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Admission Requirements for International Freshman

Applications submitted for the University of Cincinnati’s Uptown (main) Campus are reviewed holistically, considering every item provided in the application file. Applications are read by admission counselors, who are trained to use application information—both academic and personal—to more fully understand who the applicant is, how likely they are to be academically successful in a main campus program, and what attributes the student will bring to our campus community. Consequently, there is not a “minimum” GPA or ACT/SAT test score, just as there is not a guaranteed admission based on a student’s profile.

A student will be reviewed for admission once all of the following are received by the Office of International Admissions:

All first-year undergraduate applicants must apply online using The Common Application. The application includes:

We must receive official transcripts showing the current year’s subjects and the previous 3 years’ subjects. Transcripts should include a certified English translation, if needed. There are two options for submitting your transcripts, and you only need to choose to do one of them:

  • You can request that a high school official upload the transcripts via the Common Application, or
  • You can submit the official or notarized, sealed transcripts through the physical mail.

English language requirements vary by academic college. You can find your academic college by searching for your program here.

Proof of English Ability Requirements by Academic College
College ACT ELS IELTS PTE SAT TOEFL
College of Arts & Sciences 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Engineering programs) 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum of 6.0 on speaking, minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 20 on speaking, minimum of 15 on each section
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Engineering Technology programs) 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
Lindner College of Business 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum of 6.0 on speaking, minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning - Design & Architecture 20 English 112 Graduation 6.5 Overall minimum 5.5 on each section 53 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 79 iBT minimum of 20 on speaking, minimum of 15 on each section
College of Medicine 20 English 112 Graduation - - 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing -
College of Nursing 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing -
College of Allied Health 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
Blue Ash College 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section
Clermont College 20 English 112 Graduation 6.0 Overall minimum of 5.5 on each section 46 520 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 66 iBT minimum of 15 on each section

Proof of English is not required if the student has one of the following:

  • You have taken a full year of high school in the U.S.A. and earned a passing grade in one year of Standard English (not ESL). This must be shown on your transcripts.
  • You have earned a passing score on the O Level Exam.
  • You have passed the first year of IB English (SL or HL) with a score of 5 or higher.
  • You are from or have attended a full year of school in a country in which has been deemed as English proficient.

Math ability requirements vary by academic college. You can find your academic college by searching for your program here.

Proof of Math Ability Requirements by Academic College
College ACT MPT SAT
College of Arts & Science 22 420 550
College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services 26 430 610
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences 29 750 660
Lindner College of Business 24 500 570
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning 23 500 560
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning - Design & Architecture 29 700 660
College of Allied Health - Health Sciences 23 500 560
College of Allied Health - all other majors 22 430 540
Blue Ash College - - -
Clermont College - - -

Proof of Math is required for the UC Global Scholarship, full admission after receiving a Conditional Letter of Admission, or those exempt from the English Language Requirement.

Deadlines

  • Fall Semester: Early Action Deadline December 1; Rolling Deadline March 1
  • Spring Semester: November 1
  • Summer Semester: March 1

Early Action is a non-binding plan that gives applicants priority consideration to our more competitive programs. Additionally, students need to apply by the Early Action deadline to be considered for Honors.

Rolling means that we accept applications on a space available basis.