Transfer Admission Requirements

Admission is to a particular college or program, each of which has its own admissions requirements.

If you are transferring from one degree program to another on the Twin Cities campus, or if you are transferring from the University of Minnesota system campuses of Crookston, Duluth, or Morris, you must complete a Change of College application. Visit One Stop for detailed information.

If you are returning to a degree program from an absence of one year or longer, you must complete an Application for Readmission.

University of Minnesota transfer admission criteria

Applicants may be admitted if they meet the entrance requirements of the college or program to which they have applied, and of the major they wish to enter.

Transfer applicants are considered for admission based on an individual review of their applications by the college to which they are applying. In general, transfer applicants must have completed (or be completing) at least 26 semester credits at the time of application. It is rare for students enrolled in their first term of college to be admitted for the Spring semester.

Individual colleges and programs review each application using the academic and context review factors listed below, in addition to the program-specific criteria described in the next section. These criteria include the specific prerequisite course and credit requirements for the individual college or program. To learn more about the students admitted for fall 2020, see the academic profile of fall 2020 admitted transfer students.

Academic review factors

• Grade point average - cumulative, and in specific courses related to the student's intended major.
• An especially challenging pattern of coursework, especially in courses related to the student's intended major.

For transfer applicants with fewer than 26 transferable college credits complete, the following factors are also reviewed:

• Successful completion of the high school course requirements (see below).
• High school rank percentile (students from non-ranking schools and those with GED or other high school equivalency are given full consideration).
• ACT or SAT scores (ACT/SAT scores are not required for 2021 applicants. Learn more about ACT/SAT scores for transfer admission).
• Rigor of the high school curriculum.

Context review factors

• Evidence of exceptional achievement, aptitude, or personal accomplishment not reflected in the academic record.
• A pattern of steady improvement in academic performance.
• Participation in extracurricular programs related to your intended major.
• Non-academic experience in a field related to your intended major.
• Evidence of exceptional talent or ability in artistic, scholarly, leadership, or athletic performance.
• Evidence that enrollment would enhance the cultural, gender, age, economic, racial, or geographic diversity of the student body.
• Outstanding high school, college, or community involvement.
• Military service.
• Work experience, paid or unpaid.
• Evidence of having overcome social, economic, or physical barriers to educational achievement.
• Extenuating circumstances.

Specific College Requirements

View a full table of specific college admission information, or see the detailed information on each individual college and program by selecting your college of interest from the list below.

• College of Biological Sciences
• College of Continuing and Professional Studies
  • Inter-College Program
  • Bachelor of Applied Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health and Wellbeing Sciences
• College of Design
• College of Education and Human Development
• College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Science and Engineering
• Carlson School of Management
• Health Science Undergraduate Programs
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences (formerly Clinical Laboratory Sciences)
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Dental Therapy
  • Mortuary Science
  • School of Nursing

High School Course Preparation Requirements

Most successful transfer applicants will have completed the high school preparation requirements listed below. Both high school and equivalent college coursework will be reviewed for the fulfillment of high school preparation requirements.

• Four years of English, with emphasis on writing, including instruction in reading and speaking skills and in literary understanding and appreciation;
• Four years of mathematics, including one year each of elementary algebra, geometry, and intermediate algebra;
• Three years of science, including one year each of biological and physical science and including laboratory experience;
• Three years of social studies, including one year each of U.S. history and geography (or a course that includes a geography component such as world history, western civilization, or global studies);
• Two years of a single second language; and
• One year of visual and/or performing arts, including instruction in the history and interpretation of the art form (e.g., theater arts, music, band, chorus, orchestra, drawing, painting, photography, graphic design, media production, theater production.).

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Change of College

Students transferring from one degree program to another on the Twin Cities campus, or students transferring from the University of Minnesota system campuses of Crookston, Duluth, or Morris, must complete a Change of College application. Visit One Stop for detailed information.

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Readmission

Students who have not been granted a formal "leave of absence" or who do not register for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer session) shall be place on "inactive" status. When returning from "inactive" status, you must fill out the Application for Readmission and submit the completed form to your college office. This form is available from your college office, or you may download a copy of the form from the web. You must also submit any official transcript(s) of any outside course work since your last attendance at the University of Minnesota to the Office of Admissions, 240 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

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