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.

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.

The University of North Carolina Academic Common Market
The Academic Common Market allows North Carolina citizens to pursue graduate degree programs in other participating states and pay reduced tuition rates as long as the program is not offered through the University of North Carolina and it is among the approved participating programs. To learn more, visit the UNC Academic Common market website: http://acm.northcarolina.edu/.