Freshmen Admissions Standards
An Extraordinary Undergraduate Experience Begins with You
The Office of Admissions reviews your application looking for evidence that you are prepared to be academically successful at the U. We assess applicants using a holistic review process that goes beyond GPA to evaluate each student’s individual qualifications and potential. Our process includes consideration of the following factors:
Primary Factors
The predominant consideration in your admissions decision is your academic record. We particularly emphasize:
- Rigorous course selection throughout high school career (particularly college-level courses such as AP, IB, and dual/concurrent enrollment)
- Grade trends
- Cumulative unweighted GPA
- Excellence in academic achievement, intellectual pursuits, and creative endeavors
- Satisfactory completion of all high school graduation requirements
Secondary Factors
The application includes prompts for you to share information about yourself beyond what can be seen on a transcript. While there is no minimum GPA to be admitted, 75% of freshmen admits to the U over the last few years had an unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. Completing the entire application provides the admissions committee with a more complete picture of the experiences, talents, and strengths you would bring to the U.
- How you commit your time outside of the classroom
- Explanations of any time taken away from school
- Reflections on your personal strengths, talents, and experiences
- Evidence of academic preparedness that does not appear on a transcript (i.e., standardized test scores, academic awards and distinctions, etc.)
** Likelihood of admission may also depend on the competitiveness of the applicant pool and University enrollment goals.
Additional Guidelines
If admitted prior to high school graduation, you must complete your senior year satisfactorily and have a final high school transcript showing that your high school diploma has been conferred sent for review.
Test Optional FAQs
The University of Utah is Test Optional for freshman applications for admission.
ACT/SAT scores are not required for:
- Standard admission
- Merit scholarships (including department scholarships)
- Admission to individual majors or programs of study
ACT/SAT scores are required for:
- Home school graduates
- Recipients of a high school equivalency credential through GED or HiSET
- Graduates of a US high school that is not regionally accredited
If you have already taken the exam, you can choose to submit those scores to our office for review. You will not be penalized in any way if you do not submit a test score, nor will you be specifically advantaged for submitting one.
If you want your test scores considered as part of our holistic admission process, you must do both of the following when you submit your application:
- Indicate on the application that you would like to have your test scores considered for admission.
- Self-report your test scores on the application. (We will not hold on processing your application to wait for official or future test scores to arrive).
While unofficial scores are used for the purposes of admission, admitted students may receive a request to submit official scores before they can continue their enrollment at the University of Utah.
You MUST submit an ACT or SAT score if any of the following apply:
- You are homeschooled
- You attend a U.S. high school that is not regionally accredited
- You received a GED or HiSET
Applications are only considered complete once all required documents have been received by the Office of Admissions.
Applications that are not complete by December 1 (for Summer/Fall 2023 applicants) will not be considered for merit-based scholarships.
Yes. University merit scholarships do not require test scores for consideration. More information on scholarship consideration can be found here.
ACT/SAT scores are not required. Follow the essay prompts in the Common Application or Beehive Application to apply to the Honors College.
All international applicants must provide proof of English proficiency. We know that our international students have the greatest potential for success when they have an effective comprehension of the English language. View approved ways to demonstrate English language proficiency.
An official test score is one that comes directly from the testing agency to the Office of Admissions. Test scores listed on transcripts or sent by anyone other than the testing agency are not considered official by the University of Utah.
Test scores can sometimes take up to a week to be received in our office and added to a student’s file.
Students who are required to submit an official test score will see an awaiting test score item on their checklist until official scores are received.
Please contact your admission counselor and let them know your name, UNID, and the change you would like to make. You can find your admission counselor here: Meet your Counselors | Admissions (utah.edu). If you are requesting to now have your test scores considered, you will be held to the timelines listed above.