In order to apply to the Colleges of Arts and Media, Business and Administration, Engineering and Applied Science or Liberal Arts and Sciences as a new freshman, you need to be a high school graduate or have earned a High School Equivalency Certificate (GED).
We base admission on several factors, the most important being your grade point average, high school rank, scores on the ACT or SAT and the classes you have taken. Most of our freshmen were in the top 25% of their classes, had at least a 3.3 G.P.A., and scored approximately 23 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT. We do consider applicants with lower grade point averages, class ranks and test scores on an individual basis. In the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Admissions Standards (Index), the College of Arts and Media and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences require an index score of 93, while the Business School and the College of Engineering require a score of 103. “Index” is a starting point in the admissions process. Applicants with a “Index” score of less than 93 are considered on an individual basis. The “Index” is calculated from your high school performance (grades) and your Standardized Test Score(s) (ACT or SAT).
All music applicants, except those entering the Music Industry Studies program, must pass an entrance audition before being accepted to the program. Contact the Department Music for information on the music audition.
Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)
Students entering the University of Colorado who graduated from high school in 1988 or later are required to meet the following Minimum Academic Preparation Standards: 4 years of English (with emphasis on composition), 3 years of college preparatory mathematics (4 years for Business and Engineering majors) -excluding business and consumer mathematics, 3 years of natural science, 2 years of social science (including one year of U.S. or world history), 2 years of a single foreign language (the Business School requires 3 years), and 1 year of the arts.
Students with MAPS deficiencies may be admitted to the University provided they meet the other admission standards (e.g., test scores, rank in high school class, grade-point average) and provided they make up any deficiencies in the MAPS prior to graduation from the University. Two levels of deficiency will be recognized.
1. One unit of deficiency will be allowed provided the student meets other admission standards and provided the student makes up the deficiency before graduation from the University. Courses taken to make up a deficiency will count toward graduation, provided the UC Denver college accepts those course credits toward graduation.
2.A student having more than one unit of deficiency may be admitted, provided that the student meets other standards of the University. The student must make up additional deficiencies before graduation by taking an expanded program of studies. The student may satisfy the MAPS requirements by successful completion of:
- Courses taken at CU;
- Courses taken at other institutions of higher education;
- Additional high school credits;
- Credit-by-examination programs; or
- Other requirements as approved by each UC Denver college.