Admission Requirements

First-Year Applicant

The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska establishes minimum admission requirements. Individual colleges may require additional credentials or have other requirements for specific programs.

Documentation Needed

  • Final Official High School Transcript or GED Scores

    • Must be sent directly from the high school to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
    • The transcript must include a cumulative record of all coursework completed.  
  • GED (General Education Diploma)

    • UNO recognizes the GED  as equivalent to a high school diploma.
    • Some credit may be assigned based on subject area scores, but the GED alone may not meet the 16 core course requirements.
  • Homeschooled students

    • Must submit a typed transcript (semester format) of all coursework completed.
    • The transcript must include grades, course completion dates, and a signature from the administrator of grades.
    • Additional documents may be required for admission decision. 
  • College Credit Earned During High School

    • Must be sent directly from the college’s registrar's office to UNO.
    • Early Entry and Dual Enrollment students at UNO do not need to request a transcript. 

Assured Admission (First-Year Applicants)

Graduates of a regionally accredited high school or who have completed the equivalent training (GED) must meet the following criteria for assured admission:

Core Course Requirements (16 units)

All students are expected to complete the following 16 high school core course units:

  • English – 4 units
    Must include intensive reading and writing. Dual language or ELL English classes do not satisfy this requirement.
  • Mathematics – 3 units
    Must include Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.
  • Social Sciences – 3 units
    Must include at least one unit of American and/or World History and one additional unit from history, government, or geography.
  • Natural Sciences – 3 units
    Must include two units from biology, chemistry, physics, or earth sciences. One must include a laboratory component.
  • World Languages – 2 units
    * Some NU colleges may require world language for admission. For colleges that require world language, both units must be in the same language. Students who do not take two years of world language in high school may still qualify for admission to colleges without a world language requirement. BOR RP-5.2.1 Admission Standards 
  • Elective – 1 unit
    One additional unit from any of the academic areas above.

Note: One unit is equivalent to one school year in grades 9–12.

Performance Requirements

Students must meet one of the following: 

  • Rank in the top 50% of their graduating class.
  • Earn an ACT composite score of 20 or higher (or SAT equivalent). 
  • Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (by the end of the sixth semester of high school or later).   

Transfer Applicants

Applicants must report all collegiate courses on their admissions application, including:

  • Courses from accredited and unaccredited institutions.
  • Courses dropped, failed, or incomplete.  

Failure to report previous postsecondary coursework may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the university. 

Transfer Admission Criteria 

Documentation Needed

  • Final official high school transcript or official GED equivalency scores 

    • Must be sent directly from the high school to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions (if fewer than 24 transferable credit hours).
  • Official college transcript(s) 

    • Must be sent directly from the registrar’s office of each institution attended.

Exception:Transfer students with 24 or more transferable credit hours are not required to meet high school core course requirements.

Transfer Additional Notes 

  • Students on academic suspension or dismissal within the last year will be denied admission. 
  • Transcripts are retained for one year if a student does not enroll. 
  • Provisionally admission students must submit all required transcripts within the first eight weeks of enrollment. 

Awarding of Transfer Credits

  • Transcripts from previous institutions are maintained in the University Registrar's Office.
  • The dean of the UNO College determines how transfer credits will apply toward degree requirements.
  • Credits and grades earned at other University of Nebraska campuses are accepted and computed into the student’s GPA as part of their official record.
  • Courses must have a grade of “C-” or better to transfer from accredited institutions.
    • The College of Business requires a minimum grade of “C” or better for transfer credit.
  • Credit Hour Limits:
    • A maximum of 64 semester credit hours can be transferred from a regionally accredited two-year college to most UNO undergraduate colleges.
    • The College of Engineering allows up to 66 semester credit hours from a two-year institution. 
    • Each UNO college has a minimum number of credit hours to be completed at UNO prior to graduation.
  • International Transfer Credits:
    • Students transferring credits from institutions outside the U.S. may be required to submit a course syllabus (with translation) for evaluation.

Nebraska System Students

Transferring or Change of Campus

Students transferring from another University of Nebraska campus must:

  • Follow Change of Campus instructions.
  • Complete an undergraduate application. 

Note: Students on academic suspension or dismissal within the last year will be denied admission.

Visiting (Non-Degree) or Intercampus

A Non-Degree/Visiting student is someone from another NU campus taking courses at UNO for a semester without enrolling in a degree program.

  • Must submit an Intercampus Application each semester.
  • Does not need to complete an undergraduate application.
  • Financial holds must be cleared before applying.
  • Students on academic suspension within the last year are ineligible to enroll at UNO.

Former UNO Students (Readmission Criteria)

Former UNO students who have not enrolled in two or more years must submit a new ​Application for Undergraduate Admission. 

  • Students on academic suspension must schedule an advising/reinstatement meeting before reapplying.
  • If you have completed additional coursework at another institution, please submit the official transcripts for those courses as part of the admissions process.

Non-Degree (Visiting) Students 

Individuals may apply as visiting (non-degree) students to take courses at UNO for personal or professional development without enrolling in a degree program.

Requirements: 

  • Must be in good academic standing.
  • Applicants who were suspended from another institution within the past year are not eligible for admission.
  • Applicants who were denied admission as a degree-seeking student cannot be admitted as a non-degree student.
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED.
  • Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships.

English Proficiency Policy

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency through one of the following:

  • Completion of four years of standard high school English in an accredited U.S. high school.
  • ACT English subscore of 20+ (or SAT equivalent).
  • Completion of an AA or AS degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution with a GPA of 2.5+.
  • Completion of English Composition I or II with a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary institution.
  • Submission of official English proficiency test scores from an approved agency.

Early Entry Admissions Program

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Early Entry Program allows high-achieving high school students to take college courses at UNO while still in high school. This program provides a head start on college and helps students earn university credits that can be applied toward a UNO degree and may transfer to other institutions.

Why Join the Early Entry Program?

  • Take college-level courses while in high school.
  • Earn university credit that applies to a UNO degree and may transfer elsewhere.
  • Gain experience in a college setting to prepare for the transition to university life.

Who Can Apply?

  • Students with at least a ‘B’ average (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) in high school coursework.
  • Students approved by their high school counselor (or individually reviewed if homeschooled).
  • Students whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.

How to Apply

  1. Apply online at apply.early.
  2. Submit an unofficial high school transcript with your application.
  3. Get approval online from your high school counselor and parent/guardian.

Important Details

  • Students may take up to two UNO classes per term.
  • A new application is required each semester, but no additional application fee is needed.
  • After high school graduation, students who want to continue taking courses must submit an Undergraduate Admission Application and meet UNO’s admission requirements.

Dual Enrollment Program

The Dual Enrollment Program lets high-achieving high school students earn college credit while taking certain high school classes. These classes are taught by high school teachers who are also approved as UNO adjunct professors.

How It Works

  • Earn both high school and college credit for approved courses.
  • Classes are taught at your high school by your teachers.
  • Not all high school courses qualify—talk to your school counselor to see if your school participates.

For questions, contact the UNO Early Entry/Dual Enrollment Program coordinator at 402-554-3810 or visit the UNO Early Entry or Dual Enrollment websites.