AR 4.2.1 Admission Requirements-Undergraduate Programs (2024)

4.2 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

4.2.1 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Students who satisfy the basic admissions requirements may register in any undergraduate program at the University, unless additional entrance requirements are specified elsewhere.

The University prefers applicants for admission take the American College Test (ACT) examination. However, applicants may be considered for admission based on their Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores. The Office for Student Success will annually provide the ACT/SAT concordance table provided by those organizations to be used in the admissions process. Scores will be used alongside the established lower division selective admissions criteria.

All new first time in college (FTIC) and transfer students must attend an orientation prior to enrollment, unless they are excused due to special circ*mstances or emergencies, with permission from the Office for Student Success and their college of admission.

The Office for Student Success shall review the undergraduate admissions policy and all associated academic standards each academic year.

Pursuant to 13 KAR 2:020, applicants to public institutions must meet the established college admissions or academic readiness indicators established by the CPE. Students who do not meet the established CPE thresholds in reading, writing or math are placed in the Academic Preparedness and Placement Program (APP).

4.2.1.1 BASIC LOWER DIVISION SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS

4.2.1.1.1 ADMISSIONS DECISIONS

4.2.1.1.1.1 AUTOMATIC ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

The Admissions Management System will use the automatic admissions criteria. The University will publish the range of ACT and SAT scores and GPAs that secured admission in the previous year's FTIC cohort.

The automatic admissions criteria will consider various factors including high school GPA (HSGPA), SAT and ACT composite scores, class rank, course difficulty, ACT subsection scores or any other relevant criteria that help assess an applicant’s potential for academic success at the University. However, students with an ACT score below 18 or an HSGPA below 2.0 will be automatically denied admission and can only be admitted in accordance with the Exceptions Procedures.

Students who meet the established admissions criteria will be admitted.

4.2.1.1.1.2 EXCEPTIONS PROCEDURES

The exceptions procedure applies to applicants who were denied based on the automatic admissions criteria. Applicants who do not meet the criteria will be reviewed holistically. The review considers various factors such as HSGP, grade trends, curriculum strength, test scores, involvement, leadership and essay responses. Applicants may select up to three (3) colleges for consideration. The applicant’s full admissions file and the results of the holistic review will be shared with these colleges, which then make the final admissions decisions to their respective colleges.

4.2.1.1.1.3 DEADLINES

Admissions deadlines are established by the Office for Student Success and published online.

These deadlines apply to any student seeking admissions to the University and are specified by admissions type and semester the student intends to apply. Applications received after the deadline for full consideration may be rejected, even if they demonstrate better qualifications than some already admitted.

4.2.1.1.2 PRECOLLEGE CURRICULUM

4.2.1.1.2.1 REQUIREMENTS

The condition of graduation from high school may be waived for superior students with appropriate recommendations from their high school counselors or teachers. The University office responsible for undergraduate admissions shall recommend academic criteria for admission under these conditions. Students who have not graduated from high school or have not earned a General Education Diploma (GED) will not be eligible for Title IV funds.

4.2.1.1.4 PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ATHLETES RECEIVING ATHLETICS-RELATED AID

Student athletes, as identified by a designee within the University of Kentucky Athletics Department, who do not meet established standards for automatic acceptance but do meet Southeastern Conference (SEC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) academic requirements for first time in college (FTIC) eligibility shall be eligible for admission. Student athletes who do not meet SEC and NCAA academic requirements for FTIC eligibility may be admitted only through the provisions above.

4.2.1.1.5 TRANSFER STUDENTS

Students at other colleges or universities will be permitted to transfer to UK if they meet one (1) of the criteria below.

Students who have completed 24 credit hours or more at the postsecondary level and achieved a GPA of 2.0 or higher are admissible to the University. Admissibility to particular colleges and programs is prescribed by “Undergraduate programs.”

Students who have completed 23 credit hours or fewer must meet both FTIC and transfer admissibility requirements to gain admission to the University. The University office responsible for undergraduate admissions will review both final high school cumulative GPA and postsecondary GPA in order to make a decision about admission. Admissibility to particular colleges and programs is prescribed by “Undergraduate programs.”

4.2.1.1.6 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Undergraduate international student applicants with a TOEFL score of at least 527 (paper-based) or 71 (internet-based) may be admitted. Corresponding scores on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or other approved measures of English proficiency shall also serve as evidence of English proficiency for admissions purposes.

An applicant with an English proficiency exam score below the acceptable levels may be admitted if other factors, such as their previous academic record, interviews and additional English tests, indicate that the applicant can succeed academically. The office responsible for undergraduate admissions will make decisions regarding these applicants.

International students who meet other admissions criteria but have not yet demonstrated English proficiency may be conditionally admitted. These students will be invited to enroll in the University’s Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) for instruction. Once they demonstrate English proficiency as defined by CESL, they will be admitted as full-time degree-seeking students. In the absence of conditional admission, admission to the programs administered by CESL does not guarantee future admission to the University.

Students enrolled in Level 5 or Level 6 of CESL coursework may, upon meeting criteria set forth by the CESL program, enroll for one (1) semester as non-degree-seeking students in a pre-matriculation bridge program (half-time enrollment in non-credit CESL coursework and 6-8 hours of credit-bearing undergraduate coursework in academic colleges), constituting full-time enrollment in English preparation for immigration purposes. Completion of the bridge program with grades of “A” or “B” in all classes will constitute demonstration of English proficiency for full admission to the University. However, some UK academic colleges and/or majors may require a TOEFL/IELTS score for admission to their programs.

4.2.1.2 ADMISSIONS TO ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants for admission must present evidence that they are in good standing at their most recent institution. Credit hours for courses accepted from two-year colleges shall be limited to a maximum of 67 semester hours (however, there is no limit on lower division coursework for KCTCS students per KRS 164.583) with the following exceptions:

Students in the RN-BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, for whom the limit shall be a maximum of 90 semester hours. Applicants must have maintained a GPA of 2.0 or an average of “C” in all previous course work.
Students in the MLT to MLS (medical laboratory technician to medical laboratory scientist) track, of the Medical Laboratory Science program, for whom the limit shall be a maximum of 80 semester hours.

All collegiate-level work completed at an accredited college or university is recognized on a credit hour basis. However, the dean of a college may require validation of course equivalencies or applicability toward degree requirements for more specialized courses. To be classified as accredited, a college or university must be a member of one (1) of the six (6) accrediting associations formally classified as “regional”:

1. Middle State Commission on Higher Education
2. Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
3. Higher Learning Commission
4. New England Commission of Higher Education
5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Advanced standing from an unaccredited US college or university may be obtained by special subject examinations.

4.2.1.3 NON-DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

The goal of the University policy for non-degree-seeking students is to provide appropriate access to academic courses for students who want to continue their education without pursuing a degree. There are three (3) types of non-degree-seeking students at the University. The first two types, visiting and high school dual enrollment students, are degree-seeking at other institutions. The third type of non-degree-seeking student is a student who is not seeking a degree from any institution at the time of enrollment.

While degree-seeking students are given top priority for University resources, the University aims to make these resources available to non-degree-seeking students on a space-available basis. This policy ensures reasonable access to a broader range of students without unnecessarily limiting University resources for degree-seeking students.

Non-degree status allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning without the requirements of a degree program, aligning with the University’s educational mission. Some non-degree-seeking students are considered "Lifelong Learners" and include Donovan Scholars, students who have already earned degrees and non-traditional students who start as non-degree-seeking with the intention of later becoming degree-seeking students.

Other students eligible to enter the University in a non-degree status include visiting students from other colleges and universities, high school students seeking dual enrollment and other students in special circ*mstances as determined by the Office for Student Success.

4.2.1.3.1 RULES GOVERNING ADMISSIONS OF NON-DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

To be admitted as a non-degree-seeking student, an applicant must meet the following criteria: The high school class of a non-degree applicant must have graduated at least two (2) years prior to the applicant's anticipated semester of enrollment unless:

The applicant will be on active military duty during their tenure as a non-degree-seeking student or the applicant has been admitted by exception.
The applicant is a visiting student.
The applicant is seeking high school dual enrollment.
The applicant possesses a bachelor’s degree.
The applicant is enrolling in the University’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program.

Applicants who have been denied admission as degree-seeking students may not in turn be enrolled as non-degree-seeking students.

Former UK degree-seeking students generally will not be enrolled as non-degree-seeking students without having earned an undergraduate degree.

UK students under academic or disciplinary suspension at any higher education institution may not be enrolled as non-degree-seeking students.

Students currently under suspension at other institutions may not be enrolled as non-degree-seeking students at UK. Failure to disclose a current suspension may result in forfeiture of eligibility for future enrollment.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit transcripts of prior colleges at the time of application to facilitate advising on appropriate coursework.

International students applying as non-degree-seeking students whose primary physical residence will be UK, will apply using the same application process as those who are degree-seeking.

4.2.1.3.1.1 VISITING STUDENTS

A visiting student is a student currently enrolled at another institution of higher education who intends to earn credit at UK that will be applied to the degree requirements at their home institution. Visiting students must meet the same admissions requirements as regular transfer students. Applicants must self-certify that they are in good standing at their home institution and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 at the time of application.

4.2.1.3.1.2 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SEEKING DUAL ENROLLMENT

Students currently enrolled in high school who desire to enroll in courses at UK must submit a high school transcript, ACT or SAT scores and provide a signature from a high school counselor or principal. Students must have a minimum HSGPA of 2.0 and must meet the CPE college readiness indicators.

4.2.1.3.1.3 OTHER NON-DEGREE STUDENTS

Other non-degree students are students not currently enrolled in a degree program at a high school, college or university but who wish to take undergraduate courses at the University without pursuing a formal degree. Applicants must self-certify that they have a high school diploma, GED, meet the Kentucky CPE college readiness indicators or are applying to participate in UK’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary program. Students who wish to switch to degree-seeking status at the University after enrolling as a non-degree student must go through the same application process as degree-seeking applicants.

4.2.1.3.2 RULES GOVERNING ENROLLMENT OF NON-DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

Non-degree-seeking students must meet course prerequisites or obtain the consent of the instructor to enroll in a course.

Non-degree students (except Donovan Scholars) who complete nine (9) credit hours or more with a GPA less than 2.0 will not be allowed to continue enrollment.

No student may continue to enroll as a non-degree-seeking student after earning 24 semester hours in this status without the special permission of the dean of the college in which the student is registered.

Credit earned as a non-degree-seeking student will be evaluated for applicability toward a degree by the dean of the college in which the student will be enrolled. Successful completion of course work as a non-degree-seeking student does not ensure admission as a degree-seeking student. No graduate or professional credit is awarded for courses taken while a student is enrolled as an undergraduate non-degree-seeking student.

4.2.1.3.3 CHANGING STATUS FROM NON-DEGREE TO DEGREE-SEEKING

Applicants who have earned fewer than 24 semester credit hours at the University must meet the University's standards for admission as FTIC. Students who have earned 24 semester credit hours at UK may apply for degree-seeking status and will be considered transfer students for admission purposes.

High school students who have enrolled continuously at the University and who have earned more than 24 semester credit hours in total during a UK dual credit program (including credit for prior assessment) will be considered first-time FTIC when first changing their status from non-degree to degree-seeking.

4.2.1.4 ADMISSIONS AS AN AUDITOR

Any person may be admitted to a class or classes as an auditor by paying the required fees. An individual admitted as an auditor cannot change from audit to credit. A student regularly enrolled in any college must apply to their college to be an auditor. An individual not enrolled in any college must apply for admission to audit.

AR 4.2.1 Admission Requirements-Undergraduate Programs (2024)

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