Admission Requirements

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First-Year Applicants

The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska establishes minimum admission requirements for prospective students. Individual colleges may require additional credentials or have other requirements for specific programs. It also should be noted these requirements may not pertain to transfer students, international applicants, readmission, or non-degree students.

Documentation Needed

  1. Final official high school transcript and/or official GED Equivalency Scores
    1. Final official high school transcript must be sent to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly from the high school. The high school transcript must be a cumulative record of all high school coursework completed. If the high school transcript does not verify graduation at the time the application is submitted, a final high school transcript must be sent following graduation.
    2. GED (General Education Diploma): The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) acknowledges the General Educational Diploma (GED) as equivalent to a high school diploma. Some credit can be assigned to meet the admission requirements based on subject area scores on the GED exam but this alone may not be sufficient to meet the 16 core course requirements.
    3. Homeschooled students are required to submit a typed transcript (semester format) of all coursework the student has completed. Grades or averages earned in each course must be included on the transcript. The transcript should include an anticipated/final completion date as well as a signature of the administrator of grades. Additional supporting documents may be requested by the university to assist officials in making an admission decision.
  2. Official transcripts from college credit earned during high school

NOTE: Documents should be sent directly to the UNO Undergraduate Admissions Office. Hand-carried or student-submitted transcripts are considered unofficial. If If you attended UNO in the Early Entry or Dual Enrollment Program, it is not necessary for you to request a transcript.

Assured Admission (First-Year Applicants)

Graduates of a regionally-accredited high school or who have completed the equivalent training (General Education Diploma - GED) and students who are home-schooled must meet the following criteria for assured admission:

Core Course Requirements

All students are expected to have met the following 16 core course requirements in high school or a combination of high school and college coursework. Resource or special education classes completed in high school cannot be used to satisfy the core requirements. A list of eligible high school classes in Nebraska is available online at: schoolcounselors.unl.edu/curriculum/curriculum-list/

  1. English - 4 units1 All units must include intensive reading and writing experience. Innovative interdisciplinary courses and courses in speech and journalism may be substituted if they include substantial amounts of reading and writing. Dual language or ELL English classes completed in high school do not satisfy the English core course requirement.
  2. Mathematics - 3 units1 Must include Algebra I, II, and Geometry.
  3. Social Sciences - 3 units1 At least one unit of American and/or world history and one additional unit of history, American government, and/or geography; and a third unit of any social science discipline or subject.
  4. Natural Sciences - 3 units1 At least two of the three units selected from biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences. One of the units must include laboratory instruction.
  5. World Languages - 2 units1 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
  6. Additional Requirement - 1 unit1 One unit chosen from any of the above academic disciplines.
1

 A unit is equivalent to one school year in a class, grades 9-12.

Performance Requirements

In addition to meeting the above core course requirements, students applying for admission shall:

  1. Be ranked in the 50th percentile or higher of their graduating class in an accredited high school; or 
  2. Have received an ACT composite score of 20 (enhanced) or greater, or its SAT equivalent; or 
    1. ​Official scores are to be sent to UNO directly from the testing service; the UNO ACT code is 2464. The UNO SAT code is 6420.
  3. Have earned a minimum of 3.00 cumulative high school GPA at the conclusion of their sixth semester of high school or later. 
 

Transfer Applicants

Applicants must mention any collegiate courses taken after high school on their admissions application. Classes completed at any accredited or unaccredited school, as well as schoolwork dropped, failed, or left undone, are all included. Students must not choose whether to record previous postsecondary coursework.  Failure to do so will result in your application being denied and/or your dismissal from the university.

Transfer students must be in good standing at their previous college or university to be considered for admission.

Many of UNO’s undergraduate colleges have a minimum GPA requirement of 2.00 or above, as well as extra entrance criteria. Examine the individual college and program requirements in this catalog.

Documentation Needed

  1. Final official high school transcript and/or official GED Equivalency Scores
    1. ​Transfer students must be graduates of a regionally accredited (North Central or equivalent) high school or have completed the equivalent training (GED). An Associate of Arts (AA) degree or Associate of Science (AS) degree from a community college in Nebraska will satisfy the proof of high school graduation requirement. Official transcripts showing proof of graduation or equivalent training will be required.
    2. EXCEPTION: Students who transfer to UNO with 24 credit hours of transferable coursework will not be required to have met the high school core course requirements, either in high school or in their previous postsecondary studies. 
  2. Official college transcript(s) must be sent directly to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions from the Registrar’s Office of each previous college or university attended regardless of whether credit was earned. If you are currently enrolled in college courses, please request (prior to finishing classes) an official transcript sent when final grades are posted, to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If the records are not in English, an official translation must be provided by the student.

Transfer Additional Notes

  1. Students placed on academic suspension or dismissed from any institution within the last calendar year will be denied admission. Any student providing a transcript indicating suspension or dismissal within the last year will be disenrolled from classes and any tuition paid to date for the semester would be refunded.
  2. Transcripts sent to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions for students who do not enroll will be retained for one year. If the student applies for admission beyond that, new transcripts will need to be provided for admission consideration.
  3. Students who are granted provisional admission must submit all transcripts required for admission within the first eight weeks of enrollment. One term of provisional admission/enrollment is allowed with unofficial transcripts on file. It is the student’s responsibility to provide all official transcripts, failure to do so may result in an enrollment hold blocking enrollment and ultimately preventing graduation from UNO.
  4. Official transcripts from the prior school MUST be delivered directly to the UNO office of undergraduate admission. Transcripts delivered by hand or filed by students are not regarded as official.

Awarding of Transfer Credits

  1. Transcripts from previous institutions are part of the student’s permanent record maintained in the University Registrar's Office. The dean of the UNO College will determine how transfer credits will apply toward degree requirements.
  2. Credits and grades earned at other University of Nebraska campuses are accepted, computed into the student’s grade point average, and will become a part of the permanent record from which official transcripts will be made.
  3. Only courses with a grade of “C-” or better will be accepted for transfer from accredited two and/or four-year colleges and universities. The College of Business will only accept courses with a grade of "C" or better.
  4. Sixty-four (64) semester credit hours is the maximum allowed for transfer to most undergraduate UNO colleges from regionally accredited two-year colleges. The College of Engineering will allow a maximum of sixty-six (66) semester hours of credit from a two-year college.
  5. Each UNO college has a required number of credit hours to be completed at UNO prior to graduation.
  6. Students wishing to transfer credits from recognized institutions outside the United States may need to provide a course syllabus with translation, if applicable, for evaluation of transfer credits.

Nebraska System Students

Transferring/Change of Campus in the NU System

Nebraska System Students

Degree Seeking Students Transferring to UNO

  1. If you are a student who is attending or has attended one of the four campuses of the University of Nebraska System and are completing an application for admission as a degree-seeking student to UNO, you must follow the University of Nebraska System Change of Campus instructions.

  2. An undergraduate application will need to be completed.

  3. The office of Undergraduate Admissions may change the program of study if a student does not meet the minimum required grade point average per college.

    1. ​College of Arts and Sciences 2.0 GPA

    2. College of Business Administration 2.5 GPA

    3. College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media 2.25 GPA

    4. College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences 2.0 GPA

    5. College of Engineering 2.5 GPA

    6. College of Information Science & Technology 2.5 GPA

    7. College of Public Affairs and Community Service 2.5 GPA

  4. Students placed on academic suspension or those dismissed from any institution within the last calendar year will be denied admission regardless of the student’s eligibility to return to the prior institution. Acknowledge suspension or dismissal after admission within the last year will be disenrolled from classes, and any tuition paid to date for the semester would be refunded.

Visiting Students of UNO

  1. All visiting students from any of the University of Nebraska campuses must complete the Intercampus Application form.
  2. Every semester, an updated Intercampus Application form needs to be turned in to the UNO Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  3. An undergraduate application will NOT need to be completed.
  4. Financial holds at the degree-granting campus must be cleared before submitting the Intercampus Application form.
  5. Intercampus students placed on academic suspension at any of the University of Nebraska campuses within the past calendar year are ineligible to enroll at UNO.

Former UNO Students

Readmission Criteria

  1. Former UNO students who have not been enrolled at UNO within the last two years must complete an Application for Undergraduate Admission.
  2. The Undergraduate Admissions Office denies readmission to any student under academic suspension who has been out of school for less than one calendar year.
  3. Students who have been academically suspended from UNO shall schedule an advising/reinstatement meeting with the College from which the student was suspended. If academically suspended students have not taken classes within the last two years, they will need to reapply to UNO first and then schedule their advising/reinstatement meeting.

  4. The office of Undergraduate Admissions may change the program of study if a student does not meet the minimum required grade point average per college.

    1. ​College of Arts and Sciences 2.0 GPA

    2. College of Business Administration 2.5 GPA

    3. College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media 2.25 GPA

    4. College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences 2.0 GPA

    5. College of Engineering 2.5 GPA

    6. College of Information Science & Technology 2.5 GPA

    7. College of Public Affairs and Community Service 2.5 GPA

  5. If the student has attended other colleges since last attending UNO, official college transcripts are required for any coursework at other institutions attempted.

English Proficiency Policy

Applicants can fulfill the English proficiency admission requirement with one of the following:

  1. Applicants expecting to graduate from an accredited U.S. high school must show acceptable performance in four units (years) of standard high school English courses. 
  2. Having an ACT English subscore or SAT equivalent of 20 or higher.
  3. Completion of an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. A grade of C or better must be earned with a 2.5 or higher grade point average
  4. Completion of English Composition I  or English Composition II from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. A grade of C or better must be earned with a 2.5 or higher grade point average.

Undergraduate Applicants Whose Country is Not English Speaking

For admission purposes, applicants whose country is not English speaking must demonstrate English proficiency. 

Students can fulfill the English proficiency admission requirement by submitting scores from the testing agencies. Students are responsible for contacting the appropriate testing agency to submit official scores. UNO will only accept scores that come directly from the testing agency.

*College of Engineering Programs require a TOEFL (writing sub score of 20) and/or IELTS (writing sub score of 5.5).

SPECIAL NOTE: TOEFL results from other institutions may not be used for direct application to the university.

Non-Degree/Visiting Student Applicants

  1. Individuals who do not intend to complete a degree at UNO may apply as non-degree/visiting students.
  2. A visiting student from another institution or a summer session applicant interested in enrolling for personal or professional enrichment may be admitted as a non-degree student.
  3. Non-Degree/Visiting Admission Criteria
    1. Non-degree students from another college or university are expected to be in good academic standing. Any student placed on academic dismissal or suspension from any college or university within the last year will be denied admission, regardless of their eligibility to return to the prior institution. The student would be eligible to reapply for admission to UNO after one full year following the end of the term in which the student was last suspended.
    2. Any student denied admission at UNO as a degree-seeking student is not eligible to apply as a Non-Degree/Visiting student.
    3. A Non-Degree student must be a high school graduate or hold a high school equivalency diploma (GED).
  4. Students changing from a Non-Degree classification to a degree program will be expected to provide additional documentation and meet admission requirements. An Application for Undergraduate Admission to the degree program must be submitted.
  5. The Non-Degree classification is not recommended for certification, recertification, or for enrolling in professional education courses.
  6. Non-Degree students are not eligible for scholarships or financial aid.

Early Entry Admissions Program

Through the University of Nebraska at Omaha Early Entry Program, high school students who are currently enrolled and demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and promise can enroll in regular college courses on the university's campus. The UNO Early Entry Program invites high school students whose accomplishments, maturity, aptitude, and ambitions call for special attention to apply. Students who enroll early in university courses do so at a level not offered by their high schools. This curriculum is intended to supplement, not replace, the student's existing educational plans.

Some opportunities a student may gain by enrolling in the UNO Early Entry Program are:

  • Early Entry students may be enrolled in high school and at the university concurrently. Courses may be taken during the fall or spring semesters or during the summer sessions. Students enrolled in the Early Entry Program attend regular university classes and receive university credit.
  • The college credits earned may be applied toward a UNO degree and are usually transferrable to other colleges, giving students a head start on their college programs. The program is not restricted to high school students planning to attend UNO after graduation.
  • Enrolling as an Early Entry student allows advanced high school students the opportunity to broaden their college education by getting an early start and enhances the successful transition to college.

Requirements for Admission to the Early Entry Program

To be admitted to this program, the UNO Office of Admissions must receive the following:

  • An application must be submitted online at applyearly.unomaha.edu.
  • An unofficial high school transcript of all coursework completed to date must accompany the Early Entry Application.  All correspondence relating to the Early Entry Program should be addressed to:

Kelly Malone
Office of General Education and Dual Enrollment
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182

  • The student must have achieved a minimum ‘B’ average in all high school academic coursework (3.00 on a 4.00 scale). If a GPA from an accredited high school is not available, the ACT or SAT (or equivalent achievement test) may be required to determine the student’s academic potential/eligibility.

  • Online approval of courses from the high school counselor based on the student’s academic performance. Recommendations for home-schooled students are handled individually.
  • Online approval from the parent or guardian as indicated on the online application.
  • Students whose language of nurture is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Additionally, all education records presented to the university must be in English.

Additional Information Regarding the Early Entry Program

  • A maximum of two UNO classes may be taken each term.
  • A new Early Entry application must be completed each semester a student wishes to be considered for this program. A new application fee would not be required.
  • Once a student has graduated from high school, in order to continue enrollment at the university, the student must submit an Application for Undergraduate Admission, complete official high school transcript and ACT or SAT results, and meet the minimum freshman admission requirements established by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Inquiries regarding the Early Entry program should be directed to the UNO Early Entry Program coordinator at 402.554.3810. For more information, please visit the Early Entry website. 

Dual Enrollment Program

Dual Enrollment enables academically outstanding students to receive college credit while still in high school. The courses are taught in area high schools by high school staff who have been accepted as adjunct professors by their respective UNO academic departments. 

Not all high school courses are qualified since the courses are the outcome of alignment between the area of high school and college courses demanding college-level work. To find out which classes are acceptable and whether your school is a part of the UNO Dual Enrollment Program, speak with your high school counselor.  Please visit the Dual Enrollment website for further details.