Undergraduate Admission Requirements
The admission policies of UMUC are designed to meet the needs of adult, part-time students. Most applicants who have a high school diploma or the equivalent can be admitted and register for undergraduate courses. In most cases, neither transcripts nor test scores are required at the time of admission. By the end of the first semester, a student who plans to earn a degree at UMUC must make sure that official transcripts have been sent from each institution previously attended.
Who Needs to Apply?
- New students
- Students who are transferring from the overseas divisions
(Please complete the Divisional Transfer Request Form). - Students who have not registered for classes at UMUC in the past two years
Who Does Not Need to Apply?
- Students who are admitted to another University System of Maryland (USM) institution and who do not wish to transfer
Admission Criteria
- New and Prospective Students
- Student Status
- Students Transferring from Overseas Divisions
- Former UMUC Students with 2-Year Break in Enrollment
- Dismissed or Suspended Students
- Reinstatement After Dismissal from UMUC
- Non-Citizens and Foreign-Educated Students
- High School Seniors
- Students from UMUC's Graduate School
- Students from Other USM Institutions
- Senior Citizen Benefits
- Second Bachelor's Degree Requirements
- Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes
- Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
- Frequently Asked Questions
General Criteria for New and Prospective Students
- Graduation from high school or successful completion of the GED examination with a total score of 225 and no score below 40 on any of the five tests (if taken prior to January 2002) or a total score of 2250 and no score below 410 (if taken January 2002 or later).
- Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better on all college-level work attempted at other regionally accredited colleges and universities.
- A completed and signed application, and payment of the $50 admission fee (Graduates of U.S. colleges or universities automatically qualify for admission).
If you are a new student and qualify for admission, please see the Step-by-Step Application Instructions for Undergraduates for more information.
If you have been dismissed or suspended from another institution, see the admission criteria for dismissed or suspended students.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, if you have any foreign education, or if you are simply not sure if you meet the admission requirements, contact New Student Advising at 800-888-UMUC (8682) or by e-mail at enroll@umuc.edu for more information.
Student Status
Regular Status
A qualified applicant who wants to receive credit for courses (whether intending to receive a degree or not) is admitted as a regular student. Admission as a regular student is granted to U.S.-educated applicants who fulfill the following academic requirements that may apply to their educational level.
- Graduation from a regionally accredited or state-approved high school, or a total score of at least 225 on the General Education Development (GED) examination and no score below 40 on any of the five tests.
- A cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all college-level work attempted at other regionally accredited colleges and universities, including our University System of Maryland Institutions.
An academic probation or dismissal that occurred at least two years before the date when you apply for admission has no bearing in your admission status.
You are not required to submit official transcripts for admission. However, you must have all official documents of your educational background on file with UMUC at the time of your request for an official evaluation. If you present at least 24 semester hours of transferable college credit, you will not be required to submit official high school transcripts or GED scores.
Provisional Status
Two types of students are in this category: transfer students who had a cumulative grade-point average at their last institution of less than 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) within the previous two years, and those who have been academically dismissed within the past two years from any institution regardless of their cumulative grade-point average. If you fall into this category, you may apply for admission if at least one semester has passed since you last attended any institution.
As a provisional student, you may enroll for a maximum of 7 credits during a fall or spring semester or summer trimester. To remain eligible to register, you must, during your first semester of enrollment at UMUC, submit transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended. Otherwise you will not be permitted to re-register.
After successfully completing 7 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, you may request a change to regular status. The change of status is not automatic.
Semester-Only
International students in the following categories may be admitted for one semester only: foreign-educated students who have not completed at least 24 semester hours of transferable college coursework from a U.S. college or university, and F-1 or J-1 visa holders (except under the circumstances described below).
To be eligible to register for a subsequent semester, these students must meet the following criteria:
- Foreign-educated students who have not completed at least 24 semester hours of transferable college coursework must submit official transcripts verifying completion of the equivalent of a U.S. secondary education. While admitted for one semester only, these students must follow the same restrictions as provisional students.
- F-1 or J-1 visa holders attending other schools must submit a letter of permission from their sponsoring institutions before registration each semester.
Readmission
Students transferring from the overseas divisions
Students who have not registered for classes at UMUC in the past two years
If it has been more than two years since your last registration at UMUC, you must complete a new application for admission. (If you have attended UMUC-Asia or UMUC-Europe within the past two years, please complete the Divisional Transfer Request Form instead of submitting an application for admission.) You need not, however, pay another application fee. With permission, students currently enrolled in UMUC's overseas divisions may enroll in online distance education courses in the United States without reapplying. However, students seeking to transfer permanently to UMUC in the United States from these divisions must reapply and, if necessary, update their immigration status at UMUC.
A Note to Former Overseas UMUC Students Now Living in the United States
If you attended one of UMUC's overseas divisions, are now living in the United States and wish to take distance education courses, contact the Military Advising Team at 877-ASK-UMUC (877-275-8682) or by e-mail at military@umuc.edu. After you have registered, your records will be requested from overseas for inclusion in your UMUC file in the United States.
If you attend one of our overseas divisions and wish to graduate from that division, you will need to contact the last UMUC division you attended for advice. To request transcripts or to receive degree completion information, write directly to the appropriate division listed below.
European Division
University of Maryland University College
Unit 29216
APO AE 09102
Fax: 011-49-6221-378300
Visit web site
Asian Division
University of Maryland University College
Unit 5060, Box 0100
APO AP 96328-0100
Fax: 011-81-425-51-8305
Visit web site
Dismissed or Suspended Students
If you were dismissed or suspended from another institution within the past two years for academic reasons you may apply for admission as a provisional student. Once admitted, there are restrictions on the number of credits you may take during a semester. You must contact a counselor on the Undergraduate Advising Team during your first semester at UMUC, and you must submit official transcripts of all previous college-level work by the end of your first semester. If you were dismissed from UMUC for academic reasons, see the Undergraduate Catalog for information on the reinstatement process.
If you are on disciplinary suspension or dismissal from any institution, you may not be admitted (or reinstated, if dismissed from UMUC) until we have reviewed the circumstances. Be sure to complete a new application or, if previously dismissed, write a letter requesting reinstatement early so that we can complete our review in time for you to register, if approved.
Reinstatement After Dismissal
If you were dismissed from UMUC and you would like to be readmitted, you must first petition for reinstatement, then reapply.
Reinstatement Procedures
- Wait at least one semester before petitioning for reinstatement.
- Such an appeal should be made in writing to the Associate Provost, Student Affairs.
- Have all official transcripts from previously attended colleges and universities sent to UMUC, preferably before meeting with an admissions counselor.
- Meet with an advisor before petitioning for reinstatement to plan courses that you would take if reinstated and to firm up a plan for overcoming academic difficulties.
Deadlines for requesting reinstatement
Fall enrollment: July 15
Spring enrollment: November 15
Summer enrollment: April 15
After your record, the advisor's recommendation, and your petition have been reviewed, you will receive a written response. Reinstated students will be placed on academic warning immediately or will retain provisional status as appropriate. Please keep in mind that reinstatement is not guaranteed, nor can you be guaranteed reinstatement in time to register for any particular semester. Please note that students who have not been reinstated cannot be re-admitted to the university.
Non-Citizens and Foreign-Educated Students
If you are not a U.S. citizen or if you were educated abroad, please review International Students, Admission Requirements—Undergraduate. Contact New Student Advising at 800-888-UMUC or by e-mail at enroll@umuc.edu for more information.
High School Seniors
If you are a high school senior, you may take up to 7 credits per semester while finishing work toward your high school diploma. To qualify, you must present a transcript with a GPA of at least 3.5 (B+) in your high school academic subjects and the written recommendation of a guidance counselor. For more details, consult New Student Advising at least one month before you plan to enroll.
Students from UMUC's Graduate School
Generally, students are not eligible to enroll in courses outside of their degree programs. However, if UMUC has developed an articulation agreement between both a graduate and undergraduate school program, specific courses may apply to both degree programs. In such cases, students are eligible to cross enroll and will be charged the undergraduate rate for undergraduate courses and the graduate rate for graduate courses. Please refer to the Cross-Enrollment Policy for additional information.
Students from Other USM Institutions
Undergraduate Students
If you wish to register at UMUC, but you are currently an undergraduate student admitted to another University System of Maryland (USM) institution, you must either submit a letter of permission from your department or complete a Notification of Registration with University of Maryland University College form during UMUC walk-in admission. It is your responsibility to secure approval from your home institution. Refunds will not be considered in cases where approval is not granted after registration at UMUC. Your home institution will determine all transferability of academic work completed at UMUC.
If you wish to transfer to UMUC, you must first withdraw from your home institution. Then submit a UMUC undergraduate application and pay the application fee.
Graduate Students
If you are enrolled in a graduate school in another USM institution (whether or not you are seeking a degree) but want to take undergraduate courses, you should either submit a letter of permission from your department or complete a Notification of Registration with University of Maryland University College form. You will, however, be charged graduate tuition unless you resign from graduate school and are admitted to our undergraduate program. To resume graduate studies, you would then have to reapply to the graduate school.
Senior Citizen Benefits
At late registration, participants in the Golden Identification (GID) program may register for up to 7 credits each semester—on a space-available basis-without paying tuition. The late registration fee is waived, but you must pay any other fees (e. g., EXCEL fees).
To qualify, you must meet these requirements:
- Be a resident of Maryland.
- Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident.
- Be 60 years old by the beginning date of the semester for which you are applying.
- Not be employed more than 20 hours a week
- Meet all requirements for admission.
Mail, fax, touch-tone and online registration are not available for Golden ID students, who must register in person. Please consult Important Dates or contact the site where you plan to register to determine the exact dates of late registration.
The Golden ID eligibility form must accompany the application for admission. Also, you should be aware that you must be certified each semester for Golden ID benefits. To request an application and a Golden ID eligibility form, contact New Student Advising.
Second Bachelor's Degree Requirements
At UMUC, students who have already received a bachelor's degree from UMUC or from another regionally accredited institution can broaden their education by earning a second bachelor's degree with a different major. However, students may not earn a second bachelor's degree with a double major. Students may not earn a second degree in general studies and, except for the accounting degree which has a mandatory minor, may not obtain an academic minor in the second degree.
A student must have received the first bachelor's degree to be eligible to begin a second. For a second bachelor's degree, the student needs to complete at least 30 credits through UMUC after completing the first degree. The combined credit in both degrees must add up to at least 150 credits.
Students must complete all requirements for the major. If any of these requirements were satisfied in the previous degree, the remainder necessary to complete the minimum 30 credits of new courses should be satisfied with courses related to the major. For purposes of determining what major requirements apply to a given student, the applicable date is the date the student started coursework at UMUC after being admitted into the second undergraduate degree program. As with other degrees, continuous enrollment at UMUC is required. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all courses taken through UMUC is required for graduation.
To qualify for academic honors in a second bachelor's degree, the student must complete at least 45 new credits through UMUC with the requisite grade point average.
All students need to be aware of what is entailed in a second bachelor's degree. Before beginning work or considering nontraditional options toward a second degree, each student should consult an academic advisor. Advisors will be glad to explain the requirements for a second bachelor's degree and clarify its limitations.
