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 additional requirements for specific programs.
Documentation
A final official high school transcript or official GED equivalency scores must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions, must include a cumulative record of all coursework completed, and must reflect the official graduation date.
Homeschooled students must submit a typed transcript in semester format that includes grades, course completion dates, and a signature from the administrator of grades.
Additional documentation may be required for an admission decision.
College credit earned during high school must be sent directly from the issuing college’s registrar’s office. Early Entry and Dual Enrollment students who completed coursework at UNO are not required to submit a transcript.
Assured Admission (First-Year Applicants)
Graduates of a regionally accredited high school or students who have completed the equivalent training through the GED must meet the following criteria for assured admission.
Core Course Requirements
All students are expected to complete 16 units of high school core coursework.
English
Four units. Must include intensive reading and writing. Dual language or ELL English courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Mathematics
Three units. Must include Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.
Social Sciences
Three units. Must include at least one unit of American or World History and one additional unit from history, government, or geography.
Natural Sciences
Three units. Must include two units from biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science. At least one unit must include a laboratory component.
World Languages
Two units. Some University of Nebraska colleges require world language coursework for admission. For colleges that require world language, both units must be in the same language. Students who do not complete two units of world language in high school may still qualify for admission to colleges without a world language requirement, in accordance with Board of Regents Policy RP-5.2.1.
Elective
One unit. One additional unit from any of the academic areas listed above.
Note: One unit is equivalent to one year of coursework completed in grades 9 through 12.
Performance Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
- Rank in the top 50 percent of their graduating class
- Earn an ACT composite score of 20 or higher, or the SAT equivalent
- Earn 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 colleges and universities attended on the admission application, including coursework from accredited and unaccredited institutions, as well as courses that were dropped, failed, or left incomplete. Failure to report previous postsecondary coursework may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the University.
Admission Criteria
Transfer applicants must be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.
College-Specific GPA Requirements
College of Arts and Sciences 2.0 GPA
College of Engineering 2.5 GPA
College of Public Affairs and Community Service 2.0–2.5 GPA (varies by major)
Documentation
A final official high school transcript or official GED equivalency scores are required if the applicant has earned fewer than 24 transferable credit hours. Documents must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Official transcripts from each college or university attended must be sent directly from the registrar’s office of the issuing institution.
Applicants with 24 or more transferable credit hours are not required to meet high school core course requirements.
Additional Notes
Applicants who have been on academic suspension or dismissal within the past year will be denied admission.
Official transcripts are retained for one year if the applicant does not enroll.
Students admitted provisionally must submit all required transcripts within the first eight weeks of enrollment.
Awarding of Transfer Credits
Official transcripts from previous institutions are maintained in the Office of the University Registrar. The dean of the UNO college determines how transfer credits apply toward degree requirements.
Courses must have a grade of "C-" or better to transfer from regionally accredited institutions. The College of Business Administration requires a grade of “C” or better for transfer credit for BSBA core courses, BSBA concentration courses, and BSBA major courses. See more details on the BSBA Requirements page in this catalog.
A maximum of 64 semester credit hours may be transferred from a regionally accredited two-year institution to most UNO undergraduate colleges. The College of Engineering allows up to 66 semester credit hours.
Each UNO college requires a minimum number of credit hours to be completed at UNO prior to graduation.
Applicants transferring credit from institutions outside the United States may be required to submit course syllabi, with translation, for evaluation.
Nebraska System Students
Students who are currently enrolled at, or transferring from, another University of Nebraska campus are considered Nebraska System students.
Transferring or Change of Campus
Students transferring from another University of Nebraska campus must complete the University of Nebraska Change of Campus process and must also submit an undergraduate application for admission at apply.unomaha.edu.
Students who have been on academic suspension or dismissal within the past year will be denied admission.
Visiting or Intercampus Students
A visiting or intercampus student is a student from another University of Nebraska campus who enrolls at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for one term without seeking a degree.
Visiting or intercampus students must submit an Intercampus Application each semester and must clear all financial holds prior to enrollment.
Visiting or intercampus students are not required to submit an undergraduate application.
Students who have been on academic suspension within the past year are not eligible to enroll at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Former UNO Students (Readmission Criteria)
Former University of Nebraska at Omaha students who have not been enrolled for two or more academic years must submit a new Application for Undergraduate Admission.
Students who have been on academic suspension must schedule an advising or reinstatement meeting prior to reapplying for admission.
Applicants who completed coursework at another institution after their last term of enrollment at UNO must submit official transcripts from each institution attended as part of the admissions process. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution.
Non-Degree (Visiting) Students
Individuals may apply as non-degree students to take courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for personal or professional development without enrolling in a degree program.
Eligibility Requirements
Non-degree applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be in good academic standing
- Not have been suspended from another institution within the past academic year
- Not have been denied admission as a degree-seeking student
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
Non-degree students are not eligible for federal financial aid or institutional scholarships.
English Proficiency Policy
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English to succeed in academic coursework at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
English proficiency may be demonstrated through one of the following:
- Completion of four years of standard high school English coursework at an accredited United States high school
- An ACT English subscore of 20 or higher, or the SAT equivalent
- Completion of an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited United States institution with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Completion of English Composition I or English Composition II with a grade of C or higher at a regionally accredited United States postsecondary institution
- Submission of official English proficiency examination scores from an approved testing agency
Official test scores and documentation must be submitted directly from the issuing institution or testing agency.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha reserves the right to require additional documentation or assessment to determine English proficiency, in accordance with Board of Regents policy.
Early Entry and Dual Enrollment
The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers programs that allow eligible high school students to earn university credit prior to high school graduation. Early Entry and Dual Enrollment are distinct programs with different eligibility criteria and application processes.
Early Entry Admissions Program
The Early Entry Admissions Program allows high-achieving high school students to enroll in University of Nebraska at Omaha courses while still enrolled in high school. Courses are taken on the UNO campus or online and earn university credit that may be applied toward a UNO degree and may transfer to other institutions.
Eligibility
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A minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
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Approval from a high school counselor, or individual review for homeschooled students
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Demonstrated English proficiency for students whose first language is not English
Application Process
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Submit an online Early Entry Application
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Provide an unofficial high school transcript
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Obtain approval from a high school counselor and a parent or legal guardian
Additional Information
Students may enroll in up to two UNO courses per term. A new application is required for each term. Students who wish to continue enrollment after high school graduation must submit an Application for Undergraduate Admission and meet all undergraduate admission requirements.
Dual Enrollment Program
The Dual Enrollment Program allows eligible high school students to earn both high school and university credit by completing approved courses taught at their high school by instructors who are approved as University of Nebraska at Omaha adjunct faculty.
Program Overview
- Courses are taught at the student’s high school
- Credit is awarded by both the high school and UNO
- Not all high schools participate in the Dual Enrollment Program
Students should consult their high school counselor to determine whether their school participates and which courses are eligible.
For additional information, students may contact the UNO Early Entry and Dual Enrollment Program office or visit the program websites.