Course Requirements
Iowa Board of Regents Admission Index
Subject Area | The University of Northern Iowa | University of Iowa | Iowa State University |
|---|---|---|---|
English / Language Arts | 4 years: including one year of composition; also may include one year of speech, communication, or journalism. | 4 years: with an emphasis on the analysis and interpretation of literature, composition, and speech. | 4 years: emphasizing writing, speaking, reading, as well as an understanding and appreciation of literature. |
Math | 3 years: including the equivalent of algebra, geometry, and algebra II. | 3 years: including two years of algebra and one year of geometry for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 4 years: including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of higher mathematics (trigonometry, analysis, or calculus), for admission to the College of Engineering. | 3 years: including one year each of algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra. |
Natural Science | 3 years: including courses in general science, biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics; laboratory experience highly recommended. | 3 years: including courses in physical science, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 3 years, including at least one year of chemistry and one year of physics, for admission to the College of Engineering. Nursing: 3 years including one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics. | 3 years: including at least two years of courses which emphasize elements of biology, chemistry, or physics. |
Social Science | 3 years: including courses in anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, psychology, or sociology. | 3 years: with U.S. history and world history recommended for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 2 years: with U.S. history and world history recommended for admission to the College of Engineering. | 2 years: for admission to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Design, Human Sciences, and Engineering. 3 years: for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. |
World Language | World Language courses are not required for admission. However, two years of a world language in high school with a C- or above in the last term will meet the university graduation requirement. | 2 years: of a single world language are required for admission. For many degrees, the fourth year of proficiency is required for graduation. Nursing: minimum second-level proficiency in one world language. | 2 years: of a single world language for admission to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. |
Other Courses | 2 years: of additional courses from the required subject areas, world languages, or fine arts. | Specific elective courses are not required for admission. | Specific elective courses are not required for admission. |
Admission of freshmen who wish to enroll at any of the Iowa Regent universities is based on the Regent Admission Index (RAI) formula. In addition, applicants must meet the minimum high school course requirements for the university they wish to enter. The RAI formula is as follows:
RAI Formula
(3 x ACT composite score) + (30 x Cumulative GPA) + (5 x Number of years of high school core courses) = RAI score
Freshman applicants from Iowa high schools who achieve at least a 245 RAI score and who meet the minimum number of high school courses required by the Regent universities will qualify for automatic admission to any of the three Regent universities. Freshman applicants who achieve less than a 245 RAI score may also be admitted to a specific Regent university; however, each Regent university will review these applications on an individual basis and the admission decision will be specific to each institution. Freshman applicants from approved high schools in other states may be held to higher academic standards but must meet at least the same requirements as graduates of Iowa high schools.
Note: For purposes of calculating the RAJ, SAT scores will be converted to ACT composite equivalents, 4.00 is the top value for GPA, and the number of high school core courses completed is expressed in terms of years or fractions of years (e.g., one semester equals 0.5 years). Applicants whose academic records do not include all of the factors listed above will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Regent universities to which they apply.
For more information on your Regent Admission Index click here.
NCAA Requirements
What is the NCAA?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an organization dedicated to providing a pathway to opportunity for college athletes. More than 1,100 colleges and universities are members of the NCAA. Those schools work together with the NCAA national office and athletics conferences across the country to support nearly half-a-million college athletes that make up 19,500 teams competing in NCAA sports. The NCAA’s current three-division structure was adopted in 1973 to create a fair playing field for teams from similar schools and provide college athletes more opportunities to participate in national championships. The NCAA membership and national office work together to help more than 480,000 student-athletes develop leadership, confidence, discipline, and teamwork through college sports. To learn more about the pathway that is right for you, visit ncaa.org/divisions.
Initial Eligibility
Initial-eligibility standards help ensure you are prepared to succeed in college. The eligibility process also protects the fairness and integrity of college sports by ensuring student-athletes are amateurs. For more information concerning eligibility, visit ncaa.org/student-athletes/future.
Academic Requirements
Division I and Division II schools require college-bound student-athletes to meet academic standards for NCAA-approved core courses, core-course GPA, and test scores. To be eligible to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship in your first full-time year at a Division I or Division II school, you must graduate from high school and meet all of the following requirements:
*Complete 10 NCAA Core courses, including seven English, math, or natural/physical science, before your seventh semester.
Division I | Division II |
|---|---|
4 years of English | 3 years of English |
Grade-Point Average
The NCAA Eligibility Center calculates your grade-point average based only on the grades you earn in NCAA-approved core courses.
DI requires a minimum 2.3 GPA
DII requires a minimum 2.2 GPA
Sliding Scale
Division I and II use sliding scales to match test scores and GPAs to determine eligibility. The sliding scale balances your test scores with your GPA. If you have a lower test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible.
Test Scores
As of January 2023, standardized test scores are not required for all student-athletes who initially enroll full time on or after August 1, 2023. During the 2023 NCAA Convention, Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores for these students. The vote was based on the recommendation from the Standardized Test Score Task Force, a specialized group charged with reviewing initial-eligibility requirements as part of the NCAA's eight-point plan to advance racial equality.
Among other requirements, college-bound student-athletes planning to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school are still required to have a 2.3 (DI)/2.2 (DII) grade-point average in 16 NCAA-approved core-course units and provide proof of high school graduation.