| Types of Students (Admission Categories) | Deadlines | Criteria |
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Administrative South Building, Room 208,
(501) 569-3127, (501) 569-8956 (fax)
The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid may also be reached by phone at (501) 569-3127. Students who want to enroll at UALR should correspond with the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid as soon as possible because official determination of eligibility can be made only on receipt of official credentials.
After reviewing the appropriate credentials, an admissions counselor will determine if a student may be accepted or deferred admission. Non-degree seeking students will be classified as transient, temporary, non-degree seeking, or another classification. See “Other Admissions Categories.”
To ensure that all necessary requirements for admission have been fulfilled before registration, students are urged to submit all transcripts of previous academic work at least 30 days before registration. Transcripts from other institutions of higher education must be official and sent directly to UALR’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid by the institution or hand delivered in a sealed envelope.
Foreign Transcripts: Applicants who have completed college or university-level courses in another country comparable to course credits in the U.S. must submit a course-by-course evaluation that gives U.S. equivalencies for each course and a conversion of the foreign grading scale and credit system into a 4.0 grading scale and semester credit system. For example, World Education Services and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers are two highly reputable non-profit organizations that provide evaluations of education credentials from all countries of the world.
Types of Students (Admission Categories)
Entering Freshmen
First-time entering freshmen are persons who have never been enrolled in an institution of higher education since graduating from high school or earning a GED. Such applicants must submit:
- Completed application for admission
- Official high school transcript or GED scores
- ACT, SAT, or COMPASS scores taken within the previous five years
- Proof of two MMR immunizations (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
Transfer Students
Transfer students are those who have been enrolled previously in a higher institution of learning and have at least 12 transferable college credit hours and a grade point average of at least 2.00 on all previous college work to be granted regular admission. Such applicants must submit:
- Completed application for admission
- Official transcript from each college previously attended sent to UALR’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid by the college
- Proof of two MMR immunizations (required of all applicants born after January 1, 1957)
Transfer credit from regionally accredited institutions will be evaluated only after a completed application for admission and final transcripts have been received. See “Transferring Coursework.” Transcripts from institutions not accredited by the regional accrediting associations will be handled at the discretion of the Director of Records and Registration. Students presenting such transcripts may be given provisional credit subject to the satisfactory completion of further work at UALR in subjects for which they are asking advanced standing and a satisfactory grade point average. However, such transcripts may be refused altogether.
Only official transcripts will be accepted for evaluation. They must include complete records of the courses taken at all other institutions and be sent to UALR by the institutions. The director may also request that a catalog or bulletin of the years covered by the transcript be presented.
Provisional Admission
Transfer students who have not submitted all credentials necessary for admission by the application deadline may be admitted provisionally. In such cases, the student is admitted with the provision that s/he submit the missing admission credentials by the end of the term during which provisional admission was granted. The credentials will be evaluated upon receipt, and the student will be admitted and placed in the appropriate student status, or deferred admission.
If evaluation of the records shows that the student does not meet UALR’s minimum admission requirements, the student may be required to reduce the number of courses for which he or she is currently enrolled. For example, the student may be limited to no more than seven credit hours of enrollment. Such reductions may occur after the semester has already begun, in which case the student may be required to withdraw from one or more courses.
Admissions Deadlines and Criteria
Deadlines
Deadlines are strictly enforced. Entering freshmen must apply for admission and provide all required academic credentials one week prior to the start of classes. Freshmen are also required to be advised prior to the first day of classes.
All other applicants must apply for admission prior to the first day of classes.
Students unable to provide valid academic credentials prior to the start of classes may be admitted provisionally. See the section on provisional admission on the following page.
Students who have fewer than 12 acceptable transfer credits from another college or university must meet all of the admission requirements for entering freshmen. Students with 12 or more acceptable transfer credits must meet the admission requirements listed for transfer students.
Beginning September 1, 2009, all entering students will be charged an admission application fee.
Students granted provisional admissions who do not submit the missing credentials by the end of the term will not be permitted to enroll in subsequent terms until the admission requirements have been satisfied. Under no circumstances may students admitted provisionally be changed to non-degree seeking student status. Students on provisional status are not eligible to receive financial aid and are limited to 13 hours in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
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Criteria for Regular Admission
High School Core Curriculum
The college preparatory core curriculum for Arkansas high school students used in UALR’s freshman admission requirements may be changed by action of the Arkansas state legislature. UALR’s admission requirements apply to the college preparatory core curriculum in place when the student graduates from high school. High school students should work closely with their counselors to be sure to take the appropriate courses.
The transcripts of students who attend high school and apply to UALR will be examined for presence of the college preparatory core curriculum courses. The transcripts of students who attended high school outside of Arkansas will be examined for equivalent courses.
First-time entering freshman students not meeting the necessary requirements may be admitted as described below.
First-time Entering Freshmen
To be eligible for admission a student must have earned a grade point average of at least 2.00 on the Arkansas high school core in effect at the time of graduation from high school, and have one of the following:
- A cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5
- An ACT composite score of 21 (enhanced), a combined verbal/math SAT I score of at least 990, or comparable COMPASS score taken within the last five years
Transfer Students
Transfer students must have 12 transferable college credit hours and a grade point average of at least 2.00 on all previous college work to be granted regular admission.
Admission of International Students
See the “Office of International Services” section.
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Other Admissions Categories
Donaghey Scholars Program Admission Information
The Donaghey Scholars Program is an honors program with a separate admissions process. This process uses test scores, written essays, recommendations, and personal interview to determine whether the student would benefit from admission to the program. Call (501) 569-3389 for more information.
Freshman Early Admission
Students who have completed the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade will be considered for admission provided they present a junior high or high school transcript indicating a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 and an ACT composite score of at least 21 (enhanced) or an SAT I total score of at least 990. The test must be taken on a national test date. Additionally, students who have not completed the 11th grade must achieve sub-scores on the ACT or SAT that meet the minimums necessary to qualify for college-level courses in order to be eligible for admission. The Admissions and Transfer of Credit Committee must approve the admission of these students. A personal interview with the Committee and/or additional testing may be required. Students under 18 years of age must also obtain their parent’s or guardian’s permission to enroll, permission of the high school counselor or principal, and approval of the instructor of the class they plan to attend at UALR.
All students seeking early admission must obtain an advisor through University College prior to enrolling at UALR. Students who qualify may take advantage of this program by:
- Enrollment in a summer term, then returning to junior high or high school
- Enrollment in a summer term or fall semester as a beginning freshman
- Enrollment in a limited number of college-level courses while completing junior high and/or high school
UALR is not responsible for guaranteeing high school diplomas under this arrangement; however, campus officials will cooperate with state or local school administrators concerning regulations for awarding a diploma to successful participants in this program. All college credit earned under this plan will apply toward a degree at UALR. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
High School Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent enrollment is permitted, subject to the approval of the appropriate academic advisors. Students are only eligible to receive financial aid funding from their primary institution.
Under state law UALR may concurrently admit qualified high school students to its academic programs as part-time students. To be eligible for high school concurrent enrollment, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete at least 50% of the state-recommended college preparatory courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.5
- Achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average of 3.0
- Achieve a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT
Admission under these guidelines does not guarantee that a student may be enrolled in a particular course. Individual university departments may restrict enrollment into specific courses based on the following criteria:
- Acceptable score on a departmentally-approved placement or proficiency test
- Acceptable sub-scores on the ACT in the specific subject area
- Permission of the department chair or instructor
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Prospective students for high school concurrent enrollment must submit a completed UALR undergraduate admission application.
Tuition and other fees for students attending UALR under high school concurrent enrollment are the same as for regular undergraduate students. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
Home-Schooled or GED
Students who were home schooled or completed a GED are eligible for regular admission if they have an ACT of 21, SAT I of 990, or acceptable COMPASS score. Otherwise they may be admitted subject to credit hour limitations.
Non-degree Seeking Students
Non-degree seeking status does not require the submission of transcripts or ACT/SAT scores, but students must submit proof of immunization. It is available on a limited basis to students who wish to enroll in courses for personal enrichment or career development and do not plan to earn a certificate or degree at UALR.
Temporary students are not eligible for student financial aid or veteran’s benefits, nor are they eligible to enroll in RHET 1311 Composition I, MATH 1302 College Algebra, or 1315 College Math.
Nonresidents
UALR students are governed by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees’ policy on student residency status. Those classified as nonresidents of Arkansas must pay higher tuition in addition to regular registration fees. Questions about residency status and requests for the written policy should be directed to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Post-baccalaureate Students
Students who already have a bachelor’s degree who wish to take additional undergraduate courses are required to submit an official transcript from the institution that granted the degree, proof of immunization, and an admission application to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for federal grants.
Previously Enrolled Students
Previously enrolled students who have attended another institution since attending UALR must submit an admission application and an official transcript mailed directly from the other institution(s) attended.
Readmission
Students who have not enrolled at UALR for two years or longer must reapply for admission. Such students who have attended other institutions in the interim should apply as a previously enrolled transfer student.
Students Over Age 60
Any Arkansas resident who is over 60 and has been admitted as a student at UALR shall receive a tuition waiver once proof of age has been provide to the Bursar’s Office on a space-available basis. Students qualifying for the waiver will be permitted to register only on the last day of the regular and late registration periods each academic term. If a course section has no available slots and additional students are attempting to register, students receiving the waiver may be removed from that course section. Exceptions may be granted to students who agree to forgo the waiver of tuition.
Verification of age will be required in the first semester a student qualifies for and accepts the waiver. If the student is degree seeking, transcripts are required from all institutions for transfer work. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
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Students Whose First Language is Not English
Any applicant for who English is not the first language must provide proof of English language proficiency and academic skill proficiency before starting classes at UALR. This includes refugees, immigrants, permanent residents, and citizens. English proficiency may be demonstrated in one of four ways by all students whose first language is not English, regardless of entry status:
- A score of at least 525 (paper-based) or 197 (computer-based) earned within the last two years on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and a score of at least 4 points earned within the last two years on the Test of Written English (TWE).
- A score of 85 percent or above on the institutional English language proficiency test administered by the UALR Intensive English Language Program.
- Complete the Intensive English Language Program.
- An ACT score of at least 21 on both the English and Reading sections of the test.
- All other admission requirements must be met.
Transient Students
Students enrolled in an institution of higher education to which they intend to return who wish to take courses at UALR must submit a letter of good standing from the institution in which they are enrolled. Transient status is limited to one semester or two summer terms. Further enrollment in this status is not permitted unless the student has returned to his or her original institution or has attended another institution before reapplying. Students in this category are not eligible for federal aid.
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