Freshman Admission Requirements

Applicants will be considered if they satisfy all of the following criteria (1, 2 below):

1.  Rank in Class/Minimum SAT or ACT Requirements

Admission Requirements

Students who meet the State of Texas’ Uniform Admissions Policy and also meet the requirements below are assured admission.

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for Assured Admissions will be individually reviewed by UH admissions officers. Additional information and factors available from a completed Apply Texas Application (Part I and Part II) will be considered. Additional factors include, but are not limited to the following: first-generation college attendance, socioeconomic background, extent, and rigor of the student’s high school curriculum, special talents, abilities or awards earned, family responsibilities, leadership activities, public service, and extra-curricular activities.

Applicants in the individual review category may submit additional material if such material would strengthen the student’s claim for admission (e.g., an especially strong letter of recommendation or a persuasive statement from the student explaining special circumstances).

GED or home schooled applicants will be considered for admission by individual review and must meet a minimum of 1180 SAT I (critical reading and math) or 26 ACT Composite.

Colleges and Programs With Additional Requirements

C.T. Bauer College of Business

Individual college review is required for international FTIC applicants and international transfer applicants with fewer than 30 semester hours of college credit applying for admission as Pre-business majors if a TOEFL score and high school grades are used as the basis for admission rather than SAT or ACT score.

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

The sequence of design studios begins in the Fall, and admission to the college of Architecture and Design is normally for study beginning in the Fall Term. The application deadline is February 1. Enrollment in studio courses is restricted to students admitted to the college. Applicants must first meet general university admission requirements in order to be considered by the College of Architecture and Design.

Applicants may send supplementary information that might help influence admission into the college, including evidence of creative efforts in design, drawing, photography, painting or sculpture, letters of recommendation, letters of intent and interest, prizes and awards won, competitive recognition, etc. This information must be presented in an 8.5 x 11 inch format and contained in a binder, clearly marked with the applicant’s name and contact information. Do not send original work, only reproductions. Supplementary information must be received by the February 1 deadline and sent directly to the college at:

Cullen College of Engineering

Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

Moores School of Music

The Moores School of Music requires a separate application and a successful audition for admission. Students are expected to be able to perform an audition that indicates readiness for applied study at the freshman level. More information can be found at www.music.uh.edu.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Applicants must have completed in high school the following courses of study:

College of Technology

Applicants must have completed in high school the following courses of study:

School of Art

In addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the University of Houston, all students applying for acceptance as majors in the School of Art must submit samples of creative work. Application instructions will be updated each year on the School of Art and Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts websites. Students who are accepted to the School of Art will not be directly accepted to a specific studio concentration. Acceptance to a studio concentration is determined by a portfolio review in a student’s junior year.

School of Theatre and Dance

In addition to applying to the University of Houston, all students applying for admission to the School of Theatre and Dance must audition.

Applicants planning to seek a bachelor’s degree in the arts and sciences are urged to earn at least two units/credits in one foreign language. Applicants who plan to enter scientific or technical majors are strongly advised to earn at least four high school units/credits in mathematics and at least three units/credits in science, including both chemistry and physics. Consult requirements for admission to specific colleges/majors for additional information.

Engineering majors are encouraged to take the advanced placement and/or achievement tests in American history, chemistry, English, calculus, and political science prior to admission. Course work in these areas will be waived with appropriate scores.

2. High School Graduation

Sixth/Seventh Semester Grades

The university will evaluate and admit applicants based on their record through six terms (end of junior year) of high school work.

Accredited High Schools

Applicants who have graduated from a high school accredited by either the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate Regional Association of Schools and Colleges will be admitted if they meet the outlined requirements.

Non-accredited High Schools

Applicants who have graduated from a high school not accredited by either the Texas Education Agency or the appropriate Regional Association of Schools and Colleges may be admitted through individual review.

General Education Development

The University recognizes GED tests as the equivalent of high school graduation. An applicant who has passed the GED tests and submits satisfactory SAT or ACT scores may be considered for general admission to the University of Houston. GED applicants may be admitted by individual review.

Home School Applicants

Documentation of non-accredited high school/home schooled students is required for admission in addition to official SAT/ACT scores. Home school applicants may be admitted through individual review.

Appeal

Applicants who have been denied admission to the University of Houston have the right to appeal by completing an appeal and submitting a personal statement and two letters of recommendation. The Admission Review Committee (ARC), a faculty committee will determine the academic readiness of the applicant by carefully reviewing the additional information submitted.

Admission Option for Academically Talented High School Students

Special freshman admission options are available to academically talented students based on test scores, grade point average, and other criteria. The university offers dual (concurrent) enrollment and summer courses for students who wish to take college courses while still in high school. Early enrollment is available to a select group of students who have superior high school academic records and who wish to begin university level work after the completion of their junior year of high school. Please contact the Office of Admissions for details regarding these admission options.

The Honors College

The Honors College welcomes applications from academically serious students who are entering the university as freshmen, have been enrolled for a term or two, or are transferring from other colleges or universities.

To apply for admission to the program, Freshmen can check the box on the ApplyTexas or the Common Application, provide copies of standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), transcripts, and an academic essay of three to five pages, such as a literary analysis or research paper with a central thesis and strong supporting arguments. Transfer students may apply online at www.uh.edu/honors.

The majority of first-time-in-college students are in the top 10% of their secondary-school class. Most continuing UH students and transfer students have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA, in prior college coursework. However, there are no “minimum admission requirements”, and all students interested in the Honors College are encouraged to apply. To view a profile of our entering class, please visit The Honors College online (www.uh.edu/honors/).

For more information, please write or call: