Policies & Procedures

General Admission Policies

The following general university policies are applicable to all undergraduate applicants at both the beginning freshman and transfer student levels.

To be eligible for consideration for admission, an applicant must meet certain requirements in terms of high school graduation, high school credits, and competence in English.

Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination

The commitment of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. It is the policy of the university not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation including gender identity, arrest record status, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a protected veteran and to comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in university programs and activities. The official nondiscrimination policy may be found in our Campus Administrative Manual.

This policy and the associated procedures are established to provide a means to address complaints of discrimination or harassment based on the protected categories described herein. Individuals who believe that a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign employee has subjected them to discrimination or harassment in violation of this policy should contact the Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Access via email or phone at 217-333-0885.

High School Graduation

An applicant must be a graduate of a regionally accredited high school, a school in Illinois recognized by the state superintendent of education, or a school elsewhere with a rating equivalent to full recognition. Graduates of other secondary schools and nongraduates of secondary schools may be admitted under the provisions for a high school equivalency exam.

The admission office will confirm all students’ transcripts arrive from a high school with a CEEB code, as well as the high school seal and/or signature. If a transcript is from a high school that lacks a CEEB code or seal/signature, the admission office will investigate to confirm that the school is recognized by the state department of education or home school association. The admission office may request additional documentation at any point in the admission process. If a diploma is determined invalid, a high school equivalency exam may be required for admission consideration.

High School Equivalency Exams

The achievement of satisfactory scores on a high school equivalency exam is acceptable in lieu of graduation from an accredited high school. The test alone won’t fulfill all of our college preparatory subject requirements. The state of Illinois recognizes the General Education Development (GED) exam, HiSET, and Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) in lieu of graduation from an accredited high school.

To be eligible to take these tests, applicants must be at least 18 years of age or have been out of school for at least 1 year. If to be used in lieu of high school graduation, high school equivalency exam scores should be sent by the testing center directly to our office.

High School Credits

For admission to all majors, freshman applicants must present a total of at least 15 units of acceptable college preparatory schoolwork. A unit course of study in the secondary school is a course covering an academic year and including no less than the equivalent of 120 60-minute hours of classroom work. A total of 2 hours of work requiring little or no preparation outside the class are considered as the equivalent to 1 hour of prepared classroom work.

A freshman applicant who lacks a required high school subject may satisfy the requirement at either a community college or elsewhere prior to enrollment at the university. This information must be communicated on the application for admission. Just 1 semester in college is the equivalent of 2 semesters of high school coursework.

Under extenuating circumstances, a specific subject requirement may be waived for otherwise well-qualified freshman applicants. An applicant seeking a waiver of the subject pattern requirement should use the Academic Challenges question on the application to state the rationale for requesting such action.

The subject pattern requirements are waived for transfer applicants, but such applicants can fulfill the language other than English transfer and graduation requirements through high school coursework.

Description of Acceptable High School Courses

English: Studies in language, composition, and literature requiring practice in expository writing in all such work. Coursework should emphasize reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Language other than English: A total of 2 years of any 1 language other than English (or completion of second level) fulfills the admission requirement. American Sign Language is acceptable.

Laboratory science: Laboratory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics are preferred. Laboratory courses in astronomy and geology are also acceptable. General science isn’t acceptable.

Mathematics: Algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, and statistics. Applied business mathematics, pre-algebra, and computer courses aren’t acceptable. Approved mathematics courses taken before high school will be counted toward the requirement.

Social studies: History and government. Additional acceptable social studies include anthropology, economics, geography, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Flexible courses: A total of 2 courses from any of the above 5 subject categories. Approved art, music, or vocational education courses can be counted in the flexible academic units category.

Competence in English

Freshman applicants must demonstrate a command of the English language. If the student’s first language isn’t English or he or she is attending high school in a non-English-speaking country, we strongly recommend that the student submit a TOEFL or IELTS score taken within the past 2 years.

Transfer applicants must meet one of the following conditions to satisfy our minimum English proficiency requirement:

• Score a minimum of 80 on the Internet-based (iBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Media require a minimum total score of 100 iBT.
• Score a minimum total of 6.5 on the International English Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6 on all 4 modules. For Business, Engineering, and Media, the minimum total is 7.5 with a minimum score of 7 on all 4 modules.
• Complete all secondary (years 9 to 12) and post-secondary schooling in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), certain Caribbean countries, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States (excluding Puerto Rico).
• Score high enough on the English section of the ACT, Critical Reading section of the pre-2016 SAT, or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the redesigned SAT released in spring 2016. We'll review these scores on an individual basis in lieu of TOEFL or IELTS scores to determine if they meet English proficiency. We encourage students to take the TOEFL or IELTS if they're concerned their ACT or SAT scores might not be high enough for admission.

Note that these are only the minimum requirements needed to meet English proficiency. In many cases, the standards needed to gain admission will be much higher, so it would be to the student’s advantage to submit all test scores demonstrating a high level of English competency.

Test scores that will be used to fulfill the English proficiency requirement must be taken within 2 years of the student’s date of enrollment in the university.

Admission Test Information

Each beginning freshman and transfer applicants with less than 30 graded transferable credits at the time of application, regardless of length of time out of school, is required to submit an admission test score from either the American College Testing (ACT) program or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). An applicant won’t complete the admission requirements until our office receives the test score in the form of an official score report sent directly from the testing agency itself. Complete information concerning the test, the dates of test administration, and the location of testing centers can be obtained online or from high school counselors.

Student-Athlete Admission

Applicants being recruited to participate in varsity sports who are not admitted through the regular admissions process, or whose application becomes complete after the published deadlines, may be considered for admission by the Committee for the Admission of Student Athletes (CASA). This committee was created by the Chancellor in 1983 under the authority granted by the Board of Trustees. Through the CASA review process, potential student-athletes will be evaluated by a committee of senior admissions officers from each of the undergraduate admitting units to determine whether students' objective academic records and demonstrated academic motivation, together with available support services, will combine to give them a reasonable chance for academic success on our campus.

Delayed Admission

The delayed admission program allows a newly admitted, degree-seeking student to defer the start of attendance to allow a planned interlude for specific, acceptable reasons between the term of acceptance and actual university attendance. A deferral may be requested for 1 or 2 semesters (certain programs may not be delayed for only 1 semester). A longer delay of admission may be granted to a student whose United States military commitment has been extended for more than 1 year. A delay can be requested only for the same program to which the student was admitted.

The intent of this program is to allow students time to participate in rare, unique, and extraordinary opportunities. Unfortunately, some students must delay admission due to unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies, serious health conditions, or United States military orders. A delay of admission will not be approved if a student plans to take courses at another college or university (including military academies). Financial, visa, or flight-booking complications will not be approved either. Each individual’s situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The college to which the student was accepted must approve the request to delay admission.

Admitted students may request a delay of admission by completing and submitting a request form, which can be found on the Admitted Student Checklist within myIllini. This form should be submitted as soon as an admitted student knows that a delay of admission will be needed. The request form should be submitted no later than 1 month prior to the beginning of the term to which the student has been admitted. Exceptions may be made in the event of an emergency situation. If the deadline is missed or the request is denied, the student will need to submit a new application.

Undergraduate Application Fee Waivers

Applicants for admission must submit a $50 ($75 for international applicants) application fee to help defray processing costs. This amount is subject to change, and the fee is nonrefundable. The application fee will be waived for domestic applicants if one of the criteria listed below is met:

• The applicant submits our Undergraduate Application Fee Waiver form. Note that the form must be signed by a school counselor, financial aid officer, social worker, or other person who, on a professional basis, has some knowledge of the applicant’s financial situation. A waiver signed by the applicant or a relative will not be accepted. High school and Illinois community college counselors can also submit the form through our counselor website.
• The applicant is currently an employee of the University of Illinois or an allied agency (if eligible). Fee waivers are given to permanent academic and non-academic employees of the UI who have a 50 to 100% appointment and to certain employees of affiliated agencies whose appointments are in effect at the time the application is filed.
• The applicant is currently registered at the University of Illinois at Chicago or Springfield.
• The applicant submits proof of eligibility for an ACT or SAT fee waiver.
• The applicant submits proof of eligibility for a Pell Grant.
• The applicant is a University of Illinois faculty, academic, or staff retiree.
• The applicant is eligible under the Illinois Veteran Grant Program, a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, or is currently serving on active duty.
• The applicant is part of an approved foreign exchange program in which the university participates or a foreign student participates in an approved exchange program in which the waiver of fees is reciprocal.
• The applicant is a student from another university participating in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Program by taking courses at the University of Illinois.
• The applicant is a cooperating teacher or administrator who receives assignment of practice teachers, receives assignment of students meeting the clinical experience requirement in teacher education, or cooperates in research projects related to teacher education, or a cooperating librarian, school-nurse teacher, social welfare field supervisor, recreation field supervisor, health-education field supervisor, speech pathology supervisor, developmental child care field supervisor, educational psychology supervisor, continuing education supervisor, industrial relations field supervisor, or physician participating without salary in the instructional program of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Medicine.
• The applicant is an Illinois Teacher of the Year recipient.

Health Requirements

Upon admission, the student will receive information regarding completion of Medical History and Immunization forms and required immunizations. Physicals aren’t required for admission.

Visit McKinley Health Center for additional information.

Use of Agents

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign does not partner with agents or other private organizations to represent the university for the purpose of recruiting or enrolling students. Only appointed employees or trained alumni of the University of Illinois are authorized to officially represent the university in recruiting and enrolling students through direct contact with students and families.

We understand that prospective students and their families may retain the services of independent educational consultants or advisors to assist them in applying to colleges or universities in the United States and abroad. These private consultants or advisors are permitted, but they are not recognized representatives of the university. Students, parents, and school-appointed counselors are encouraged to work directly with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.