Freshmen are admitted to one of the eight University of Minnesota freshman-admitting colleges based upon the information they provide in their applications for admission. Admission to the University of Minnesota is competitive. The competitiveness of admission each year is based on the number of applications received, the academic qualifications of the applicants, and the number of spaces available.
Enrolling an academically qualified, diverse student body is essential to the University’s educational mission. We are preparing students to be leaders in their fields of academic study. An academically prepared and diverse student body enhances the academic and social environment of the campus. Learning in an environment where diversity of thought, experiences, background, and understanding is valued is essential to the educational experience. This diversity among our students supports student development and learning inside and outside of the classroom, so that our graduates are prepared to thrive in a multiracial and multicultural world.
Academic Profile of Fall 2023 Admitted Freshman Applicants by College
This table provides a general overview of the middle 50 percentile high school rank, high school unweighted grade point average, and standardized test scores of freshman applicants admitted for Fall 2023.
Overall, the middle 50 percent of students admitted for Fall 2023:
- Had a high school rank percentile between 76 and 96
- Had an unweighted calculated high school grade point average between 3.57 - 3.96
- Scored between 27 and 32 on the ACT*
- Scored between 1340 and 1490 on the SAT*
Please note the information presented in the table is a composite picture of admitted freshman applicants. These are not admission criteria.
- Admission decisions are based on an individual, overall assessment of each application.
- Applicants are first considered for admission to the colleges listed in their application, in the order in which they are listed. Then, applicants are automatically considered for other U of M freshman-admitting colleges that may be a good match with their academic interests and preparation.
For complete information on our application review factors, please see our admissions overview at z.umn.edu/review.
Middle 50 Percentile of Fall 2023 Admitted Freshman
What does that mean? Middle 50% represents the academic components (GPA, test scores, class rank) of half of the students admitted, though students are admitted with academic scores above and below this range.
| High School Rank Percentile (if provided) | Unweighted High School GPA | ACT Composite * | SAT Composite * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlson School of Management | 85 - 96 | 3.76 - 3.97 | 28 - 32 | 1340 - 1460 |
| College of Biological Sciences | 85 - 98 | 3.75 - 4.00 | 28 - 33 | 1350 - 1490 |
| College of Design | 75 - 94 | 3.54 - 3.92 | 26 - 31 | 1260 - 1430 |
| College of Education and Human Development | 70 - 91 | 3.47 - 3.88 | 25 - 29 | 1220 - 1390 |
| College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences | 69 - 93 | 3.38 - 3.91 | 26 - 31 | 1280 - 1450 |
| College of Liberal Arts | 69 - 93 | 3.44 - 3.89 | 27 - 32 | 1310 - 1460 |
| College of Science and Engineering | 84 - 98 | 3.70 - 3.99 | 29 - 34 | 1380 - 1510 |
| School of Nursing | 86 - 98 | 3.84 - 4.00 | 27 - 32 | 1300 - 1450 |
*Please note: the University of Minnesota Twin Cities will not be requiring an ACT or SAT score for admissions through the Fall 2025 term. Learn more about our ACT/SAT policies.
Understanding the table
Middle 50% Percentile - This represents the middle half of the admitted students’ academic components (GPA, standardized test scores, and class rank) that fall between the ranges listed. While this range represents half of the admitted cohort, students are admitted with scores both above and below this range
Core Academic GPA - We calculate a core academic GPA for each applicant using the grades for English, math, science, social science and foreign language courses reported. This provides a standard view of a school’s grading scale, which can vary greatly from school to school. Applicants do not need to calculate their own core GPA. Note, in our holistic review, we also consider an applicant’s school-supplied GPA for all courses on their academic record. Additional weighting for advanced coursework (honors, AP, IB etc.) is not included on core GPA, but is always considered as part of the academic rigor.
ACT/ SAT Score - The ACT and SAT score ranges listed in this table represent the students who chose to include a test score on their Fall 2023 application. Nearly 50% of students applied using a test score for Fall 2023.