Understanding Utah State University GPA and Admission Requirements

For prospective students, understanding the admission requirements of Utah State University (USU) is crucial. This article breaks down the key academic factors considered during the admissions process, including GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other important criteria.

Acceptance Rate: An Overview

Utah State University has a notably high acceptance rate of 92.5%. This positions USU as a nearly open admissions school, implying that the university extends admission offers to the vast majority of applicants. While this may seem to suggest that getting into USU is easy, it's still essential to meet certain academic benchmarks to ensure your application is competitive.

GPA Requirements: What You Need to Know

The average GPA at Utah State University is 3.55. This GPA requirement suggests that successful applicants typically have a solid academic record, with a mix of A's and B's and very few C's. While a high GPA is undoubtedly advantageous, USU also considers the difficulty of your coursework. Taking challenging courses like AP or IB classes can demonstrate your academic capabilities and potentially compensate for a slightly lower GPA.

For students whose high school GPA falls between 2.0 and 2.79, Utah State University offers an Earned Admission pathway. This pathway allows students to qualify for admission by completing an online, self-paced Preparing for College Workshop. The workshop introduces students to USU's "habits of mind," such as growth mindset, accountability, balance, and help-seeking. During the workshop, students learn from Aggie Advocates, who provide support and guidance. Upon completion of the workshop, students earn admission to USU in good standing. The Preparing for College Workshop is free and takes approximately two hours to complete. It must be completed before confirming enrollment, signing an on-campus housing contract, starting new student orientation, and registering for classes.

SAT/ACT Requirements: Test-Flexible Approach

Utah State University has not explicitly stated a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it publishes average SAT or ACT scores, it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them." Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Utah State University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students.

SAT Scores

While USU may not have a strict SAT score cutoff, the middle 50% of accepted students score between 1070 and 1290 on the SAT. In other words, a 1070 places you below average, while a 1290 will move you up to above average. Aiming for a score within or above this range will strengthen your application. If your SAT score is currently below a 1070, consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. From research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit. The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances.

ACT Scores

The average ACT score at Utah State University is 24, with the 25th percentile at 20 and the 75th percentile at 28. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 20 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Aiming for a 20 ACT or higher will increase your chances of admission.

SAT Essay/ACT Writing Section

Utah State University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.

Holistic Review: Beyond Numbers

It's important to remember that your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Utah State University employs a holistic review process, meaning they assess applicants based on a variety of factors, not just academic metrics.

Additional Factors to Consider

Academic Record Adjustment (ARA) and Tuition Reversal Request

Undergraduate students who have been admitted to Utah State University after an interruption in their collegiate education of at least one year may petition to have certain credits that are older than five years removed from the calculation of the GPA and credits earned. The renewal procedure allows the student’s academic records to be reviewed for the purpose of eliminating from grade point average computation all Utah State University grades of D+ or below that were entered on the academic transcript five or more calendar years prior to the request. However, upon request, selected grades of D+ or below may remain on the student’s record. Petition forms are available in the Office of the Registrar and online. A $25 processing fee will be assessed.

Academic renewal does not apply to graduate students nor to students pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Once a certificate, associate, or bachelor degree is awarded by Utah State University or received from a transfer institution, any course(s) completed prior to the completion of that certificate or associate degree will not qualify for academic renewal. However, courses completed after receiving a certificate or associate degree, but before completion of a bachelor degree, are eligible for renewal if all other requirements are met.

Academic renewal may be applied only once and is irreversible. An absence of one or more years must have elapsed between the last enrollment at an institution of higher education and applying for academic renewal. (Note: Students must be currently enrolled at USU to apply for academic renewal.) Only credits older than five years and taken prior to the one-year gap in attendance may be considered for academic renewal.

Before application for renewal, and after being readmitted, the student must complete a minimum of 12 semester credits with at least a 2.50 GPA at Utah State University. Academic renewal applies only to courses having grades of D+ or below and taken prior to the one-year gap. All such courses will remain unaltered on the transcript with the appropriate notation added to the transcript to indicate academic renewal. Courses designated in the petition will not count for computation of GPA for earned credits, nor for satisfying any graduation requirements. Courses with a grade of C- (or P) or better will be carried forward. Students may apply for this renewal after they have met the guidelines listed above. They are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor prior to submitting their request.

Change of Grades

The instructor of record of a course has the responsibility for any grade reported. Once a grade has been submitted, it may be changed by the instructor of record who issued the original grade. In cases where the instructor is not available, the department head has authority to change the grade. This applies also to the grade of Incomplete (I). A change of grade after more than one year also requires the approval of the academic dean of the college in which the course is offered.

Class Rank

Student’s ranking of being a freshman (less than 30 credits), sophomore (30-59 credits), junior (60-89 credits), or senior (90 or more credits), based on the number of college-level credit hours earned.

Credits Awarded for Courses

A credit hour is an amount of work that reasonably approximates not less than: one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit, or at least the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practicum, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

*Example: For traditional courses, this is interpreted as one 50-minute class period plus two hours of study per week for each credit. Note that one 50-minute period per week throughout a 15-week semester equals 12.5 contact hours per credit. This standard should be used in determining credits for courses which do not meet for 50-minute periods.

GPA Hours and Quality Points

A GPA hour is defined as a credit which is used in calculating a student’s grade point average (GPA). All graded credits, except for those in which the Pass (P) or Incomplete (I) grade is received, qualify as GPA hours unless otherwise noted. Quality points are assigned to each letter grade earned, as follows: A 4.00; B+ 3.33; C+ 2.33; D+. 1.33; A- 3.67; B 3.00; C. 2.00; D 1.00; B- 2.67; C- 1.67; F 0.00.

Scholastic Marks, which do not qualify for GPA hours, are as follows: AU Audit (performance not assessed); SC Satisfactory Completion; NF Non-Participation; CR Credit(s); I Incomplete; T Temporary; P Pass; I Incomplete; NGR No Grade Reported; W Withdrawn. A grade of an ‘I’, plus a companion grade, has no GPA hours or earned hours. It indicates that the student has up to one calendar year to finish the work. A grade of ‘W’ carries no grade point value.

Once a course is graded, the quality points for the grade are multiplied by the GPA hours to derive the total quality points. The total quality points are then divided by the total GPA hours to determine the GPA. GPAs are truncated to the nearest hundredth of a grade point.

For work in graded courses, (A) shall denote exceptional performance, (B) above average performance, (C) satisfactory performance, (D) poor performance, and (F) failing performance. Letter grades may be modified by plus (+) or minus (-) symbols (no A+ or D-). Ordinarily, a standard grade is given upon completion of a course, unless a grading option of “Audit” or “Pass/D+, D, F” is indicated at the time of registration, on the syllabus, or within prescribed deadlines. Only grades earned at USU will be used in calculating USU grade point averages.

Incomplete (I) Grade

Students are required to complete all courses for which they are registered by the end of the semester. In some cases, a student may be unable to complete all of the coursework because of extenuating circumstances. The term “extenuating” circumstances includes: (1) incapacitating illness which prevents a student from attending classes for a minimum period of two weeks, (2) a death in the immediate family, (3) financial responsibilities requiring a student to alter course schedule to secure employment, (4) change in work schedule as required by employer, (5) judicial obligations, or (6) other emergencies deemed appropriate by the instructor. The student may petition the instructor for time beyond the end of the semester to finish the work. If the instructor agrees, two grades will be given, an “I” and a letter grade for the course computed as if the missing work were zero. An Incomplete Grade Request is to be submitted by the instructor of record for the course. Students may not be given an incomplete grade due to poor performance or in order to retain financial aid. An incomplete grade may be granted only if the student has completed the majority of the course and is passing the class at the time.

The student is required to complete the work by the time agreed upon (which may not be longer than 12 months). If no change of grade is submitted by the instructor within the prescribed period, the “I” will be removed and the letter grade originally submitted with the “I” will remain as the permanent grade for the course. Arrangements to complete the missing coursework are to be made directly with the instructor awarding the “I” grade and in accordance with departmental and other USU policies. In the absence of the original instructor, special circumstances must be handled by the department head. Documentation of the reasons for granting an “I” grade and required work to be completed in order to remove the “I” grade are provided by the instructor when submitting the Incomplete Grade Request form. Resolution of the “I” grade does not involve a complete repeat of the course, only the completion of missing coursework. A student does not re-register for the course. All “I” grades must be changed to letter grades prior to graduation, regardless of whether or not the course is required for the degree.

A student who is on academic notice and receives an incomplete grade in one or more classes may register for classes in the subsequent semester, provided the grades received from his or her other classes are high enough to prevent the student from being placed on academic pause. A student in this situation, prior to making up the incomplete grade, may enroll in only one subsequent semester. A Registrar’s Office hold will then be placed on the student’s record, preventing the student from registering for a second additional semester. The Registrar’s Office hold will not be removed until the incomplete grade is changed to a letter grade. If the resulting grade does not cause the student to be placed on academic pause, the Registrar’s Office hold will be removed. Other registration holds, such as an advisor hold, will need to be removed by the office placing the hold.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat any course at USU for which they have previously registered. They may also retake a course originally taken at an institution where USU has an articulation agreement, if the agreement identifies a specific USU course as being equivalent to the one the student desires to replace. All other decisions dealing with retaking courses, including courses taken under the quarter system, will be determined by the department in which the course is offered. The number of times a student can take the same class is not limited. However, the academic unit associated with the student’s major has the authority to determine consequences of exceeding two attempts (once plus one repeat) of the same class. These actions may include one or more of the following but are not limited to: placing an advising hold (which prevents registration) on a student’s record, requiring a meeting with an academic advisor, requiring dean approval for additional registrations of the class, and/or requiring a change of academic program.

This policy does not apply to courses repeatable for credit. When a course listed in the General Catalog is identified as repeatable, the course may be taken more than once for credit. When a course not identified as repeatable for credit is repeated, the most recent grade and GPA hours are used to recalculate the student’s grade point average. The previous grade and GPA hours for the same course will remain on the student’s academic record, but will not be calculated in the grade point average or total GPA hours completed, and will be designated on the student’s transcript with an E (exclude). Once a degree is posted, all grades for that degree are frozen and cannot be modified. The only exception may be when a student completes an associate degree and then continues on to pursue a bachelor’s degree. In this case, if a course is repeated, the most recent grade will be used.

Temporary (T) Grade

Courses that are continued into a subsequent semester-such as thesis, dissertation, literature review, or study abroad courses-will be given a temporary status as indicated by a ‘T’ grade. All such courses must have the approval of the department offering the courses, the relevant college curriculum committee, and Educational Policies Committee (EPC). A letter grade must be given by the instructor at the time the required work is to be completed.

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