UNCW uses a holistic approach to review first-year students' applications and will consider several aspects of your application in making our admission decision.
To be considered for admission to UNCW, first-year applicants must meet minimum course requirements (MCR) established by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System. Any student not meeting MCR will not be considered for admission.
Students should challenge themselves with the most rigorous coursework available at their high school, which allow them to maintain academic success. Advanced and honors courses, and college-level coursework (AP or IB courses, dual-enrollment coursework from community colleges and universities) will make a student more competitive in the admission process.
UNCW does not have a minimum number of college-level courses to be competitive or considered for admission, however, we would encourage you to pursue these courses if you feel you would obtain a letter grade of "C" or higher.
The middle 50% weighted GPA of admitted seniors is 3.80-4.43. This means that most students admitted to UNCW present an A/B average, with few, if any, C's and no D's or F's. The minimum GPA for the UNC System is a 2.5, though it is highly unlikely that UNCW would consider a GPA in this range.
While your GPA will not be recalculated by our staff, it is reviewed in the context of your high school's individual grading scale (it is the duty of your regional counselor to be familiar with this information). A Grade Point Average must be provided by your high school on your transcript for consideration for admission, even if your school does not assign a GPA.
Your class rank will be considered, if provided. The class rank allows our staff to evaluate your academic performance in comparison to other applicants from your high school. For students in graduating classes with less than 50 students, your class rank will not be considered in the admission process.
UNCW's carefully reviews your transcript to see that you have challenged yourself more and more throughout your high school career. This means that we expect to see you enrolled in more challenging courses in your senior year than you were enrolled in during your freshman year.
Also included as a means of evaluation of your strength of schedule are early release programs. Aside from students with internship opportunities or those released early to attend classes later in the day through dual-enrollment programs, we highly discourage you from participating in an early release program. Not only will doing so weaken your application, but it also drastically impairs your preparation for a full schedule as a college freshman.
If you have questions about a course fulfilling a requirement in an MCR category, please consult your high school counselor and/or contact the Office of Admissions.
The minimum course requirements are typically consistent with NC public school graduation requirements. Please review the following to ensure that you have met the minimum course requirements:
Four (4) course units in English
Four (4) course units of Mathematics, in any of the following combinations:
Three (3) course units in Science
Two (2) course units in Social Science
Two (2) additional academic courses from English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, or Computer Science.
Meeting MCR does not guarantee admission to UNCW; most first-year students successful in gaining admission to the university go well beyond these requirements.
The admissions committee strongly encourages you to take courses beyond the MCR which will allow you to be most academically successful.
*The above MCR requirements are for future applicants: ex. Fall 2024 and beyond
Home-schooled students must submit a transcript that is signed by the school administrator.
Detailed course descriptions are not necessary. If more information is needed about a course, the student will be contacted.
For enrollment, the final transcript indicating graduation will need to be notarized.
Additional information about the first-year admissions process is available:
Not a first-year student? See transfer admissions requirements.