Freshman Admission

Freshman Admission

Applicants who have not attended a college or university after graduating from high school, may seek admission as a freshman.

Application Documents Required

1. Freshman application. The application is available at www.applytexas.org.
2. For the 2021 - 2022 application cycle, UTRGV remains test optional. Official ACT or SAT scores. Methods in which UTRGV will accept test scores: sent directly from the testing agency or on official high school transcript. The UTRGV school code is ACT 6991 and SAT 6568.
3. A high school transcript that indicates high school graduation plan, class rank, class size and GPA. If applicant will graduate from a foreign high school, a foreign credential evaluation will be required instead of the high school transcript in addition to proof of English language proficiency. See Evaluation of Foreign Credentials and English Language Proficiency sections on this catalog for more details
4. Admissions Essay.
5. Although not required, it is strongly recommended that applicants submit college transcripts reflecting college coursework taken while in high school (dual enrollment). Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) attended electronically or by mail or may be hand delivered as long as the document is in a sealed envelope from the institution. Students who are currently enrolled at another institution should request a transcript to be sent with the coursework completed to date, followed by a final transcript to be sent upon completion of the current semester.

Documents required after admission follow:

1. Advancement placement scores, if applicable.
2.  International Baccalaureate diploma and scores, if applicable.
3. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) approved test scores or proof of exemption for students who plan to enroll in college-level coursework. Test scores from approved TSI exams or TSI exemption will not be used as a basis for admission, but will be used to determine placement.
4. Medical records documenting Meningitis Vaccination within 5 years of the start of the application term or exemption will not be used for admission purposes, but is a requirement for enrollment. Please check with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for full details.
5. Final high school transcript indicating graduation date, class rank and size (if applicable), GPA, and high school graduation plan (if applicable) is required to be on file before the start of the application term and is a supporting document for financial aid. The transcript must be received directly from the school or may be delivered by the student in a sealed envelope.

All documents submitted become the property of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Documents submitted will not be returned to the student. 

Admission Requirements

A profile will be created from all of the information submitted and admissions decisions will be based on that profile and their accomplishments in high school.

Factors to review include:

•  Class Rank Prior college hours
• College Entrance Exams (ACT/SAT)
• Rigor of High School Courses Completed
• Leadership Experience
• Community Involvement
• Career Goals

State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy

In accordance with Section 51.803 of the Texas Education Code, students that apply for admission no later than two years after graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class will be automatically admitted to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley if they meet one of the following:

• Successfully completed the Distinguished level of achievement under the Foundation Program from a Texas public high school or its equivalent at a Texas recognized private accredited high school, or
• Successfully completed at a Texas public high school or at a Texas recognized private accredited high school the portion of the Distinguished level of achievement under the Foundation Program or its equivalent that was available to the student, or
• Satisfied the ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks or the SAT equivalent.

Students who do not meet automatic admissions under TEC 51.803 can apply to the institution if they successfully complete the Foundation high school program or its equivalent, or if they meet the ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks or the SAT equivalent.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Applicants who receive an International Baccalaureate Diploma will be automatically admitted to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Non-accredited High School

Students who attended a non-accredited high school will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Texas Private High School

A student scheduled to graduate from a Texas private high school may be considered for admission to a Texas public university if the student has completed the Foundation High School program or its equivalent, or has achieved college readiness scores on the ACT or SAT entrance exams. Students of Texas private high schools who have completed only a portion of the foundation high school program because the courses are not available to the student may still be eligible for admission to a Texas public university.

Students graduating from a Texas private high school must submit one of the following forms to claim an exemption from the state’s high school coursework requirement. The forms are available through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s website

• TPHSC-Form 1: Students who did NOT complete IPC prior to 2010-2011
• TPHSC-Form 2: Students who completed IPC prior to 2010-2011
• TPHSC-Form 3: Students graduating under the Foundation High School program in 2014 or later

General Education Development (GED), HOMESCHOOL Applicant

Applicants who graduated from a homeschool or obtained a high school equivalency certificate will follow the same admissions requirements as applicants graduating from a Texas public high school.