Admission to the University of Louisville

Admission Standards

The University of Louisville subscribes to a selective admission policy. Admission for freshman applicants is based on:

High school grades,
ACT or SAT scores, and
Successful completion of the required pre-college curriculum.

Enrollment in the freshman class is limited. Within the limits of space availability, the University will endeavor to accommodate all eligible applicants. However, the number of freshman applications exceeds the number of spaces available in the entering class. For this reason, the selective and competitive admission requirements may exceed the minimum eligibility requirement.

The University of Louisville’s minimum eligibility admission policy requires any applicant to have graduated from an accredited high school or received a high school equivalency certificate, have completed the pre-college curriculum, possess a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5, and have achieved at least one of the following:

The applicant has earned a composite ACT score of not less than 20 or an SAT-I score of not or less than 940 (CR+M); or
The applicant has completed the UofL enhanced pre-college curriculum (PCC) with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The enhanced PCC consists of an additional two pre-college courses in mathematics, social studies, or science. These two courses may be taken in any combination within the three disciplines. The courses must be at or above the level of prescribed PCC; or
The applicant ranks in the top 15% of the applicant’s high school graduating class upon completing seven or eight semesters in high school.

Freshman applicants who do not meet the selection requirements may have their admission decisions deferred. Admission will be offered first to those applicants with the strongest records and offers will continue until the class is filled. Some factors that are considered during this review are: number and scope of college preparatory, honors and AP classes; strength of senior year schedule; and evidence of marked improvement over time in applicant’s academic career. The overriding concern will always be for the student’s potential to be successful in meeting the academic expectations at the University.

Students should refer to the individual academic unit admission policies, included in this catalog, for additional admission requirements. Students should be cautioned about the distinction between undergraduate and graduate classifications when applying for admission to the University. For fee purposes, determination of “undergraduate” or “graduate” is based on the school or enrollment unit to which a student is admitted, and not on the level of courses taken.

Minimum Admission Standards for Public Universities in Kentucky (Pre-College Curriculum)

Students who enter one of Kentucky’s public universities are required to have completed high school or high school equivalency certificate, and the pre-college curriculum (PCC). These are minimum standards and each university may require additional preparation of its students. The pre-college curriculum is a total of 22 approved units or courses including four units of English, three units of social studies, three units of mathematics (algebra I and II and geometry), two units of foreign language (same language), one half unit of physical education and health, one unit of history and appreciation of visual, performing arts, and 5 credits (3 rigorous) electives.

Students who are non-resident, 21 years of age or older or international are exempt from the PCC requirements.

The University may grant admission by exception to a limited number of the applicants admitted as first-time freshmen. Students admitted by exception will be required to enroll in courses to immediately remedy pre-college curriculum deficiencies.

Additional information and the definition of approved units is available from the Office of Admissions or from guidance counselors or principals in Kentucky high schools.

Applying for Admission

Listed below are the admissions procedures for the various populations and classifications of students.

All admissions credentials for undergraduate students should be mailed to this address:

Office of Admissions
Department-AO
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292

Entering Freshman Students

Application deadlines are as follows:

Fall Term: February 15
Spring Term: November 1
Summer Term: April 1

First-time freshmen applications and credentials received after the application deadlines listed above will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Students who have never attended any college should seek admission by the following steps:

Submit the online application for admissions.
Pay the application fee (payable by credit card or electronic check).
Mail the university a copy of the high school transcript.
Request that test scores from ACT (the American College Testing Program) or SAT (College Board) be sent to the university if they are not posted on the high school transcript.

Students will be notified of their admissibility to the university after receipt of this information.

Early Admissions

Students who apply for admission as a regular student, but do not plan to graduate from high school prior to enrolling in college, are considered early admissions applicants. In addition to submitting an application, high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores, early admissions applicants must submit a statement of motivation for beginning college prior to high school graduation, a letter of recommendation from their high school counselor, and a letter of endorsement from their parent/guardian. Early admissions applicants must also complete an interview with an admissions counselor. Students admitted under this status should be aware that they are not eligible to receive federal or state aid without high school diploma or GED.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are encouraged to apply earlier to allow ample time for evaluation of transcripts, advising, orientation, and registration.

Application Deadline: Transfer applications received at least six weeks prior to the beginning of a term will be given priority. Students transferring from another institution should take the following steps in seeking admission to the university:

Submit the application online and pay the application fee (payable by credit card or electronic check).
Request that the registrar of each institution previously attended forward to the university an official transcript of all work completed or in progress. Failure to declare previous attendance at another institution may result in disciplinary action.
Students transferring with fewer than 24 transferable semester hours are required to take the ACT or SAT test if they have not done so previously, and submit a high school transcript. Students with fewer than 24 transferable semester hours must meet the admissions requirements for both new freshmen and transfer students.

All transfer students to the University of Louisville are required to participate in the Transfer Orientation Program. There is a fee for the Transfer Program.

For further Orientation Program information, go to louisville.edu/newcards.

Evaluation of Transfer Credit

For admission as a transfer student, applicants must submit official transcripts from all regionally accredited post-secondary institutions previously attended. The University of Louisville will determine a transfer GPA based upon the coursework completed at previous institutions. The University of Louisville does not transfer in technical or developmental coursework. Courses completed on a quarter system (or another system not based on semester hours) will be converted to semester hours. A student is required to complete 30 of his/her last 36 semester hours at the University of Louisville.

Official transcripts showing all undergraduate work and degrees awarded at every regionally accredited college/university previously attended must be furnished by the degree-seeking applicant. Credits earned at another regionally accredited institution of higher education may be transferred to the University of Louisville. The Transfer Credit Practices report published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) will be the reference used for the evaluation of such credits.

Regional accrediting agencies include: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC-ACSCU), and The Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC).

Applicants with transfer credit from non-regionally accredited institutions may be considered for credit by petitioning for recognition of that credit. Applicants may petition for non-regionally accredited credit by completing the Undergraduate Transfer Credit Appeal Form form.

Undergraduate applicants who have attended post-secondary schools, colleges, universities, or professional institutions outside the United States must submit their academic records to Educational Credentials Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) or World Education Services, Inc. (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit credentials to ECE or WES and to pay all charges for the evaluation. Only evaluations submitted directly from ECE or WES are accepted.

Additional information regarding transfer credit can be located on the Admissions website.

ULtra: The University of Louisville Transfer Program

The ULtra program combines the commitment and resources of the University of Louisville (UofL), Jefferson Community and Technical Colleges (JCTC), the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) so that all Kentucky students have access to a baccalaureate degree.

ULtra is a service for students who choose, or who are advised by UofL Admissions, to begin their academic career at JCTC (or any KCTCS institution) before transferring to UofL to complete a Bachelor’s degree. These students are encouraged to complete an Associates’ degree before transfer, but may transfer after completing 24 college credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (GPA requirements for some degree programs may be higher.). ULtra is located on the JCTC Downtown campus and provides transfer-specific advising and admissions for UofL degree programs, connections to UofL, mentoring and assistance with the transfer process. Students interested in ULtra can learn more about programs, transfer coursework and opportunities by visiting louisville.edu/ultra or by calling (502) 213-4538.

For more information, please contact:

Troy Rice
Jefferson Education Center, Suite 900
200 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 213-4538
ultra@louisville.edu

Re-enrolling Students

If a student has a break in enrollment of two or more calendar years, that student must apply for readmission to an enrollment unit, and if admitted, will be subject to catalog requirements in effect at the time of readmission. Students who were not enrolled during the immediate past semester, but were enrolled within the last two calendar years, and who wish to continue in the school and program in which they were last registered are eligible to re-enroll. They need to complete the request to re-enroll form at the advising center of their academic unit or at the Registrar’s Office. Students completing the re-enrollment process are eligible for early registration for the term in which they wish to return. Students whose last enrollment status was visitor, high school visitor, suspended or who were dismissed, must reapply. Students last enrolled in University College, Allied Health or Transitional Studies must also reapply through the Office of Admissions since these units are no longer in existence.

Visitors

Visiting students are those individuals who are pursuing a degree from another institution, but who plan to enroll at the University of Louisville for one semester. Submit the application online and pay the application fee (payable by credit card or electronic check) for each semester you plan to attend.

Applicants to the Speed School of Engineering or College of Business must also include transcripts.

High School Visitors

A senior student who is presently enrolled in high school and who wants to take one or more college courses prior to graduating from high school will be considered a high school visitor. These students must submit an application, application fee, high school transcript, test scores (ACT, PSAT, or SAT), and a letter of recommendation from their high school counselor. Students who have not completed the first part of their junior year should contact the Office of Admissions for information concerning additional requirements for admission.

Active Duty/Reservists - Application Fee Waiver & Priority Registration

Students who are currently serving members of the U.S. Armed Forces, in the National Guard, or in the Reserves in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, or the U.S. Coast Guard are eligible to receive an application fee waiver and priority registration. More information is available through the Center for Military-Connected Students.

International Student Applicants

There are essentially three areas of concern for international applicants. They are:

Successful completion of a strong, quality academic program.
Proficiency in the English language.
Ability to demonstrate financial resources.

Students who are not U.S. citizens or immigrants will need to submit an admissions application to the Office of Admissions and financial documents to the International Center. The application provides information concerning the student's academic background and educational goals. First-time freshmen applicants and transfer applicants with less than 24 hours are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores, unless applying to the School of Music or Speed School of Engineering. Applications should be received by the Office of Admissions well in advance of the desired enrollment date in order to allow adequate time for processing. International student applicants should refer to the following list of application priority deadlines:

Fall Semester: May 1
Term begins late August
Spring Semester: November 1
Term begins early January
Summer Semester: April 1
Various terms begin in May, June and July

When all required credentials have been submitted, the application will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions. Once an admissions decision has been made, the student will be notified.

International students applying to undergraduate programs will need to submit official transcripts of records from all secondary schools, universities, colleges, or professional schools attended. International applicants with transcripts that are not in English, in addition to submitting official copies of native language records, must also submit a notarized, verbatim translation in English prepared by an appropriate university or government official. The records must show both the degree granted and all coursework taken during the course of study. Applicants who are submitting transcripts from outside the United States must verify their records by submitting them to one of the following organizations: World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and other NACES approved evaluators found here https://www.naces.org/members. It is the applicant’s responsibility to pay all charges for the evaluation. An application for evaluation and a brochure describing ECE’s or WES’s procedures, services and fees is available upon request from the Office of Admissions.

Continuing Studies

Continuing Studies is a non-degree granting unit that admits adult students who want to take courses on a part-time basis for personal enrichment or professional development. Students can earn college credit, but are not admitted into a degree program. In order to be eligible to apply to Continuing Studies, students must be at least 22 years old and have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate issued by a state department of education.

Continuing Studies students may enroll for a maximum of 8 hours in any semester or summer session. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Continuing Studies students are not eligible to receive state or federal financial aid.

Students may remain in Continuing Studies until they accumulate 24 credit hours. Students with 24 credit hours must apply for admission and be accepted by a degree-granting unit of the University if they wish to continue their course work.

University Orientation Programs

All new freshmen to the University of Louisville are required to participate in the Summer Orientation program during the months of May, June and July. Orientation is a two-day overnight program where new students will have the opportunity to interact with other new and current students, meet with an academic advisor for one-on-one counseling and be introduced to faculty and staff from across campus. Information regarding summer orientation is sent via email in the March and April previous to your enrollment. Please note it is mandatory that new freshmen attend an orientation program. Students must register for summer orientation via the orientation website. There is a fee for summer orientation.

Students admitted as post-baccalaureates, visitors, readmits, or intra-university transfers are not required to attend an orientation program.

Post-Baccalaureate Admissions

Students who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and plan to enroll for undergraduate courses, but are not pursuing a second undergraduate degree are considered to be post-baccalaureate applicants. These students need to submit an official transcript certifying at least a bachelor’s degree, an application for admission and any applicable application fee.

Online Courses and Programs

UofL offers more than 60 degrees and certificates fully online and a vast array of online courses across multiple colleges. Our online degrees are consistently competitively ranked by U.S. News and World Report, for upholding high standards for teaching and learning. UofL is a military-friendly institution and offers a special tuition rate for undergraduate and most graduate programs to active-duty service members, Coast Guard and qualifying members of the Reserve Component and National Guard.

University of Louisville’s online courses are developed and taught by the same UofL faculty teaching on campus. Delivered through a user-friendly online learning platform, Blackboard, our courses allow students and instructors to interact, network and collaborate on class assignments and team projects, exchange thoughts and ideas, or share experiences.

Visit louisville.edu/online to learn more about our online programs. For a complete list of online courses available at UofL, visit hal.louisville.edu (select “Distance Education” in the “Location” field). For undergraduate and graduate online tuition rates, visit louisville.edu/bursar (select “Tuition and Fees”).

Services for Students
Students enrolled in online courses and programs have access to various student support services available at a distance, including academic advising, writing support through the Virtual Writing Center, online tutoring through REACH, Library services, career services, and tech support. Visit louisville.edu/online/current for more information.

Services for Faculty
Faculty have access to instructional design and technology support through the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning. Instructional designers help faculty build their online courses according to Quality Matters™ design principles. In addition, the Delphi Center provides faculty development for teaching online with its flagship program, Delphi U. Faculty have the option of taking this program in-person (in May only) or may choose the online option taught either in an instructor-led or self-paced format. One-on-one consultations and department-wide trainings are also available. Visit louisville.edu/delphi/resources for more information.

College Readiness Standards

Foreign Language Placement

The study of a foreign language is encouraged and required by some university majors. Students may choose to begin with the first semester in a new language or may choose to determine placement in language studies.

To determine placement, students may complete an online placement test in Spanish, French, German or Russian, available at all times. Language exams can be taken on any computer with an Internet connection.

The Office of Testing Services administers the placement tests for Latin only (louisville.edu/testing/foreign-language-placement).

First-time, first-year students must take a language exam before May 15 each academic year to register for a language course section during Freshman Summer Orientation. To receive course credit for foreign language, see the Extramural Examinations tab on the Alternative Coursework page.

If a student has significant experience in a language other than Spanish, French, German, Russian or Latin, the student should contact the Department of Classical and Modern Languages for information on placement or exemption at (502) 852-6686. Information may also be found online.

Kentucky Administrative Regulation 13 KAR 2:02 (College Readiness Guidelines)

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has regulations for college readiness standards in writing, college reading, and mathematics. Admitted, degree-seeking students below 24 credit hours, and a GPA of at least a 2.00 on a 4.0 scale, who do not achieve the college readiness standards on the ACT sub-scores in writing, college reading, and mathematics or SAT equivalents or the Next-Gen ACCUPLACER placement exams (reading and mathematics) are required by state mandate to complete interventions during their first college year.

Interventions may include the following:

Enrollment in ENGL 101 and/or an appointment at the University Writing Center.
GEN 105, which is a corequisite College Reading course linked to entry-level content courses.
GEN 103 or GEN 104, intervention mathematics course.
Supplemented MATH 105 or Supplemented MATH 111.

College Writing Placement

The college readiness standard in writing is an ACT Writing sub-score of 18. Students with ACT Writing sub-scores below college readiness will register for ENGL 101 during their first college year.

If these students experience difficulty during ENGL 101, they will be encouraged to use the resources of the University Writing Center for supplemented support.

College Reading Placement

The state-wide, college readiness standard in college reading is an ACT Reading sub-score of 20. All first-year, degree-seeking students admitted with reading deficiencies are required to participate in placement testing and course registration as determined by their placement test results. Transfer students with 24 or more credit hours at the 100 level or above in general education courses with a 2.0 GPA are exempt from reading placement requirements.

Students with an ACT Reading sub-score of less than 20 (or an SAT Critical Reading score of less than 480) MUST take the Next-Gen ACCUPLACER exam.

GEN 105 provides an intervention for college reading. Students who enroll in this course will receive 2 hours each week of supplemented instruction in college reading, critical thinking, and study strategies. Students receive 2 hours of college credit (elective credit only) for GEN 105.

Mathematics Placement

The college readiness standard in mathematics is an ACT Mathematics sub-score of 19. The university determines placement in all entry-level mathematics based on the highest ACT mathematics sub-score. If a student scores above an ACT Mathematics sub-score of 20 or higher, placement will be in a credit-bearing course.

Otherwise, the following sub-scores in mathematics determine placement:

· Students with ACT sub-score of 0–18 are required to complete the Next-Gen ACCUPLACER exam in mathematics. Placement will result in GEN 103, GEN 104, or an entry-level college mathematics course.

· Students with an ACT sub-score of 19–24, but less than the score required for a desired entry-level mathematics course, should complete the Next-Gen ACCUPLACER exam.

· All Engineering students who score below 27 on the ACT mathematics sub-score are required to take the Next-Gen Accuplacer exam before summer orientation. Placement in the correct level of mathematics is determined by your Accuplacer score. Specific information is available online at https://engineering.louisville.edu/admissions/undergraduateadmissions/test-optional/.

Students with ACT sub-score of 25–26 who need MATH 205 have the following options: enroll in the prerequisite MATH 190 or complete the CLEP Pre-calculus exam.

Students with ACT sub-score of 21–22 whose majors require MATH 111 are strongly encouraged by their advisors to enroll in a Supplemented Section of MATH 111. If a section is unavailable, students are encouraged to enroll in GEN 104.

Students with ACT sub-score of 19 will initially be placed in Special Topics in College Mathematics, which is GEN 103 (for those needing MATH 105 for their major) or GEN 104 (for those needing MATH 109, MATH 111, or MATH 151). Students may take the Next-Gen ACCUPLACER for possible higher placement. Advisors working with students who have this sub-score are obliged to enroll students in the appropriate intervention course.

Placement and University Testing Services

All information regarding placement testing can be obtained from:

Office of Testing Services
Davidson Hall, Room 310
Louisville, KY 40292
(502) 852-6606
louisville.edu/testing

Students may direct questions and concerns to this office.

Students are encouraged to visit the testing website to obtain information on the options to complete placement testing. The math and/or reading Accuplacer exam may be taken at the Office of Testing Services on campus, remotely at another institution throughout the country, via Zoom (contact the Testing Office), or virtually at home, 24/7 through a virtual testing company.

First-year students MUST complete all placement testing PRIOR to their Freshman Summer Orientation each year to enable registration for class during their session.

The Admissions Office notifies first-year students if placement testing is required in college reading and mathematics.

Speed School of Engineering Mathematics Placement:

Students admitted into the J.B. Speed School of Engineering are placed in the following math courses based on their ACT Math sub-score:

Students with an ACT sub-score of less that 27 are required to start their studies in the ENGR 100 course.
Students with an ACT sub-score 27 or above will start their studies in the ENGR 101 course.