University Admission Requirements (Effective August 2008):
To be considered for freshman admission, a student must successfully complete the following high school credits:
- 4 units of English (including grammar, composition, and literature)
- 4 units of college preparatory mathematics
Three units must be Algebra I and II and Plane Geometry
Select majors may require a fourth math considered to be higher than Algebra II - 3 units of social studies (including U.S. History)
- 3 units of science (ALL units must be laboratory science.)
Recommended units include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics,
Anatomy, and Environmental Science - 2 units of a foreign language, must be the same language.
American Sign Language is acceptable for this requirement - 1 unit of fine arts
Recommended units include: Music, Band, Art, Theater, Dance,
Drama, and Performance
Admission to West Virginia University is based on a combination of high school grade-point average and ACT or SAT scores. Each application is reviewed individually by a member of the admissions staff. Don’t forget – all applications must be accompanied by an official transcript.
The average student enrolled in WVU’s Fall 2010 Freshman Class had a 3.32 high school grade point average, a composite ACT score of 23.6, and/or a combined Math and Critical Reading SAT score of 1044.
Minimum Requirements for Application Review
(meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission to the Morgantown campus)
West Virginia residents must have at least a 2.0 grade-point average and either a composite ACT score of 19 or a combined Math and Critical Reading SAT score of 910.
Nonresidents must have at least a 2.5 grade-point average and either a composite ACT score of 21 or a combined Math and Critical Reading SAT score of 990.
Please note that West Virginia University does not mix and match sub scores from different test dates for admissions and scholarship consideration. Only the best composite score is used in determining eligibility.
WVU does not require students to take the optional written component of the ACT examination.
Grade-point average (GPA) is based on information received from a student’s high school transcript. The most recent cumulative GPA on the transcript is used when determining admission to the University. This is the same GPA used by the Undergraduate Scholarship Office when determining scholarship eligibility.
WVU reviews high school GPA based on a four-point grading scale. In most instances, WVU will consider weighted GPA when determining eligibility for admission and scholarships. WVU reserves the right to recalculate GPA when the weighted or non-weighted GPA falls outside of the four-point scale or in other instances where recalculation is deemed appropriate.
The Office of Admissions does not re-calculate GPA for scholarship consideration after the initial high school transcript is received.
Home Schooled Applicants and Applicants Graduating from Non-Accredited High Schools must:
- Meet the minimum requirements for application review and also submit a typed manuscript or description of their class background. Minimally, this documentation must include:
1. The student’s name.
2. A list and description of courses completed.
3. Grades earned for the courses completed.
4. The number of credits earned for each course. - The courses must be broken down by 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years. The transcripts must bear the signature of the person who administered the curriculum.
Detailed guidelines are available at Home Schooled Applicants and Applicants Graduating from Non-Accredited High Schools
GED Applicants
- If you have completed a General Equivalency Degree (GED) with an average standard score of 2250 (450) or above, you should request that the State Department of Education mail copies of your scores to the Office of Admissions and Records. Request that the high school you last attended send a copy of your transcript to WVU, listing the coursework you completed.
- If you would have graduated less than five years before your admission request, you must present composite ACT or combined Math and Critical Reading SAT scores with your application. If it is more than five years since your class graduated from high school or you earned your GED diploma, and you have not attended another college, we may waive some of the admission requirements.
To determine the average standard GED score, please follow one of these two steps.
- For three-digit scores, divide by 5 to determine the average standard score.
- For four-digit scores, divide by 50 to determine the average standard score.
