How to Apply for College
Apply early for more financial aid, scholarships, housing and class options.
If you have not earned college credits after graduating from high school, you're considered a freshman and should follow the process below to apply to UND.
If you have attended college after high school graduation, follow the process for transfer students.
1. Meet Freshman Admission Requirements
Admission to UND is based on the following minimum criteria.
Required High School Courses
To be admitted as a freshman to UND, you must successfully complete 14 units of high school core courses:
- English (4 units)
- Math (3 units of Algebra I or above)
- Lab Science (3 units)
- Social Studies (3 units)
- 1 additional unit from English, Math, Lab Science or Social Studies, or world language (including foreign languages, Native American languages or American Sign Language)
Additional factors will be considered, such as grade trends, course difficulty, GPA in core classes, etc. If you're 25+ years old on the first day of class, you're exempt from the high school course core requirements.
High School GPA
It's recommended that you have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 (3.25 for Aviation Management and Commercial Aviation) or higher when applying. Strong consideration is given to grades earned in the high school core classes listed above.
ACT/SAT Test Scores are Not Required
If you've taken the ACT/SAT, you're encouraged to submit your test scores to best determine scholarships and placement in English and math courses. Request your official standardized test scores be sent directly to UND.
- ACT Scores = UND Code #3218
- SAT Math & Verbal Scores = UND Code #6878
Additional Program Requirements
Depending on your major, some programs may have additional requirements beyond the general university admission standards.
Refer to the requirements page in the Program Finder or contact your rep for more information.
Your first step is to get admitted to UND and if your major has additional admission requirements, you may be asked to complete a separate application to be accepted into your degree program.
Non-Traditional Students
Home-schooled students follow the same admission criteria and process for applying to UND as stated above. In addition to submitting what's already required (official high school transcripts of any private or public high schools attended), you'll also need to submit the following:
- Home-school curriculum description or transcript that displays:
- Specific listing of classes completed to satisfy secondary school requirements identified and/or separated by class levels. UND may request a course syllabus or detailed description of course content.
- Clear identification of those courses that meet the North Dakota University System (NDUS) high school core course requirements.
- A key explaining the grading system and successful completion of coursework, including number of credits earned by course, letter grade and GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Date of your graduation/completion of plan of study.
- Signature of your parent/instructor.
- Diploma/certificate issued by the local school district in which you reside, if your district provides such a document. High school equivalency examinations may be acceptable in lieu of a high school diploma, providing that such an examination is an authorized high school equivalency test by the state in which the examination was taken.
Self-Paced Online Classes
If you're looking to earn college credits at your own pace while still in high school as a home-schooled student, UND offers online Self-Paced Enroll Anytime courses that are open for enrollment anytime of the year.
UND will accept the General Education Development (GED) certificate in lieu of a high school transcript.
- GED earned 2014 and later: A minimum passing score of 165 on each of the four subtests and a combined score of 660 or higher is required for admission.
- GED earn prior to 2014: Applicants must meet prior requirements for successful completion of a GED.
Students are encouraged to apply for admission to UND even if their GPA and safety and security responses do not meet these admissions guidelines. All applications that are not yet eligible for admission will be reviewed holistically. We consider all relevant information and extenuating circumstances in order to make an admission decision that is in the best interest of the student and the institution.
LAUNCH! Program
Through a unique partnership between UND and Lake Region State College (LRSC), you can prepare to transfer to UND while taking classes from both institutions and living on the UND campus. The LAUNCH! program prepares students who are not yet eligible for admission to UND — but meet admission requirements for LRSC — to seamlessly transition to UND after just one year.
Students who do not automatically qualify for UND will be invited to apply for LAUNCH! if they qualify.
LAUNCH! students will:
- Experience college as a UND student. You can live in a UND residence hall, join UND student clubs and organizations, use the UND Wellness Center, attend UND athletic events and so much more!
- Be admitted as a full-time student at LRSC while you live and take classes on the UND campus.
- Prepare for the academic demands of college-level coursework at UND —North Dakota’s flagship institution.
- Take select LRSC and UND classes all taught on the UND campus.
- Complete a 1-year program, while working on your General Education requirements, designed to help you successfully transition to UND as a sophomore.
With LAUNCH!, you’ll receive unmatched personal attention and academic support to help you succeed:
- Class sizes are small, giving you more opportunities to interact with your instructor.
- Tutoring times are built into your schedule.
- Additional tutoring and academic support services are offered by LRSC and UND, including math and writing assistance.
- The LAUNCH! Coordinator (located on the UND campus) will serve as your academic advisor and help you throughout your experience.
Upon successfully completing 24 transferable credits from the LAUNCH! curriculum with a cumulative general admission 2.0 GPA, you may transfer to UND to complete your bachelor’s degree.
LAUNCH! students are not eligible to be NCAA Division 1 athletes at UND.
2. Complete Application Before Deadline
Apply up to one year in advance of when you plan to start at UND.
Applications are being accepted for the fall 2025, spring 2026 and summer 2026 semesters.
- Fall Priority Deadline:
- Feb. 1
- Fall Final Deadline:
- Aug. 15
- Spring:
- Dec. 15
- Summer:
- May 1
Aerospace Students
Aviation Management and Commercial Aviation are no longer accepting applications for
fall 2025. The next term available is fall 2026. Applications open Aug. 1, 2025.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure the best chance of being considered for each program. Admission deadlines are subject to change in future terms.
If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.
To automatically be awarded the UND Freshman Scholarship, you must meet the criteria and submit your completed application by the Feb. 1 priority deadline for the upcoming fall semester.
Admissions Application
Use your UND admissions application to:
- Start, save and submit your online application. Applicants are charged a $35 (U.S. funds) non-refundable fee.
- Check your application status.
- View your application checklist.
- See admission decisions.
- Confirm your enrollment.
You will receive emails throughout the process on the status of your application. It's your responsibility to ensure all submitted materials are received and attached to the application. Please monitor your admissions application account and email used to apply.
We recommend using Google Chrome on a desktop when completing the application. If you run into issues with items not displaying, clear your cache and cookies.
For assistance, email admissions@UND.edu.
Review Additional Academic Program Requirements
Consult the requirements page(s) in the Program Finder to see if your program has additional requirements beyond the general university admission standards.
Readmission
Undergraduate students who leave the University for at least one semester, not including summer semester, are required to apply for readmission.
3. Request Transcripts
Official High School Transcripts
Request your official high school transcripts to be sent directly to UND. Transcripts can be sent electronically through a secured electronic transcript service or by mail in a sealed envelope to:
UND Office of Admissions
3501 University Ave Stop 8357
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8357
Self-Report GPA
Self-report your high school GPA on your application for a quicker admission decision. We will make a preliminary admission offer if you meet our admission guidelines. You’ll be asked to confirm your academic status by providing an official transcript at a later date and an additional final transcript after graduation. Official transcripts are required to receive a scholarship offer.
College Level Credits
If you've completed any college-level credits, request that your official college transcripts be sent directly from the college or university to UND with the directions above.
If you completed dual credit through a North Dakota public institution and the college credits appear on your official high school transcript, you do not need to request a college transcript.