Postsecondary Admission

Four-Year Institutions

Admission to Delaware’s two public universities is based on grades, class rank, test scores and recommendations from appropriate high school officials. Applicants to the University of Delaware and Delaware State University must complete a required high school curriculum. Delaware State University requires a GPA of 2.0 or better in core academic subjects.

Delaware Universities: Required and Recommended High School Curricula

Course Requirements

University of Delaware

Students must complete 18 minimum core units:

• Science: Applicants may substitute the fourth year of math or science for the fourth unit of social science. For the required curriculum, at least two of three science units must include a lab component.
• Social Studies: Applicants must complete two units in history. World history is required.
• Foreign Language: Applicants must take the two required units in the same language.
• Other: Applicants must take specific courses if they plan to enter a STEM major.

Delaware State University

Students must complete the following 19 minimum core units with a “C” or better:

• English: Writing, Literature and Oral Communication
• Math: Algebra I and II, Geometry or the equivalent (a fourth is recommended)
• History: One World History and one other history
• Social Studies: Civics, American Government, Economics, Geography or Psychology (two units recommended)
• Science: Courses must have a laboratory component. Students must complete one or more of the following: biology, chemistry, physics.
• Foreign Language: University recommends that applicants take units in the same language.
• Elective: Allowable units include core subjects, art, theatre, music, and/or computer science.

Delaware State University also requires a minimum SAT score of 800 or 17 ACT composite score.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Delaware Technical Community College students must have a high school diploma or GED credential, or they must be 18 years old and pass institutional tests that demonstrate their ability to benefit from instruction.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or an equivalency credential if they want to apply for financial aid and/or admission to selective programs of study. Students not seeking state and federal financial assistance can take the SAT or ACCUPLACER to demonstrate the ability to benefit from postsecondary instruction.

Four-Year Institutions

The University System of Georgia contains community colleges and universities. High school diploma requirements are identical for all system institutions, but minimum admissions criteria vary by institution type. The system authorizes institutions to enroll a small number of students under the Limited Admissions provision.

High School Diploma Admission Requirements

Students must have a 2.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale. The system sets minimum admission cut scores based on the Freshman Index—a composite score based on students’ SAT or ACT score and high school GPA.

• SAT Formula: (500 x High School GPA in required courses) + 1.06 x (SAT Critical Reading + SAT Math) – 74
• ACT Formula: (500 x High School GPA in required courses) + (ACT Composite x 42) + 88
• Freshman Index Thresholds: Research Universities (2500), Regional Universities (2040), State Universities (1940)
• System regulation authorizes presidents of state colleges to establish a minimum Freshman Index score

Programs Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree

Other admission requirements for baccalaureate programs vary by institution type. Students seeking admission to system universities must have a minimum SAT evidence-based reading and writing score of 480 and a math score of 440 or an ACT English score of 17 and ACT math score of 17.

Programs Not Leading to a Baccalaureate Degree

Admissions requirements for career certificates and career degrees (for example, Associate of Applied Science degrees and Associate of Science degrees in allied health areas) depend upon the extent to which the general education component is based on Core Curriculum courses. There are two sets of admissions requirements.

Programs with more than twelve (12) semester hours of Core curriculum

All applicants must have a high school diploma, a qualifying Freshman Index score, and a minimum SAT score. Individuals admitted to career programs do not have to meet the high school curriculum requirements for students enrolled in baccalaureate programs.

Programs with twelve (12) or fewer semester hours of Core curriculum

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Graduate from an accredited high school with a minimum GPA of 1.8
• Meet the beginning freshman required high school curriculum criteria for the institutional sector
• Earn a GED

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Persons 16 years of age or older are eligible for admission to Georgia’s technical colleges. Applicants to technical colleges must submit proof of a high school diploma or its equivalent unless otherwise specified by the program’s standards.

Four-Year Institutions

The Board of Regents group public, four-year universities by institution type – flagship, statewide or regional. Each grouping shares minimum standards for ACT scores and high school GPAs students must earn to qualify for college admission. Universities may adopt additional, more specific or rigorous requirements.

All applicants must complete the 19-unit Regents’ Core, which is based on the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students curriculum. The Regents’ Core requires four units each in English, math, science and social studies; two units of world language; and one unit of fine arts. Universities may make exceptions to the minimum admission standards for 4 to 8% of the freshman class, depending on the institution type.

Minimum Performance Requirements by Institution Type

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Community colleges are open-admission institutions. Applicants must complete an admissions application, submit their high school diplomas, GED credentials and/or scores on institutional tests that indicate their ability to benefit from instruction, provide proof of selective service registration, and produce immunization records. System policy states that specific educational programs may require additional admissions documentation.

Four-Year Institutions

The Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning sets the minimum admissions requirements for public universities. All applicants must complete the required college-preparatory curriculum to receive full admission. The board has also created a more rigorous recommended preparatory curriculum. Students may substitute Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses for specific subject-area requirements.

The board requires institutions to grant students full admission if they complete the College Preparatory Curriculum and meet one of the following qualifications: 1) 3.2 GPA; 2) 2.5 GPA or Top 50% Class Rank and ACT composite of 16 or higher; 3) a minimum 2.0 GPA and an ACT Composite of 18 or higher; or 4) students who are “full-qualifiers” or “academic redshirts” according to NCAA Division I standards for student-athletes are accepted as equivalent to the admission standards.

Universities may admit students who do not meet full admissions requirements through enrollment in the Summer Development Program. Successful completion of the program entitles students to continue enrollment in the fall semester. Institutions also may enroll students in Yearlong Academic Support Programs. Some credits earned through the yearlong program do not count toward graduation.

Institute of Higher Learning College-Preparatory Curriculum

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Academic and technical students must meet one of the following Mississippi Community College Board admissions criteria to enroll at an institution:

• An earned high school diploma or approved equivalency certificate
• The completion of at least one unit less than the minimum acceptable high school units as prescribed by law (20 credits)
• Mississippi Occupational Diploma or state-approved Career Certificate
• Official transcript from accredited postsecondary institution

Two-year institutions may enroll students in career programs based upon qualifying scores on a federal assessment that demonstrates their ability to benefit from postsecondary instruction.

Four-Year Institutions

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education require applicants to complete a 15-unit pre-college curriculum. Institutions admit applicants through a combination of performance measures, including high school GPA, class rank and ACT and SAT scores. Board rules stipulate minimum standards for admission to research universities, regional universities, and community and technical colleges.  Institutions may make exceptions to minimum standards for up to 8% of first-time freshmen class or 50 students, whichever number is greater.

Required High School Curriculum

Minimum Performance Requirements for First-Time Students

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Applicants must possess high school diplomas or GED credentials. Students who plan to enter a degree or certificate program must complete the 15-unit, pre-college curriculum requirements and present scores from the ACT or a similar assessment.

Statewide

There are two public postsecondary systems in the state — the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology. The UT system includes three universities and a health sciences center.

To receive a regular high school diploma, all students must complete a 22-unit curriculum and complete the ACT or SAT in their junior year of high school.

Chapter 869 (2016) created institutional boards at TBR’s six universities. Since then, the local boards have set admission requirements. The Tennessee Board of Regents sets admission requirements for community colleges and colleges of applied technology. Community colleges have open-enrollment policies, but these institutions may use ACT/SAT scores for advisement and placement purposes. 

The University of Tennessee admission requirements also incorporate the core high school graduation requirements. Students must submit high school transcripts and either the ACT or SAT for consideration of admission to the University of Tennessee

Four-Year Institutions

Institutional governing boards set admissions requirements and minimum qualifying scores on college entrance exams. Colleges and universities consider high school curriculum, GPA, SAT/ACT scores and class rank when making admission decisions.

Through system-wide agreements, students who graduate from a transfer-oriented degree program at a Virginia Community College System institution with an associate degree are eligible for guaranteed admission to more than 30 public and private four-year institutions, provided they meet minimum GPA requirements.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Applicants are eligible for admission if they possess a high school diploma or an equivalency credential, or if they are 18 years of age or older and demonstrate an ability to benefit from postsecondary instruction, as measured by the Virginia Placement Test, COMPASS or Asset. Students who do not achieve the scoring benchmarks will be permitted to enroll in non-credit classes only.

Readiness Assessment Benchmarks