First-Year Students

1. Complete the Universities of Wisconsin Application or the Common Application. If you and your high school have opted into UW-Stevens Point’s Direct Admissions, all we need from you is a completed Direct Admit Wisconsin Form (coming August 1) indicating UW-Stevens Point as your choice to begin your Pointer journey for fall 2025. UW-Stevens Point does not publish a specific application deadline date. If you prefer to complete a paper application, you may download a copy, or request a copy from the UW System HELP Office 800-442-6459 or the UWSP Office of Admissions and Recruitment at 715-346-2441.
2. Ask your high school to send us an official copy of your high school transcript. We will accept self-reported/unofficial transcripts for admission purposes. (Please note: As an alternative, we also accept electronic high school transcripts sent through Parchment and Connect.edu from high schools that take advantage of this option.
3. We do not require an essay or letters of recommendation. If your academic record is not strong or you have extenuating circumstances you would like us to consider, you are welcome to submit an essay and/or letters of recommendation for our review.
4. UW-Stevens Point campuses are test-optional. Scores are not required for admission purposes. If you choose to send your ACT or SAT scores UWSP codes are: ACT code is 4680; SAT I is 1919.
5. If you have taken any college courses, ask each college you’ve attended to send official copies of your transcripts to the UWSP Office of Admissions.

Special Information for Music, Dance and Theatre Arts Majors

Students interested in the BA Dance, BA Drama, BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting, and BFA Design Technology programs and Music are required to complete an on-campus performance audition and/or interview. Visit the Theatre & Dance Audition Page or Music Audition Page for detailed information. You may contact the Department of Theatre and Dance at 715-346-4429 or theatre@uwsp.edu​, or the Department of Music at 715-346-3107 or music@uwsp.edu​ with any questions.

Applicants from Alternative Educational Backgrounds

Applicants from alternative educational backgrounds (e.g. home schooled) generally must meet the requirements for college preparatory credits as listed above and submit an ACT or SAT I score report and transcript(s) from any recognized high school(s) attended. Applications will be considered on an individual basis.​​​​​​​

Admission Criteria:

Admission to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is competitive. All applications are reviewed on an individual basis, with both academic and non-academic factors considered. We give strong consideration to applicants with successful academic backgrounds who have also demonstrated achievement outside the classroom. Freshman applicants are considered based on the following factors:

1. Graduation from a recognized high school or equivalent

2. High School Academic Unit Requirements

• Class rank
• Test scores – ACT or SAT
• Cumulative high school grade point average (GPA)
• Rigor of high school courses
• Trend in grades in academic courses over time

As a general rule, the courses listed below fulfill the high school academic unit requirement for new freshman applicants to UWSP.  Courses must fulfill DPI and high school graduation requirements.  Should you have questions about acceptable courses, please contact the UWSP Admission Office at admissions@uwsp.edu.

English – 4 units/years

Acceptable composition and/or literature courses include:

• Freshman English
• Sophomore English
• Junior English
• Senior English
• Composition
• English sequences of 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Grammar (if not remedial)
• Writer’s Workshop
• Literature – any literature course as long as it isn’t remedial
• Creative Writing

     Note:

• Three of the credits must be in college prep courses of composition and/or literature.  The 4th credit may be any non-remedial English course that DPI and the school count as English for graduation.

• Acceptable 4th credit of English courses include: Mass Media, Speech and Literacy of Media Communications (Literature of Media)

• The following courses count only if the high school counts them toward the 4 credit of English for graduation: Business Writing, Yearbook, School Newspaper courses, Theater Appreciation and Journalism

Courses NOT ACCEPTED toward the unit requirements: Remedial English, courses English as a Second Language (ESL) courses and theater acting courses.

Mathematics – 3 units/years (Algebra, Geometry, and higher)

• Algebra I
• Advanced Algebra
• Algebra II
• Integrated Math progression
• Geometry
• Pre-Calculus, Calculus
• Trigonometry
• College prep math courses for which Algebra and/or Geometry are prerequisites

Courses NOT ACCEPTED toward the 3-year unit requirement: Business or Computer Math, Consumer Math, General Math, Pre-Algebra, Applied Math or Statistics.

Social Science – 3 units/years

• American Government
• Civics
• Economics
• Geography (cultural, not physical)
• History
• Psychology

• Sociology

  Courses NOT ACCEPTED toward the unit requirements: Business Law, Personal Finance and Consumer Economics.

Natural Science – 3 units/years

• Agricultural Science – maximum of one approved agriculture science course.  Approved agriculture science courses must be designated “SE” (science equivalent) on the high school transcript.
• Anatomy
• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Chem Comm (Chemistry in the Community)
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• Engineering – Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering courses identified as Biotechnical Engineering and Principles of Engineering if they have been designated “SE” (science equivalent) on the high school transcript.
• Environmental Science (if offered through the Science Dept. and has Biology as a prerequisite, or incorporates science lab work)
• General Science (9th grade only)
• Genetics
• Geography (Physical)
• Geology
• Intro to Physical Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Science

• Physics

  Courses NOT ACCEPTED toward the unit requirements: Basic Biology or Basic Chemistry, Non-college prep or remedial science courses and “Applied” or “Technical” science courses.

Elective Credits – 2 units/years

• Additional non-remedial courses in English, Social Science, Math and Natural Science (beyond those counted above)
• Computer Science courses (excluding keyboarding)
• Fine Arts courses offered through music, fine arts, theatre arts or art departments such as: Choir, Band, Orchestra, Ensemble courses, Music Theory, Appreciation and History, Art courses, Art History or Appreciation, Drawing, Painting, Architecture, Photography, Graphic Design, Crafts, Jewelry, Drama, Acting, StageProduction, Stagecraft
• World Language (including American Sign Language and world language courses taken in 8th grade if they serve as prerequisites for the next year of world language at the high school)

Other Electives – 2 units/years  

• Additional elective courses from those listed above
• Agricultural courses
• Business and Marketing courses
• Family and Consumer Education
• Health Education
• Trade and Technology courses

The following courses DO NOT COUNT in any area: 

• • Cooperative Education/Work Experience
  • Driver Education
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Physical Education
  • Remedial courses in all areas
  • Special Education courses

Additional Notes:  

• • Independent study courses may be counted if they otherwise meet qualifications for content.

Profile of Admitted New First-Year Students

• We encourage all interested applicants to apply for admission.
• All applications are reviewed on an individual basis.
• Your financial situation is NOT considered in determining your admission.​
• Your admission is contingent on successful completion of your senior year schedule as indicated on your application; therefore, you must receive prior approval to make a schedule change.

Advanced Placement, Credit-By-Exam, and Test-Out Opportunities

UW-Stevens Point offers numerous opportunities for earning college credit outside of traditional college classroom instruction.  These opportunities may allow you to graduate sooner than normal or take advantage of additional coursework outside of your major.  If you are a self-learner, have substantial preparation in certain subject matter, or have appropriate life experiences, you are encouraged to pursue one or more of the following opportunities.

Please note: You may count a maximum of 32 credits earned under Advanced Placement (AP), credit-by-exam, and test-out toward the 120 credits required for graduation.  These credits are recorded on your academic record and apply toward graduation.  They are not assigned grades, are not calculated in your grade point average, and are not included in your semester course load.

Incoming New First-Year and Transfer Students: If you have taken AP, IB, or CLEP exams, you will need to have your official score report sent to UW-Stevens Point Office of Admissions and Recruitment to review for possible credit.   Please review the test categories to determine how to send your scores to UW-Stevens Point.

Advanced Placement (AP)

UW-Stevens Point grants credit and advanced placement for scores of 3, 4 and 5 on all AP exams. If you are awarded credit, it will be entered on your permanent record after you enroll at UWSP. Contact your high school or our office for additional details.

Click here to view the UW-Stevens Point Advanced Placement Examination Policy

Sending Your AP Scores to UW-Stevens Point

For students who indicate UW-Stevens Point as a receiving institution when they take the AP examinations in May, we receive the scores in early July.

If you did not request that your scores be sent to us at the time you took the exam, there are three ways to get them to us:

1. You can bring your official copy of the score report to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. We will make a copy of your score report to keep for our records.
2. You can request a copy of your scores from your high school.  Please ask them to put the school seal on the copy and mail to:
   Office of Admissions and Recruitment
   2108 Fourth Avenue
   Stevens Point, WI 54481
3. You can contact AP and have your scores sent to us.  Information on how to do this can be found on the AP website.  The UW-Stevens Point school code is 1919.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP, offered by the College Board, offers general examinations covering broad areas such as humanities, natural science and social science, as well as subject areas such as accounting, biology, American history, and psychology. UW-Stevens Point grants credit for acceptable scores (determined by each department) on many of the CLEP examinations. Credit will be entered on your permanent record after you enroll at UW-Stevens Point. UW-Stevens Point offers CLEP testing through the Testing Services Office. We are an open test center, which means that anyone, not just UW-Stevens Point students, may register to take CLEP exams. For information on exam fees and to make an appointment to take an exam, please contact: Testing Services, Delzell Hall Third Floor, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, 715-346-4472.

Click here to view the UW-Stevens Point CLEP Examination Policy

Sending Your CLEP Scores to UW-Stevens Point

If you indicate UW-Stevens Point as a score recipient at the time you took your CLEP exam, your score report will automatically be sent to us.  If you do not indicate UWSP as a score recipient, you will need to request a CLEP transcript.  Instructions for obtaining CLEP transcripts may be found on the CLEP web site.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

UW-Stevens Point awards college credit for scores of 4, 5, 6 or 7 on various higher level (HL) and standard level (SL) International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. A student must be enrolled in an authorized school to be eligible to sit for IB examinations. Additional credit will be awarded to students who complete the full diploma programme.

Click here to view the UW-Stevens Point International Baccalaureate Policy

Sending Your IB Transcript to UW-Stevens Point

If you indicate UW-Stevens Point as a receiving institution at the time you take your IB examinations, we will automatically receive your IB transcript (usually in August).  If you do not indicate UW-Stevens Point as a transcript recipient, you may request your transcript by following the instructions on the IB web site. 

Other Credit Earning Alternatives

Prior Learning Assessment

If you have had experiences equivalent to college level learning which relate to coursework at UW-Stevens Point, you may receive college credit for these experiences. For example, you may be eligible to gain academic credit for prior learning from your past employment, volunteer work, publications, or your participation in seminars, workshops, job-related training programs, or military training programs. For further information, see the Prior Learning Assessment page in our catalog or contact Sally Cayan at scayan@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2764.

Advanced Standing and Retroactive Credit

Some departments administer placement tests when you first enroll. If the test results indicate that you should start at a higher level than the entering freshman course, you may have the opportunity to earn retroactive credit for the course. In foreign language, for example, you can earn up to 16 retroactive credits if you place into 313 and earn a grade of B- or better. Check the departmental listings in our catalog or contact the appropriate department chair for additional information.

Test-Out

You may test out of a number of general education (GEP) courses. When you pass a departmentally approved test in a GEP course, the requirement to enroll in the course is waived. You don’t earn credit when you test out, but the course applies toward fulfillment of that GEP.  For example, if you test out of Communication 101, you satisfy the Communication 101 GEP without enrolling in the course.  See “Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy” under the General Education Program section of our catalog or contact individual departments for more information about their test-out opportunities.