UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

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Undergraduate Admission

Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate Admission Criteria

Applications for admission are given a comprehensive review. A new student’s admission to River Falls is determined by a number of academic and nonacademic factors. Academic factors include the rigor of the high school curriculum, cumulative grade point average (GPA), high school class rank, and standardized test scores (either the ACT or SAT is required). Nonacademic factors may include, but are not necessarily limited to, such things as leadership, community service, creativity, and/or unique talents, and personal characteristics that contribute to the strength and diversity of the university.

New freshmen typically rank in the top 40% of their high school class OR have a 22 ACT score (1100 SAT) or higher.

Academic Course Preparation

Academic preparation, and specifically the strength of high school course work, is an important part of the admission decision. Listed below are the minimum course requirements for application. Students who are most competitive for admission typically exceed these unit requirements.

English/Communications (composition, literature and rhetoric)

4 units*

Mathematics (algebra, geometry and higher)

3 units*

Science (two must be from biology, chemistry or physics)

3 units*

Social Studies

3 units*

Additional Academic Electives (from the above areas or other academic or vocational areas)

4 units*


*A unit equals one academic year of a subject.

UWRF Pathways Program

Students who are non-native speakers of English and who have a lower ACT score due to English proficiency will be evaluated for admission into the Pathways Program. 

Students in the Pathways Program typically will have an:

  • ACT score lower than 17, or an SAT score lower than 930

And two of the following indicators:

  • C's or less in English, literature or reading courses in high school
  • ESL/ELL courses in high school
  • The language spoken at home is not predominantly English
  • The student moved to the U.S. at some point during their elementary, middle or high school years

Students should indicate in their application statement that they are interested in the Pathways Program.