Understanding GPA Requirements at the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota (UMN) system, encompassing multiple campuses, sets forth specific requirements and standards for undergraduate degrees. While the Board of Regents ultimately awards degrees based on faculty recommendations, individual departments, colleges, and campuses possess the authority to define program and major-specific requirements, provided they align with the overarching University policy. This article breaks down the GPA requirements and other academic standards necessary for earning a baccalaureate degree at the University of Minnesota.

Core Principles of UMN Degree Requirements

Several fundamental principles govern the awarding of degrees within the UMN system:

Credit Recognition: All credits earned at any University of Minnesota campus or through any instructional method must be universally recognized across the system, appear on the student's transcript, and contribute towards degree requirements. This is subject to departmental, college, and campus-specific standards.
Credit Accumulation: Students may accumulate credits exceeding the requirements of their degree program.
Double Majors and Degrees: Students cannot earn two baccalaureate degrees in the same major from any UMN campus. However, students completing requirements for two majors within different degree structures (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science) are eligible to earn two degrees, provided they fulfill all additional degree requirements.
Minimum Credit Requirement: All baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 120 semester credits. Any program proposing more than 120 credits requires college/campus approval. Programs exceeding 132 credits must also be approved by the appropriate chancellor or provost, in consultation with the Senate Committee on Educational Policy.
Meeting Requirements: Accumulating 120 or more credits does not automatically entitle a student to a degree. Students must meet all requirements and standards set by the University, departments, colleges, and campuses. These requirements include breadth of study (liberal or general education) and other campus-wide graduation standards approved by the faculty governing body.

Grading Policies and GPA

The University of Minnesota has specific policies regarding grading, particularly the use of the S/N grading system:

S/N Credit Limits: There are limits on the use of S/N grades. The maximum proportion of University S/N credits permitted within the total University credits in the degree is 25%. For the Twin Cities campus, this limit is 20%.
Minimum Credit Completion: For students completing only the minimum of 30 credits at the University, no more than 8 credits can be taken S/N.
Major Coursework: The Twin Cities campus does not allow S/N grading in major coursework unless preset by the unit for specific courses.
Course Specifications: Colleges, campuses, and programs can specify which courses or proportion of courses must be taken on the A-F or S-N grading system.
Crookston Campus Exception: Courses used to satisfy Crookston degree requirements must be taken A/F unless the course is only offered S/N.
D Grades: D grades are generally not permitted to satisfy requirements in major, minor, or certificate courses on the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses. Required courses for the major, minor, or undergraduate certificate in which a student receives a D grade do not count toward satisfying the requirements. However, other courses, including those in the major or minor field that are not required, will count toward a degree if the student earns a D or better. On the Crookston campus, students may have no more than two D grades in courses included in an academic major. D grades are not permitted to satisfy requirements in minor or certificate courses.

GPA Requirement for Graduation

Minimum GPA: A student admitted to a degree program or major who completes all requirements with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.000 in University of Minnesota coursework will be allowed to earn a degree. This GPA is based solely on University of Minnesota coursework.
University-Wide Standard: This policy establishes a minimum consistent standard that all undergraduate students must reach to earn an undergraduate degree, ensuring a strong foundation for their future endeavors.

Understanding Admission Requirements at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

While GPA is a critical factor for graduation, it's also important to understand the GPA expectations for admission, especially for the Twin Cities campus.

Acceptance Rate and GPA

The acceptance rate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, is approximately 79.7%, indicating it is lightly selective. While there are no strict GPA requirements, the university assesses applicants based on their academic achievements.

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To gauge the average GPA of admitted students, prospective applicants can consult the UMN freshman profile. For Fall 2025, the middle 50% range of high school GPAs for admitted freshmen was between 3.50 and 3.95 (unweighted).

Holistic Review Process

UMN employs a holistic review process, evaluating applicants based on various factors, including GPA, course rigor, test scores (if submitted), extracurricular activities, and supplemental materials.

To enhance admission chances, applicants should aim for a competitive GPA within or above the middle 50% range and pursue challenging courses, such as honors, AP, or IB classes. Extracurricular activities and compelling essays can also strengthen an application.

Standardized Testing and Other Factors

Submitting an ACT/SAT score is not required for applications for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 terms. All students, regardless of whether they submit a test score, will receive full consideration for admission, scholarships, and the University Honors Program.

The middle 50 percent of students admitted for Fall 2025:

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Had a high school rank percentile between 74 and 95.
Had an unweighted calculated high school grade point average between 3.50 - 3.95.
Scored between 27 and 33 on the ACT.
Scored between 1350 and 1490 on the SAT.

Application Review Process

The University of Minnesota conducts an individual assessment of all application materials. Admission decisions are based on a careful overall assessment of each student's academic and context factors. The strongest consideration is given to a student's high school record, including:

Coursework through high school graduation.
Grades in academic coursework.
Class rank/Grade point average (if available).
Rigor of academic curriculum based on what is available in the high school (including enrollment in honors, AP, IB, A-Level, or college-level courses when available.)
ACT or SAT scores (Submitting an ACT/SAT score is not required on applications for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 terms.)
English Proficiency test score (when required).
Applicant's academic interests.

Individual circumstances are also considered to ensure a diverse student body.

Definitions

Academic Major: A student's main field of specialization during undergraduate or graduate studies. The major is recorded on the student's transcript.
Academic Minor: A student's declared secondary field of study or specialization, typically consisting of a set of courses that meet specified guidelines. The minor is recorded on the student's transcript.
Baccalaureate Degree: An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete the undergraduate curriculum. Also called a bachelor's degree.
Degree Structure: The type of baccalaureate degree, such as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), or Bachelor of Science in Business (B.S.B.).
Requirements for the Major and Minor: The set of courses that constitute the program of study in a focused area for a particular degree program.

Historical Amendments to the Policy

The Credit and grade Point Requirements for an Undergraduate (Baccalaureate) Degree policy has been amended several times to improve understanding and clarity:

December 2018: Revised to improve understanding when students are approaching the maximum number of S/N credits in their degree. The Twin Cities campus revised the maximum from 25% to 20 total S/N credits in an undergraduate degree.
October 2014: Clarifications related to Higher Learning Commission accreditation requirements.
March 2013: Clarified that a student may not earn two degrees in the same major and specified that the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 must be earned from courses taken at the University of Minnesota. Transfer credits from other universities will not be used in this calculation.
June 2012: Specifies that Ds will not be allowed in courses required for the minor, which has been the current practice on the Twin Cities campus. Clarifies that this rule applies to Rochester as well.
August 2011: Eliminated the skills requirements for the Twin Cities, Crookston, and Rochester, to allow students choices as to how to use their electives.

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