The University of New Hampshire conducts an individualized, holistic review of first-year applications for admission.
Admission to UNH is competitive. A student's academic record, including program of study, class rigor, standing in their class, and achievement is of primary importance in assessing a student's potential for success at UNH.
Admission Criteria
Baccalaureate Degree Admissions
Most first-year students accepted to a bachelor's degree program have completed rigorous coursework with solid B+ grades, or higher.
Students should complete the following sequences of college preparatory coursework to be considered minimally* qualified for baccalaureate admission to the University:
- Four years of college preparatory English
- Three years of mathematics including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II
- Three years of science, two of which must be laboratory sciences
- Three years of social sciences (including U.S. History)
- Two years of a single foreign language (three years is preferred)
*Some academic programs require an additional year of preparation in subject areas beyond what is listed above.
- Students who plan to specialize in engineering, biological/physical science, mathematics, or forestry should present at least four years of mathematics including trigonometry/pre-calculus, as well as laboratory coursework in chemistry and/or physics.
- Students pursuing business-related studies also should have completed four years of advanced mathematics such as (eg: trigonometry, finite, pre-calculus, statistics).
- Students planning to major in health-related disciplines, four years of math, as well as laboratory courses in biology and chemistry, are strongly recommended. Students interested in nursing must complete high school chemistry and biology, or chemistry and physics, with a grade of C or better at a minimum.
Associate Degree Admissions
Most first-year students accepted to the associate degree programs have completed college preparatory coursework with C/C+ grades, or higher. The exception is accepted Veterinary Technology students whose grades are solid B or higher.
Students should complete the following sequences of college preparatory coursework to be considered minimally* qualified for the associate degree admission to the University:
•Four years of college preparatory English
•Two years of mathematics including Algebra I, Geometry or Algebra II
•Two years of science, biology with lab being one of the two
•Three years of social sciences (including U.S. History)
*Some academic programs require an additional year of preparation in subject areas beyond what is listed above.
•Students who plan to specialize in forest technology, civil technology and veterinary technology are strongly recommended to complete three years of mathematics. Veterinary technology should have completed three years of college preparatory science, as well as laboratory coursework in chemistry and biology, with a grade of B or better in chemistry.
Admission Test Requirements
All candidates for admission to undergraduate degree programs are required to submit the results of the SAT or ACT exam (the writing section is not required). The latest statistics on test scores by the University's admitted first-year students to bachelor's degree programs indicate that the average SAT combined score for Fall 2015 admissions was 1630 (all three sections). A score of 1630 on the old SAT is equivalent to an 1180 on the New SAT. The average ACT composite score was 24. Scores must be submitted to UNH directly from the testing agency.
UNH considers your highest section scores for the SAT and the highest composite score for the ACT across all dates that you submit. Final admissions decisions will be made using only your highest scores.
UNH does not super score between the old SAT and the New SAT.
Each time you submit scores, we will update your record with any new high scores. We strongly encourage you to submit your scores each time you take the test. Sending your scores each time you take the test can benefit you by allowing us to consider you for all available enrollment related opportunities.
SAT or ACT scores aid in our determination of admissions eligibility, merit scholarships and admission to the University’s Honors Program. There are no cut-offs for standardized test scores in the UNH admissions process, rather more emphasis is paid to one's academic program of study and record of achievement. Students are not denied or admitted based solely on the results of their standardized test scores.
*SAT subject tests are not required, but a foreign language subject test may satisfy the foreign language requirement of the bachelor of arts degree.