First-Time Freshmen Admission Requirements

West Virginia University has a test optional application for the 2023-2024 academic cycle. Learn more about our test optional - no-harm admissions policy below, including requirements. 

Standard admissions information is available per the  WVU Board of Governor’s (BOG) rules. Test optional policies for future terms will be evaluated at a later date.   

Academic Coursework

First-time freshmen applicants must successfully complete the following high school courses. Meeting the requirements below does not guarantee admission to the Morgantown campus. 

• 4 units of English
  • Must include Grammar, Composition and Literature
• 3 units of college preparatory Mathematics
  • Minimum requirements include Algebra I and II; higher level math courses are encouraged
  • West Virginia course equivalencies include a series of Math I, II and III
• 4 units of Social Studies/Fine Arts
  • Any combination of Social Studies, Fine Arts or Humanities will fulfill the requirement; combination must include U.S. History
• 3 units of Science
  • Recommended units include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy and Environmental Science
• 2 units of the same World Language or American Sign Language/ASL
  • We recognize that some high schools do not require world languages to graduate, offer it exclusively as an elective, or are unable to provide access to instruction. In most instances, students who do not meet the two-unit requirement are eligible for an exception provided that they meet all other 9-12 grade coursework as outlined above and GPA benchmarks.

Test Optional Admission

Test optional admission permits applicants to apply without an ACT or SAT score. We encourage students to submit scores if available. However, our no-harm policy means that applicants can be confident that scores will only be used if to their advantage. This includes eligibility for admission to the university, the Honors College and automatically awarded merit scholarships. 

Select majors are competitive and have limited space. Please refer to the  College Program Admissions Requirements section for GPA and/or test score requirements. We will automatically evaluate all applicants, regardless of major, for the Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS).

All first-time admitted students are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships. WVU’s merit deadline for first-time freshman, without exception, is June 1. Admitted students may submit updated test scores and GPA calculations until the deadline. Changes are not automatic for GPA edits; students must request a review of new credentials by submitting the  GPA form. Test scores are automatically updated if received by June 1 via  official score report or from the testing center. 

Common questions:

• How do I send my transcript?
• Will WVU recalculate my GPA?
• How do I submit an ACT or SAT score?
• Does WVU superscore?
• How do I qualify for merit scholarships?
• Can I update my GPA once admitted?

College and Program Admission Requirements for First-Time Freshmen

Some colleges and programs have specific admissions criteria or may reach capacity early in the admissions cycle. Please refer to the College and Program Admissions Requirements below.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

College of Applied Human Sciences

College of Creative Arts

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

John Chambers College of Business and Economics

School of Dentistry

The fall 2023 application deadline for Dental Hygiene is February 1, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to submit an ACT or SAT score. Application review begins mid-fall and includes an interview, shadowing, and more. Please visit the Dental Hygiene website for additional details. Test optional applicants who do not meet the direct-entry requirements but are admissible to the university will be admitted to the Center for Learning, Advising, and Student Success (CLASS). The School of Dentistry will contact admitted students with additional details regarding eligibility in the weeks following admission to the university.

School of Medicine

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing has limited space available for direct admission. Students are encouraged to meet with their WVU admissions counselor for more information if newly applied or already admitted and submitting updated credentials.

Applicants not eligible for direct admission will be placed in our Health and Well-Being major in the College of Applied Human Sciences, as pre-nursing has reached capacity.

School of Pharmacy

Test optional applicants who do not meet the Pharmacy direct-entry requirements but are admissible to the university will be admitted to the Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS). The School of Pharmacy will contact students with additional details regarding eligibility in the weeks following admission to the university.

School of Public Health

Transcript Submission

All applicants must submit transcripts of previous coursework, including first-time freshman students self-reporting courses and grades.

Options for submitting high school transcripts and self-reported courses and grades

• Official high school transcripts must be sent by the high school counseling office. We do not accept official transcripts from the student or parent. 
• It is preferred that the high school counseling office email an official transcript to WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu or send via an electronic document service utilized by the high school. Documents sent via email or document service take 3-5 business days to process. 
  
• Mailed documents are accepted and take 2-3 weeks to receive and process from the date sent. Mail documents to WVU Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506.
• First-time freshman applicants may submit an unofficial high school transcript for decision processing. An official transcript will be required prior to enrollment.
• First-time freshman applicants self-reporting courses and grades on the WVU or Common Application are to request that an official transcript be sent to WVU Admissions; this is required to reconcile the coursework and GPA. Students are encouraged to request that their high school counselor submit the official transcript as soon as possible. Self-reported GPAs will be adjusted to reflect the GPA on the transcript if different.
• First-time transfer applicants applying with fewer than 24 transferrable credits must have the final high school transcript submitted to the WVU Office of Admissions by the high school counseling office.
• All enrolling first-time freshman students must have an official final high school transcript on file prior to the start of classes. Enrollees without a final transcript will have a registration hold placed on their account which will prevent them from scheduling classes for a future term.

Options for submitting college transcripts, AP score reports and IB transcripts

• Official college transcripts must be received from the institution and will not be processed if submitted by an applicant or school counselor.
• You may use the following email address when ordering official transcripts for delivery: WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu. Transcripts take 2-3 weeks to receive and process from the date ordered.
• Official college transcripts must be sent by each institution attended; we do not accept credit from multiple institutions listed on one transcript or college credit listed on the high school transcript.
• Advanced Placement (AP) may be submitted to the WVU Office of Admissions as follows:
• The official AP score report sent by you or your high school counselor to WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
• An electronic score report ordered via College Board. Please use code 5904. Electronic score delivery takes 3-4 weeks to process from the date sent.
• Course, score and testing date listed on the official high school transcript and submitted by the high school counselor to WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
• Currently enrolled WVU students seeking transfer credit for AP courses must submit the official AP score report and file the AP Articulation Request ticket.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) transcripts may be ordered and sent to our office via the IB secure site or paper transcript.

How GPA is Calculated and Evaluated

Grade-point average (GPA) is based on information received from your high school transcript or self-reported courses and grades. The most recent unweighted or weighted cumulative GPA, as reported on the transcript or self-reported on the application, is used for application review. This is the same GPA used by the Undergraduate Scholarship Office and the Honors College when determining eligibility. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to verify and/or edit reported calculations.

• GPA Calculations
  • The Office of Admissions does not recalculate GPA. However, WVU reserves the right to recalculate when needed and may do so if you attended multiple high schools.
  • We use the unweighted or weighted GPA reported on your high school transcript or self-reported when submitting your application.
  • GPAs will be rounded to the second decimal point (e.g., 4.195 is rounded up to 4.2, while 4.19 stays at 4.19).
  • The Office of Admissions uses the calculator below to convert percentages to a 4.0 scale;  we do not use the Princeton Scale or the High School Profile for conversions.
• Self-Reporting GPA
  • Self-reported GPAs will require an official high school transcript prior to enrollment. We encourage you to send this as soon as possible once admitted.
  • The Office of Admissions will update your record if the GPA reported on the official transcript is different from what you self-reported.
  • Please note that changes to the self-reported GPA may impact eligibility for direct admission to majors, the Honors College and merit awards.
  • You should only self-report your GPA, courses and grades if you know the official calculation as determined by your high school.
• GPA Changes Once Admitted
  • Admitted first-time freshman students may submit the GPA Update Request form to request an evaluation if a change has occurred after being admitted.
    
  • A transcript with the updated GPA is required to request an evaluation. You can upload an unofficial copy when submitting the form. 
    
  • The Office of Admissions will not recalculate GPA; an evaluation requires an updated calculation reported on the high school transcript. 
  • Deadline for GPA adjustments is June 1. 
    
  • Changes may take up to one week to apply to the admissions record and students will be notified of the change via email. 
  • GPA changes that impact scholarships may take 3-4 weeks to apply to the financial aid award which can be viewed in the student’s WVU Portal. 
    
  • GPA changes that impact direct admission to a major or eligibility for the Honors College are based on available space and priority deadlines. You will be notified via email if changes are applied to your original major or if you are eligible to apply to the Honors College. 
    
• High School Transcripts
  • You may upload a copy of your transcript with the application, send a copy to the Office of Admissions or have your high school counseling office submit on your behalf.
  • An official high school transcript with graduation date is required of all enrolled students.
  • Visit our detailed section regarding high school transcript submission to learn more.

Submitting Standardized Test Scores

How to Submit Your Scores

• WVU’s Morgantown campus SAT code is 5904.
  
• List WVU to receive your scores when registering for the exam. You can include up to four institutions as free sends.
• You can log into your College Board account and download an official PDF score report and submit to wvuadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
• Order the scores to be sent by the testing center to WVU Admissions. Scores will take 2-3 weeks to receive and process from the date sent.
  
• School counselors may submit an official College Board score report or an official high school transcript with scores listed on your behalf.