Navigating the University of Minnesota Application Process: A Comprehensive Guide
Applying to college can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the application requirements for the University of Minnesota, covering everything from deadlines and required materials to the review process and special considerations for different types of applicants.
Application Types: Freshman vs. Transfer
The University of Minnesota distinguishes between freshman and transfer applicants.
- Freshman: You are considered a freshman if you are currently a high school student (even with college credit earned through programs like PSEO or AP) or if you haven't enrolled in any college courses after graduating high school. Freshmen can apply and learn more at z.umn.edu/apply.
- Transfer: You are considered a transfer student if you are a high school graduate who has registered or enrolled at a college, university, or any other school after graduating from high school. (If you are currently a high school student with college credit through programs like PSEO or AP, you are still considered a freshman.) Transfer students can apply using the University of Minnesota's Common App. Visit z.umn.edu/apply or z.umn.edu/TransferTimeline to learn more.
Freshman Application Requirements and Process
The University of Minnesota aims to enroll an academically qualified and diverse student body. Admission to each of the University's eight freshman-admitting colleges is competitive, and the number of available spaces varies by college. Applicants are first considered for admission to the colleges listed in their application, in the order in which they are listed.
Required Materials
The application to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities requires:
- An application
- A \$55 application fee
- Self-reported academic record
Note: No essays, letters of recommendation, ACT/SAT scores, or official transcripts are required to apply.
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Academic Factors Considered
The strongest consideration is given to a student's high school record. The University of Minnesota looks at the overall trend of your high school performance to understand your academic preparation. The following academic factors are considered:
- 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. All students*, whether or not they submit a test score, will receive full consideration for admission, scholarships, and the University Honors Program. For more information, please visit our ACT/SAT FAQ)
- English Proficiency test score (when required)
- Applicant's academic interests (We review a student's academic preparation related to the major/college for which they are seeking admission.)
Holistic Review: Context Factors
Individual circumstances are also considered as part of the overall assessment of each application. Enrolling a diverse student body-with students bringing differing experiences, talents, and perspectives to their scholarly community-is essential to achieving the learning and development outcomes of a University of Minnesota education. Our holistic review takes into consideration the individual circumstances that make each individual student unique.
Important Notes for Freshman Applicants
- Dual Enrollment: 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.
- GED: If you did not graduate from high school but earned a GED (or other high school equivalency), submit official test scores.
- STARS Platform: 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.
- International Applicants: 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.
- English Proficiency: 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. Within four weeks, students will be notified if any items are missing (self-reported grades, test scores, application fee, etc.).
Freshman Application Deadlines
- Early Action I Deadline: November 1. Students who submit their complete applications by this deadline will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by January 31.
- Early Action II Deadline: December 1. Students who submit their complete applications by this deadline will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by February 15.
- Regular Deadline: January 1. Students who submit their complete applications by this deadline will receive an admission decision on Application Tracker by March 31.
Note: The November 1 deadline 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.
Admission 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, posted on the University's Application Tracker:
- Admit: 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: The University is unable 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 the University has determined that the applicant is academically prepared to succeed, they must make certain that they 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.
Academic Profile of Admitted Freshmen (Fall 2025)
The following data 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 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*
Important: This information is a composite picture of admitted freshman applicants and should not be interpreted as strict 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.
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities will not be requiring an ACT or SAT score for admissions through the Fall 2027 term.
Transfer Application Requirements and Process
If you're a high school graduate who has enrolled in a college, university, vocational college, or trade school after graduating from high school, you're considered a transfer applicant.
How to Apply
Apply via the Common App link above, and add University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Spring or Fall program) under the 'Add a Program' tab.
- Transferring from an external postsecondary institution: You must submit an application through Common App for transfer students.
- Former University of Minnesota student: You are a former University of Minnesota student if you are returning to a degree program at the U of M after an absence of one year or longer.
Required Materials
- Application via the Common App.
- College transcripts for all schools attended.
- Final high school transcripts (if transferring with less than 30 credits).
Additional Information for All Applicants
Financial Aid
To be awarded financial aid, students and their families must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application is available starting in December. Students whose admission applications are complete by the deadlines listed above will receive full consideration for the University Honors Program and scholarships. Students who apply after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available and funds-available basis.
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Housing
Students who live on campus are more likely to have better grades, stick with school, and graduate on time. At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, we guarantee on-campus housing for all admitted freshmen who apply for housing and confirm their enrollment by May 1.
Post-Acceptance Checklist
Save your spot in the freshman class! The Admitted Student Checklist is a list of actions and steps for admitted students to complete before becoming a Golden Gopher. These steps include confirming your enrollment, applying for financial aid, and applying for housing. Once students confirm their enrollment, they will be assigned an additional New Student Checklist, which is an interactive, online checklist where you can sign up for orientation dates, take any required placement exams, and more!
It is U of M policy that students must graduate high school or pass the GED before they are eligible to enroll. Students must submit a final transcript which is used to verify grades listed on their application Self-Reported Academic Record, and graduation date. Official documents must be submitted by July 1.
If students chose to have a self-reported ACT or SAT score reviewed as part of their application, their official test scores must be submitted by July 1.
University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) Application Checklist
At the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), we understand the process of applying to and selecting a college can be overwhelming. We hope the freshman application checklist will help.
- Submit transcripts. First-year students must send high school transcripts. If you have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), a score report is required in addition to any available high school transcripts. College transcripts must be submitted for any completed Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and/or College In the Schools (CIS) work.Transfer students must send college transcripts for all schools attended and final high school transcripts if transferring with less than 30 credits.Transcripts are received through Common App, Docufide/Parchment, Scrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, ETX (Electronic Transcript Exchange) and Transcripts Network.
- Students who succeed at UMR are passionate about health care. Tell the story behind your passion. The Passion Statement is used in consideration for your admission to UMR. Additionally, it is used for scholarship consideration in selecting finalists for UMR Scholarship Day. Please note there is a maximum word count of 500 words.
- Teacher Evaluation and/or letter of recommendation, math or science teachers preferred (optional). Letters of recommendation are not considered for Health Professions students.A science teacher recommendation form is required for the Early Assurance PA program.
UMR Application Deadlines
- EARLY ACTION DEADLINE: Students who apply by this early action date will receive their admissions decision earlier, receive priority consideration for scholarships, and have early access to housing and orientation date selection. We encourage students to apply as soon as they can.
- REGULAR DECISION DEADLINE: Students must submit their application by this date to be considered for all merit scholarships. Admissions decisions are released on a rolling basis beginning October 1.
Graduate School Application Requirements
Steps to Apply
- Choose your program: Learn and explore the specific application requirements of your program of interest. Application requirements include the upload of all unofficial transcripts. Each graduate program may require additional application materials, such as test scores, letters of recommendation or other requirements not set by the Graduate School. Please adhere to the requirements of the graduate program in which you are applying.
- Know your application deadline: We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that we can process your application as efficiently as possible. Deadlines vary from program to program. It is important you know the application deadline of your program of interest.
- Application fees: You will be prompted to pay an application fee while applying online. You can find more information on the Application Fees page.
- Apply Now: Apply online. Create and complete your application. Note that you can save the form and return to it as often as you wish prior to submission.
- Check your application status: For more information, visit the Application Status page, or log in to the admissions system you used to submit your online application.
- Questions or concerns: Please don’t hesitate to contact the Graduate School Admissions Office or your program of interest.
Required Materials (General - Check with Specific Program)
- Unofficial copies of all post-secondary coursework and degrees are required with your application. Please follow instructions on the Transcripts & Credentials page, as well as the specific information given on the International Student Resources page.
- GREGraduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be required by your program of interest.
- Recommendation letters: Many graduate programs require letters of recommendation, submitted and uploaded online. Consult your program of interest for specific requirements.
International Requirements for Graduate Applicants
- Student Visa Process: To attend the University of Minnesota Graduate School, you will need to apply for a student visa.
- English Language Proficiency: International and domestic applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. A TOEFL, MELAB, IELTS, PTE Academic, or Cambridge C1 Advanced test is required for applicants whose first language is not English.
- Transcripts & Credentials: Unofficial copies of all post-secondary coursework and degrees are required with your application.
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