Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Admissions Guidelines

Welcome to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - a distinguished institution of higher learning. Our university is committed to helping you accomplish your personal goals and professional aspirations. As a mid-sized university, you have access to all the resources of a large school, combined with the personal touch of a smaller institution.

The Admissions Decision

Applicants for admission are provided a comprehensive review. Determinants for admission include a number of academic and non-academic factors.

Among the academic factors considered are a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that includes and ideally exceeds the minimum course preparation outlined below, cumulative grade point average, college preparatory grade point average, high school class rank and test scores for either the ACT or the SAT.

Nonacademic factors include, but are not limited to, leadership experiences, community service, motivation and life circumstances that will positively contribute to the University's strength and reflect its mission and values. Applicants are encouraged to provide documentation that supports consideration for admission, including their own personal statement and letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak directly to the applicant's ability to be academically successful.

Academic Factors

Academic preparation and, in particular, the strength of the college preparatory coursework, are important components of any admissions decision. The course requirements listed below represent the minimum distribution expected. Most applicants will exceed this distribution.

* 4 units - English
* 3 units - Social Science
* 3 units - Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2)
* 3 units - Science
* 4 units - Additional Academic Electives (additional courses from above or foreign language or fine arts or computer science)

UW Oshkosh 5-Year Profile of Admitted Students

The following data provides a summary of the academic profile for admitted freshmen from 2002-2006. Applicants may wish to use this as a benchmark to estimate the likelihood of admission. Since all applications are given a comprehensive review that takes into consideration factors already noted, the data should not be interpreted as a guarantee of admission or prediction for denial.

UW Oshkosh Freshman Admitted, 2002-2006

* Mean ACT = 22.5
* Mean Class Rank Percentile = 70
* Approx. 40% of all applicants completed 4 or more years of college preparatory math
* 51% of all applicants were first generation college students

More than 27% of the admitted freshmen ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and had an ACT composite score of 25 or higher. Nearly 42% of all admits ranked in the top 30% of their high school graduating class and had an ACT composite score of 21 or higher. Only approximately 1.5% of all admitted freshmen had an ACT composite of 22 or less and ranked in the lower 30% of their high school graduating class.

Home Schooled Students

Home schooled students are required to submit an official transcript of all course work completed and scores from either the ACT or SAT I standardized tests.

Application Procedures

1. Complete the UW System application for admission. Students may apply at http://apply.wisconsin.edu. Paper applications may also be obtained from any high school guidance office in Wisconsin or by contacting the University Admissions Office, PO Box 2423, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2423.

Applications for the freshman class are accepted on a rolling basis beginning September 15 for the Fall term and January 1 for the Spring term one year prior to expected enrollment.

2. Forward an official transcript of all high school course work. Students may apply for admission by providing transcripts from a recognized high school showing course work completed through their junior year. If available, official high school class rank should be provided on the transcript. A recognized high school is one which is accredited either by a regional accrediting association or is recognized and accredited by a state department of public instruction or its equivalent. Applicants who have not graduated from a recognized high school must provide evidence of satisfactory completion of the requirements for a high school equivalency certificate or a diploma from a recognized high school, school system or state department of public instruction based on a Graduation Equivalency Diploma (GED) examination and other established criteria. Students may be conditionally accepted prior to high school graduation. Upon graduation, all accepted students must provide an official, final transcript indicating successful completion of all required course work. Failure to successfully complete any of the required units will result in revocation of admission.

3. Forward an official ACT or SAT I Profile. Students who list UW Oshkosh as one of their three receiving schools when registering for either exam will automatically have their scores reported by the testing agency. Students who did not request that UW Oshkosh receive their ACT or SAT I profile should contact American College Testing, 319-337-1000 for ACT scores or the College Board at 1-800-SAT-SCORE (1-800-728-7267) for SAT I scores. UW Oshkosh will use the highest composite test score submitted by the student for admission consideration.

4. Submit a $35 non-refundable application fee. If you are applying as a degree seeking student to a UW System institution, the non-refundable application fee of $35 is required. The fee is not required, if your last institution attended was a UW College (2 year) campus. Waivers are available for students with demonstrated financial need.

Forward all application materials to:
UW Oshkosh Admissions Office
PO Box 2423
Oshkosh, WI 54903-2423

Any paperwork that is sent express/overnight by any company other than US postal services, should be sent to the following address:

UW Oshkosh Admissions Office
800 Algoma Boulevard
Oshkosh, WI 54901

(UPS, FedEx, Airborne, etc. DO NOT deliver to PO Box addresses)