first birthday. |
| Mumps |
One vaccine |
| Rubella |
One vaccine |
| Tetanus/diphtheria |
US Citizens and Permanent Residents: booster within 10 years of the first day of the start of classes.
International Students: documentation of at least three tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations, the third given within 10 years of the first day of the start of classes. |
Students can receive any or all of the required immunizations at McKinley Health Center. There is a minimal charge for this service.
It is important to meet these requirements. If you do not do this prior to or during the first semester in which you are enrolled, your registration for the following semester will be blocked; you may also be dropped from any classes for which you may already have registered.
You will receive information on completing a health information form and providing documentation of immunization when admitted. You can also download the forms from the McKinley Health Center Web site.
All new international students are screened for tuberculosis. Screening consists of completion of a paper questionnaire and tuberculin skin test screening for students who have lived in certain countries outside of the United States. Those with positive skin tests may receive a chest X-ray to screen for pulmonary tuberculosis. Students who have a prior history of tuberculosis or who are receiving treatment for tuberculosis should bring copies of all treatment records, including medical notes and laboratory reports. There is no additional charge for tuberculosis screening.
If you need more information, visit the Immunization and Travel Clinic on our Web page http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/ or call 217/333-2702.
Freshman Information
A freshman applicant is a degree-seeking student who applies for admission while attending high school, regardless of the amount of college degree credit earned; or is a student enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term; or who, since graduating from high school, has not attended another postsecondary institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
A beginning freshman is required to remain in the college and the prescribed freshman program to which he or she has been admitted for at least two semesters of full-time study.
Guidelines for Accepting College Credits Earned by High School Students
- A college course taken by a high school student at a high school or college and applied toward the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign high school subject pattern requirement will not be awarded credit at the University.
- A transferable college course taken by a high school student and not applied toward the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign high school subject pattern requirement may be awarded credit at the University and the grade will be included in the transfer grade point average.
- College credit is awarded to degree-seeking undergraduate students who earn a sufficiently high score on (1) the Advanced Placement (AP) Program examinations, (2) the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program examinations, (3) the ACT English or the SAT Critical Reading portion of the exams, or (4) the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Departmental Proficiency Examinations. The AP, IB, and ACT/SAT exams must have been taken prior to beginning undergraduate studies. The departmental proficiency exams, covering many University courses normally open to freshmen and sophomores including the foreign languages, are typically offered each fall and spring semester as part of the "New Student" activities.
Early Admission Program
Under the Early Admission Program, a high school student meeting competitive admission requirements except receipt of a high school diploma may be enrolled in the University before graduating from high school. Although each application is treated as a special admission case, a prospective student must be at least 15 years of age by the time of desired term of enrollment, have earned 15 units toward a high school diploma, be in good academic standing, provide three letters of recommendation from high school staff members who are able to evaluate the student’s work, and meet competitive admission standards. In addition, a form signed by a counselor or principal acknowledging the student’s desire to attend Illinois is required. Those accepted in the program are enrolled in regular four-year curricula and treated as first-year students.
A student interested in this program may apply for admission no sooner than January preceding the fall term of planned entry so that the application can include complete information about the student’s fall semester. However, the application should be completed as soon as possible after January 1.
For complete information, contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Transfer Information
A first-time transfer applicant is one who is entering the University for the first-time as a degree-seeking student and has attended another postsecondary institution at the undergraduate level by the desired term of entry and does not meet the definition of a first-time freshman or a returning student.
A transfer student is obligated to remain in the college and program to which he or she has been admitted for at least the first semester of enrollment. A student on campus who wishes to transfer to another college must meet the accepting college’s admission requirements and compete for any available space.
Grade Point Averages
Grade point averages are calculated on the basis of all transferable courses attempted for which grades are assigned and for which grade-point values can be determined. When a course is repeated, the grade point average is computed using both grades and all hours for the course. Incomplete grades are accepted as defined by the initiating institution. Grades in other coursework completed, such as technical courses similar in content and level to courses taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, may be used in the evaluation for admission upon request of the college to which a student seeks admission. Please note that courses taken outside the United States will not be awarded grades (if processed through Undergraduate Admissions), although credit will be awarded if courses are determined to be transferable.
Since the grade point average used to establish admission qualifications is based on all transferable coursework attempted, applicants from institutions that delete grades for coursework failed and/or repeated may find their opportunities limited to special admission.
Acceptance of Credit from other Collegiate Institutions
Credit may be accepted for advanced standing from another accredited university or college. Accepted credit will be based on evaluation of the primary transcript of record of each institution attended. Duplicate credit will be counted in the grade point average but excluded from hours earned. A student who has passed a course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign may not be given credit for the same course taken elsewhere.
Illinois Colleges and Universities
Illinois participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer between institutions of the completed IAI General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). This agreement began with freshmen entering Illinois higher education institutions in summer 1998 or after. Completion of the IAI GECC ensures that a student’s general education requirements are met upon transfer to Illinois, although students will also need to complete additional campus, college, and major graduation requirements, in addition to those satisfied by the GECC. Completion of the GECC is recommended for students who are exploring their educational options, but students who have chosen a major at Illinois into which they intend to transfer will be better served following major-specific programs. Students who anticipate transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are strongly advised to work with their institutions’ academic advisors and to consult the University of Illinois Transfer Handbook for additional specific degree requirements in the program of their choice. Students can contact Undergraduate Admissions (217.333.0302; admissions@illinois.edu).
Traditional Domestic Transfer Credit
Admission of transfer students to the University of Illinois is based only on the transfer coursework that is similar in nature, content, and level to that offered by the University of Illinois. Other coursework completed, such as technical courses similar in content and level to courses taught at the University, will be used in evaluation for admission only upon the request of the dean of the college to which the student seeks admission.
Transfer credit, as defined, will be accepted at full value for admission purposes on transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign if earned at:
- Colleges and universities that offer degree programs comparable to programs offered by the University of Illinois and (1) are members of or hold Candidate for Accreditation status from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools or another regional accrediting association, or (2) are accredited by another accrediting agency that is a member of the Council of Postsecondary Accreditation; or
- Illinois public community colleges that are neither members of nor holders of Candidate for Accreditation status from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, but that are approved and recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) for a period of time not to exceed five years from the date on which the college registers its first class after achieving ICCB recognition.
Certain colleges and universities do not meet the above specifications but have been assigned a status by the University Committee on Admissions that permits credit to be accepted on a provisional basis for admission purposes for transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Transfer credit, as defined, from such colleges and universities is accepted only on a deferred basis, to be validated by satisfactory completion of additional work in residence. Validation through satisfactory work in residence may be accomplished be earning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or another fully accredited college or university, at least a 2.0 (A=4.0) grade point average (higher if prescribed by the major the student wishes to enter) in the first 12 to 30 (18 to 45 quarter) hours completed after transfer.
Credit transferred from an approved community or junior college is limited only by the provision that the student must earn at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours required for the degree at an approved four-year college or university after attaining junior standing. The student must meet the residence requirements that apply to all students for a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In all cases, the precise amount of transfer credit that is applicable toward a particular degree will be determined by the University college and department concerned.
International Transfer Credit
Admission of transfer students to the University of Illinois is based only on the transfer coursework that is similar in nature, content, and level to that offered by the University of Illinois. Other coursework completed, such as technical courses similar in content and level to courses taught at the University, will be used in evaluation for admission only upon the request of the dean of the college to which the student seeks admission.
International coursework will be accepted at full value for admission purposes on transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on the following conditions:
- The college or university offers degree programs comparable to programs offered by the University of Illinois.
- The college or university is sufficiently accredited or recognized by the home-country ministry of education or equivalent governmental authority.
International transcripts and coursework are evaluated according to the following requirements or considerations:
- Coursework is transferable with a grade of “C” or above only and will appear on the student’s Illinois transcript as credit only.
- Transcripts must be submitted from all institutions attended.
- Transcripts must be either in English or accompanied by certified translations.
- Transcripts are evaluated on a course-by-course basis.
The following types of courses generally are not transferable:
- Courses under three credits
- Certain courses pertaining to religion, politics, and military science
- Grammar courses pertaining to the student’s native language
- ESL and English language courses
- Courses which focus on practical or how-to instruction
- Vocational courses
- Law courses
Transfer students must meet the residence requirements that apply to all students for a degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In all cases, the precise amount of transfer credit that is applicable toward a particular degree will be determined by the University college and department concerned. Applicants might be asked to submit course descriptions and or syllabi.
Nontraditional Credit
Acceptance of credit awarded on bases other than collegiate classroom experiences will be considered for transfer admission purposes as follows:
Test credit for admission as transfer credit. Students presenting test credit awarded elsewhere, or test scores for admission will have that credit evaluated against cutoff scores established for those examinations on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Official score reports should be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions along with the application for admission to the University. A student presenting test credit as transfer credit may be granted transfer credit if the student (1) is transferring at least 12 graded semester hours of acceptable college-level classroom coursework from the institution or single campus in a multicampus institution that awarded credit by examination; and (2) has successfully completed advanced classroom coursework at the institution awarding the test credit in a course that is acceptable under University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign transfer credit policies and that can be considered as a sequential continuation of the material covered in the test; or (3) presents raw scores for evaluation.
After admission, students not awarded credit under this policy may attempt departmental proficiency examinations to receive credit in those areas in which they claim competence.
Credit for military training. Four semester hours of lower division military science will be granted for transfer admission if completion of six months or more of continuous active duty in the U.S. armed forces, including basic or recruit training, and an honorable discharge from active military duty to civilian life or transfer to the reserve component is posted on the military record (DD214). Submission of the military record (DD214) is required for credit to be granted. Candidates for graduation who are still in active military service are entitled to the same credit. Military science credit may also be granted for training completed in the service that is comparable to Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Such credit may be used for admission purposes up to a maximum of 16 semester hours. Credit duplicating ROTC credit will not be awarded. Lower division military science credit satisfies no graduation requirements for any University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign programs of study.
Credit for education in the armed forces. Official transcripts of military service school training may be submitted for comparison to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign courses for transfer credit.
Credit earned in academic courses sponsored by noncollegiate organizations, such as business, industry, and labor, and those not recognized by the April 1977 Board of Trustees policy statement are not normally accepted. This work may be evaluated by the college for potential credit toward a specific degree program after admission and registration, subject to validation by proficiency examination or successful completion of advanced coursework. Credit hours may be reduced from that shown by the originating agency.
All criteria are subject to the recommendation of the college of enrollment and the department that offers similar courses.
Credit for experiential learning. Experiential learning credit is not accepted for transfer admission purposes. A student who believes himself or herself to be knowledgeable in a specific course may be granted credit hours through established proficiency procedures by the college of enrollment and the department offering a similar course after admission and registration.
Nondegree Information
Nondegree Student Regulations
- Nondegree undergraduate students are assessed tuition at the comparable degree rate.
- Enrollment is limited to part-time status (fewer than 12 credit hours of course work in any semester).
- Course enrollment requires the approval of the department offering the course and the college of enrollment at the beginning of each semester.
- Nondegree students may not pre-register in classes for fall and spring semesters.
- Registration for the fall or spring term is not permitted until the fourth day of classes. The late registration charge will be waived for undergraduate nondegree students registering by the tenth day of classes.
- Registration after the tenth day of classes requires the written approval of the dean of the college of enrollment.
- The college of enrollment has the right to terminate a continuing nondegree student’s registration authorization at any time prior to beginning a term.
- The same grading system is applicable to both degree and nondegree students. Credit earned on nondegree status will not be applicable to a degree except by subsequent admission to degree status and approval of the college.
- To be considered for degree-status enrollment, nondegree-status students must apply for degree-seeking admission.
- Nondegree students admitted to a college for summer to continue in the fall have the option of registering for summer and continuing in the fall, or registering initially for fall.
Concurrent Enrollment with Parkland
A student in good academic standing at Parkland College or at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign may concurrently enroll in courses offered by the other institution if such courses are not available at the student’s primary campus. Prior written approval for concurrent enrollment must be obtained from the dean of students at Parkland College and the appropriate college office at the University campus. Generally, concurrent enrollees must take fewer hours at the secondary institution than at the primary institution. Concurrent enrollees are part-time nondegree students at the secondary institution and pay tuition and fees regularly assessed at that institution in accordance with the amount of work taken. The application fee is waived.
Course Attendance by Illinois High School Students
Qualified local high school students are permitted, while in high school, to attend University classes for college credit. They may also enroll for college credit in the Guided Individual Study program offered by the University through the Office of Continuing Education.
To qualify for high school and on-campus University concurrent enrollment, a student must be recommended by his or her high school counselor or principal and have a 3.5 (A=4.0) grade point average and have prerequisite courses completed. Students are assessed tuition and fees at the regular undergraduate student rates. Acceptance to the program does not guarantee enrollment into desired course(s).
Courses taken by these students involve work over and above the secondary school curriculum. Grades and course credits will appear on their permanent University records and on official transcripts. If these students enter the University after high school graduation, the courses, if applicable, will be credited toward University graduation.
A student applying for on-campus admission under this program should be prepared to submit the following materials upon request:
- A nondegree application for admission to the University (not required of students who were previously enrolled under this plan.)
- An official copy of the high school transcript covering all work completed in high school and courses in progress, together with ACT or SAT test scores if available. Acceptance under this program does not guarantee later admission as a degree candidate.
Information and applications for this program may be obtained from Undergraduate Admissions. A separate undergraduate admission application is required if a student desires to attend the University after high school graduation or under the Early Admission Program.
Parkland Pathway Program
Parkland Pathway to Illinois is an opportunity for qualifying Illinois high school graduates to attend Parkland College and then to gain guaranteed admission to certain University of Illinois majors. Participants are members of both the Parkland College and University of Illinois undergraduate communities. Among program benefits, participants receive personalized mentoring and academic counseling; are granted access to events and opportunities exclusive to the University of Illinois student body, including University housing, libraries, extracurricular activities, and recreational facilities; and are eligible to enroll in limited Illinois instruction as nondegree students at the same tuition rate they are charged at Parkland. Upon completion of the program, participants apply to Illinois as degree-seeking students.