Application Checklist for Freshman

Your freshman application is complete when you submit these three items:

1. Application form

Our fall 2026 application launched on August 1, 2025:

Common Application

2. Application fee

Pay the non-refundable $55 application fee within your application platform or receive an automatic fee waiver based on answers in your application form.

3. Academic Record

Use the Courses and Grades section of Common App to self-report your high school transcript (see frequently asked questions to learn more).

 

APPLICATION NOTES:

  • If you take a course at a college while in high school, self-report any college courses as "Dual Enrollment" for the course level on your Academic Record.
  • If you did not graduate from high school but earned a GED (or other high school equivalency), submit official test scores.
  • If you skip the Courses and Grades section on Common App, you will be prompted to complete your application by self-reporting your academic information on the STARS platform.
  • If you attended or graduated from a secondary school in another country, refer to "Self-Report Academic Record: High school (9th-12th grade) courses and grades" at Application Checklist for International Freshman Applicants.
  • If English is not your native language, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities requires international students and students who have studied in the United States fewer than four years to submit English language proficiency test results when they apply for undergraduate admissions (review our English Proficiency Information page to learn about exempt countries and alternate ways to demonstrate English proficiency).
  • Social security numbers:
    • If you would like to update your application to include a social security number (or made a mistake and need to change your social security number on your application), please contact the Office of Admissions.  We will set up a short private zoom meeting to verify your identity and update that information.  Note: a social security number is not required as part of your application for admission.
    • If you do not have a social security number, we welcome your application! Learn more about admission, scholarships, and support for undocumented and DACA students.

 

If any additional information is required, we will request it as needed. You can also refer to detailed instructions on submitting supporting materials or requested items.

 

After You Apply

  • Within two weeks of submitting an application, students will receive an acknowledgement that their application was received.
  • Within four weeks, students will be notified if any items are missing (self-reported grades, test scores, application fee, etc.). Missing items will also be listed in the online Application Tracker.
  • When the application is complete, students will receive an email indicating that the application is complete and when they will receive a decision. Students with complete applications will also receive an email from the University inviting them to also consider the University of Minnesota's other campuses (Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester.)

Admissions Decisions

Admission Decision Timing

Freshman Application Deadlines

  • Early Action I Deadline applicants: Students who submit their complete applications by the November 1 Early Action I Deadline* will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by January 31.
  • Early Action II Deadline applicants: Students who submit their complete applications by the December 1 Early Action II Deadline will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by February 15.
  • Regular Deadline applicants: Students who submit their complete applications by the January 1 Regular Deadline will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by March 31.

*November 1 is also the deadline by which freshman School of Nursing applicants must submit their application to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. All nursing applicants will receive an admission decision on a rolling basis no later than December 15.

Decisions:

Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of each student's application materials. Each student who submits a complete application by either the early action or regular deadline will receive one of the following decisions. Please note that admission decisions are posted on the University's Application Tracker.

  • Admit: Based on our holistic review, the student has been admitted to the University of Minnesota.
  • Defer: The admissions committee has completed a holistic review of the application but has not yet made a final decision. Deferred applications will be reviewed a second time, taking into consideration the number of spaces available in the freshman class and competitiveness of the entire pool of applicants who met the January 1 regular application deadline. By March 31, deferred applicants will receive either an admit, waitlist, or deny decision.
  • Deny: We are not able to offer freshman admission. Students who are denied admission are encouraged to apply for transfer admission for a future semester. Transfer admission is also competitive so it is important that students achieve a strong academic record at another college or university.
  • Waitlist: The student's application has been placed on a waitlist. Although we have determined that the applicant is academically prepared to succeed at the University of Minnesota, we must make certain that we do not exceed the number of spaces available in each of the freshman-admitting colleges. Waitlisted applicants will receive an update on the status of their applications by mid-June. If we determine that spaces remain available, the overall strongest applicants will be admitted from the waitlist.