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General admissions information
You should apply as a first-year student if ANY of the following statements describe you:
- You plan to enter UW Tacoma immediately after graduating from high school.
- You are in the Running Start program, and you plan to enter UW Tacoma right after graduating (regardless of how many college credits you have earned or will earn).
- You have never attended college since leaving high school (regardless of your age or whether you graduated).
You are considered a transfer student if ALL of the following statements describe you:
- You wish to enroll at the UW Tacoma to earn your first bachelor's degree.
- You are no longer in high school (regardless of how old you are or whether you graduated).
- You will have completed any coursework at a regionally accredited college or university after leaving high school (excluding the summer term immediately following high school).
You are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, but you may do so if you wish. For scores to be considered official, students must arrange to have scores sent directly from the testing agency. Learn more about submitting your SAT or ACT scores.
First-year students
For first-year students, UW Tacoma offers guaranteed admission through Pathways to Promise and the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program.
Transfer students
Transfer students who are Washington state residents and have completed an approved transfer degree at a Washington state community college with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 are guaranteed admission to UW Tacoma. Please note that this does not guarantee admission to a specific academic program or major. Students must still submit an application by the application deadline to be admitted.
Running Start students should use the first-year student application. If you are admitted, college credit will be awarded for those college-level courses that have been successfully completed and meet UW transfer credit equivalencies. Running Start students still need to meet high school course requirements.
Transfer admission
Any amount of transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution qualifies you to apply as a transfer student.
An associate degree is not required to transfer to UW Tacoma.
Review the general transfer credit policies or look up the courses you have completed in the University of Washington's online course equivalency database. You may also make an appointment with an admissions counselor to review your transcripts .
In most cases, the answer is yes. There are no time limitations on most credits used to satisfy general admission requirements.
Some prerequisite classes (usually in math or science) must have been completed within the last five years. Of course, if you haven’t taken math for 20 years, you may want to enroll in a basic math course to refresh your skills. An admissions counselor can help you evaluate your existing college credits.
Most degree programs offer a part-time option. Check with an admissions counselor or the school for more information.
One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits. Therefore, a 3-semester-credit course is equivalent to 4.5 quarter credits, and 60 semester credits are equivalent to 90 quarter credits.
Completing the application
UW Tacoma admits first-year students in the Autumn and Winter quarters only. Transfer students can be admitted in Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters. Review the application deadlines for more information.
No, we do not use your intended major (or lack thereof) in the admissions process. We ask the question only to be able to provide you additional information on the program you are interested in and academic guidance. You are not locked into the major you select on your application and are not required to select a major until the beginning of your junior year.
Two years of study in a single world language are required for admission as part of the College Academic Distribution Requirements.
Applicants will be evaluated on a number of factors, including: grades, grade trends, rigor of curriculum, activities and accomplishments, educational goals, diverse life experiences, and first-generation status. The factors are not of equal weight, and no single factor will be sufficient to confer admission.
The university will offer admission to applicants who will most benefit from and contribute to the university's educational community. In selecting the first-year class, the university does not make admission decisions solely on the basis of past academic accomplishments. The intention is to enroll a class that, as a whole, represents our community.
First-year students
Some schools have first-year direct admit programs that allow first-year students to declare a major when they apply to UW Tacoma. You can learn more about these programs here:
Transfer students
If you have met the minimum number of credits and fulfilled the prerequisites, you can apply to a degree program at the same time you apply for admission. If you are admitted to the university and have indicated you wish to apply for an academic program, your application will be forwarded to the requested academic program for review.
If you have completed 75 or more credits already, you are strongly encouraged to do this.
Typically, a score of 3 or 4 (for AP courses) and 5 or higher (for IB courses) is required to earn credit.
Your offer of admission is only valid for the quarter you selected on your application. In some circumstances, you can defer your application to a future quarter within the same academic year without having to re-apply or pay another application fee. Learn more about deferring your application.
Students who wish to formally appeal admissions decisions must submit a written appeal letter to uwtinfo@uw.edu addressed to the Associate Director of Admissions with the subject line "Admissions Appeal". Appeals should clearly define the basis of the appeal and a proposed resolution to the situation. Any relevant documentation should be enclosed with the appeal. The applicant may wish to submit updated high school or college transcripts, and/or updated test scores, as appropriate. Recommendation letters from counselors or teachers that know the applicant's academic and/or personal history are welcome, but not required. Please note that all documentation must be submitted in PDF format. The appeal must be initiated by the applicant. Appeals will not be accepted from a parent, teacher, or other third party.
The Associate Director of Admissions and the Admissions Review Committee will develop an appropriate investigational process depending on the circumstances surrounding the appeal and respond to the student filing the appeal. Once a decision has been made on a reconsideration, the decision will be sent via email.
Financial Aid and Housing
UW Tacoma's Office of Student Financial Aid will strive to ensure that students receive aid commensurate with their need no matter when they apply. But the earlier you apply, the more aid options will be available.
Yes, student housing is offered at Court 17, and there are many other housing options available in the area. Learn more about housing options.
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