College Entrance Requirements

Click on the links below to learn about the entrance requirements for each type of college or university:
Minimum Course Requirements for Undergraduate Admission to UNC Institutions
Individual constituent institutions may require other courses in addition to the minimum requirements. For some transfer students and students who graduated from high school prior to 1990, special considerations have been made.

Effective in Fall 2006

To be considered for admission, students will need to submit the SAT I or ACT with the Writing Component. The ACT without the Writing Component will not be accepted.
Six course units in language, including
  • four units in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature, and
  • two units of a language other than English.
Four course units of mathematics**, in any of the following combinations:
  • algebra I and II, geometry, and one unit beyond algebra II,
  • algebra I and II, and two units beyond algebra II, or
  • integrated math I, II, and III, and one unit beyond integrated math III.
(The fourth unit of math affects applicants to all institutions except the North Carolina School of the Arts.) It is recommended that prospective students take a mathematics course unit in the 12th grade.

Three course units in science, including
  • at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),
  • at least one unit in physical science (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics), and
  • at least one laboratory course.

Two course units in social studies, including one unit in U.S. history, but an applicant who does not have the unit in U.S. history may be admitted on the condition that at least three semester hours in that subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.

 1 "Course units" as defined in these requirements may include those high-school-level courses taken and passed by an applicant after graduating from high school, as well as those taken while enrolled as a high school student. For some transfer students and students who graduated from high school prior to 1990, special considerations have been made.

** Math Courses with Algebra II as a Prerequisite that meet the new UNC Minimum Course Requirement:
AP Calculus*
AP Statistics*
Pre Calculus (formerly Advanced Math)
Discrete Mathematics
IB Mathematics Level II
Integrated Mathematics IV
Advanced Functions and Modeling (new course)

* College Board, Advanced Placement Program, and AP are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board.

Minimum Admissions Requirements (for HS GPA and SAT/ACT scores) for Freshmen Admission to UNC Institutions

All applicants for first-time admission as freshmen must meet minimum high school GPA and SAT scores. The minimum combined SAT score (on mathematics and critical reading) for admissions is 700 (or a composite ACT of 15.) The above SAT (ACT) minimum score is effective for students entering in Fall 2008.

The minimum SAT score will be increased to 750 (or ACT composite of 16) for students entering in Fall 2011.

The minimum SAT score will be increased to 800 (or ACT composite of 17) for students entering in Fall 2013 and beyond.

The minimum high school GPA for first-time freshmen beginning in Fall 2009 is 2.0.

The minimum high school GPA requirement will increase to 2.3 for all students entering in 2011 and will increase again to 2.5 for students entering in Fall 2013 and beyond.

Students entering in Fall Minimum GPA Minimum SAT Minimum ACT Exception Per Campus1
Fall 2009 2.0 700 15 1%
Fall 2010 2.0 700 15 1%
Fall 2011 2.3 750 16 1%
Fall 2012 2.3 750 16 1%
Fall 2013 (and beyond) 2.5 800 17 1%

1 Each campus will have an exception to these admission requirements of 1% of the number of currently admitted students (one exception for each 100 students it admits).

Entrance Requirements for Transfer between a NC Community College and a UNC Institution
For students interested in transferring to a University of North Carolina institution upon attaining an Associate degree from the North Carolina Community College System, read more about the Transfer Assured Admissions Policy.

Entrance Requirements for the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Entrance requirements for North Carolina's 36 independent colleges and universities vary among institutions. Prospective students should contact the admissions office at individual colleges and universities to determine specific entrance requirements. Additional information is available on the colleges' web sites, which are accessible through this site.

Open Door Admissions Policy for the North Carolina Community College System
The colleges of the North Carolina Community College System maintain an "Open Door" admissions policy. This policy provides for the admission of any persons who are 18 or over or who have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED). Admission to a college does not imply admission to all programs of study as selected programs have limited enrollment.

Applicants 18 or older who do not have a high school diploma or GED may enroll in classes leading to a high school equivalency (GED) certificate or an Adult High School diploma.

For more information, contact the admission office at the college where you wish to apply.