university of massachusetts dartmouth gpa
The average GPA at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is 3.25. This makes University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Moderately Competitive for GPAs. With a GPA of 3.25, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth accepts below-average students.Average SAT: 1093Average GPA: 3.25Admissions Rate: 77.5%Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
UMass Dartmouth is test optional. Students applying for fall 2021 can submit their application without submitting standardized test scores. The admission decision will be based on a holistic review of the application including the high school record, recommendations, personal essay and other materials submitted by the applicant.
We consider each applicant as an individual, and we follow the admissions standards established by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
Students are accepted into specific majors and programs of study based on our general admission standards and specific standards for the potential major, department, or program that you have requested.
Dates and deadlines for applying
As soon as the Admissions Committee completes the review of your credentials, you will receive a letter with our decision.
Admission decisions cannot be made until all required information is on file. We will notify you if your file lacks any information.
UMass Dartmouth also offers programs for students seeking alternative options for admissions.
Requirements
We require:
- academic transcripts (see below)
- GED students: a copy of the GED certificate from the state, along with a copy of your GED test record
- Students enrolling in a Visual & Performing Arts program (excluding Art History): submit a portfolio or complete a music audition
Optional:
- SAT/ACT score*
- letter of recommendation from a teacher or school counselor: highly recommended for our most competitive programs, such as nursing, biology, engineering, and psychology
- a personal essay (up to 650 words) that demonstrates qualities of leadership, community service, work experiences and/or other significant interests; this can be completed as part of your Common Application
*Test optional admissions
UMass Dartmouth is 100% test optional. The admission decision will be based on a holistic review of the application including the high school record, recommendations, personal essay and other materials submitted by the applicant. SAT/ACT scores are encouraged as many of our programs are competitive. See our frequently asked questions about test optional admission.
High school record
17 college preparatory courses are required:
- English—4 units
- Mathematics—4 units: algebra I & II and geometry or trigonometry (or comparable), including math during the final year of high school
- Foreign language—2 units of the same language
- Sciences—3 units; all must be laboratory sciences: natural science, physical science, technology/engineering
- Social sciences—2 units, including 1 in U.S. history
- Electives—2 units in college preparatory courses
We encourage you to submit your first quarter grades as soon as possible. Career/vocational technical high school
If you are enrolled in a career/vocational technical high school, you must complete the required number of college preparatory classes, with some exceptions. We follow the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s standards:
“Applicants enrolled in career/vocational technical high school programs must complete the required number of college preparatory courses, distributed in the same manner and with the same minimum grade point averages required of other high school graduates, with the following exceptions.
1. Two vocational and technical courses may be used to fulfill the two required electives.
2. Applicants who do not complete the two required foreign language courses must complete an additional academic elective course based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, and also satisfy one of the following options:
- Complete at least one full academic year of study of foreign language or
- Complete a fourth full academic year of study of science, or technology/engineering, which need not be a laboratory course; or
- Complete one full academic year of study of computer science.”
We award advanced placement or college credit for AP examination scores of 3 or higher. We require official scores of AP examinations in order to evaluate AP courses for credit.
In order to receive credit for AP courses, have your examination results sent to the Registrar’s Office. If you completed high school through the GED program
If you completed high school through the GED program, you must submit a copy of the GED certificate from the state, along with a copy of your GED test record. You may mail copies of these records with your application form yourself. An official high school transcript is still required.
Test results
We recommend that you have the official results of your SAT I (math and critical reasoning) or ACT sent to us by the Educational Testing Services. Our College Board code is 3786. Our ACT code is 001906.
We can accept scores from your school as long as they are recorded on an official transcript. It is important to have your scores sent as early as possible in your senior year to ensure a complete evaluation of your application.
Applicants who have been out of high school for more than three years, or who have earned at least 24 transferable college credits, are exempted from the SAT requirement. You may also claim an exemption (see below) from the SAT/ACT requirement if you have a learning disability.
There is a no-test option for students applying for fall 2021. International students
International students, specifically those whose first language is not English, are required to submit the official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), unless the student has attended a school for at least one year in which the language of instruction is English.
Learn more: International Undergraduate Application
If you don’t meet these requirements, alternative admission to UMass Dartmouth is possible through Navitas at UMassD. Exemptions from testing
Applicants who have been out of high school for more than three years, or who have earned at least 24 transferable college credits, are exempted from the SAT requirement.
Applicants may claim an exemption from the SAT/ACT requirement if you have a qualifying disability that affects your learning and performance. Federal non-discrimination statutes place strict limits on the ability of schools and universities to seek information regarding an applicant’s disability prior to admission, and allow such inquiries only for the purpose of addressing past discrimination or a voluntary action to overcome the effects of conditions that resulted in limited participation {34 CFR 104.42 (d)}. Address your request for exemption from testing to Admissions. At that time, we will forward your documentation to the Center for Access and Success to determine if you are eligible for a waiver.
Please be advised that:
- providing this information is voluntary
- any information received will be completely confidential
- a refusal to furnish such information will not subject the applicant to any adverse treatment
- the information will be used only in accordance with federal and state law
- submission of documentation does not guarantee exemption from testing
If you are accepted to UMass Dartmouth and wish to receive academic accommodations in your courses, you must contact the Center for Access & Success, our disability services on campus. The staff will work with you to meet your specific needs determined on a case-by-case basis.
Also see: test-optional admissions
Special types of credit
The university has approved the use of the College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP). UMass Dartmouth awards credits for CLEP Subject Examination scores at or above the 50th percentile. The equivalence of CLEP courses is determined by the academic department for that subject. This credit may be used to satisfy distribution requirements or as electives, but not normally for credit in the major program. Please note that credit is not awarded for the CLEP General Examination. Military service school training
For military service school training, credit is evaluated according to the recommendations in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services, prepared by the American Council on Education.
Special circumstances
If the application fee presents a financial hardship, you may:
- make a written fee waiver request, supported by a letter from a guidance counselor, social worker, financial aid officer, or member of the clergy
- use the College Board application fee waiver form, which must be signed by a high school counselor
Applicants who will have secondary school or equivalency diplomas, and who have never attended degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions, are considered first-year applicants.
Applicants who have attended degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions (including UMass Dartmouth as a special student or through University Extension) are considered transfer applicants.
Learn more: Transfer students Dual enrollment applicants
- If you have earned college credits through a high school dual enrollment program, you will still apply to UMass Dartmouth as a first-year student and not a transfer student.
- If you are a current high school student who would like to learn more about UMassD’s program: Dual Enrollment Program for high school students
Permanent residents of the U.S.
Permanent residents of the United States who are not citizens of the United States use the standard application for admission. A copy of both sides of the immigration form I-551 (green card) must be filed with the application. Undocumented & DACA Students
UMass Dartmouth is a welcoming academic community. We encourage undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students to apply for admission.
Requirements for undocumented & Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students Early admission
Frequently, superior secondary school students exhaust the courses offered in their high schools by the end of the junior year. They may seek admission to UMass Dartmouth without a secondary school diploma. Such candidates may be admitted on the basis of superior high school records and test scores. The application must also be supported with a written agreement that the high school approves the plan, and that a diploma will be granted upon satisfactory completion of one or two semesters of college work. Signatures of the school principal or headmaster, guidance counselor, and parents are required. Deferred admission
Students who have been accepted but find that they are unable to enroll in the semester originally intended may defer their admission for one or two semesters. The non-refundable $200 enrollment deposit must be paid, and a letter requesting deferment must be addressed to the Office of Admissions. Accepted/did not enroll
We keep applications on file for a year.
- If you have applied to UMass Dartmouth within the last year—but did not attend—please use our Reactivation Form.
- If it has been more than a year, please re-apply using one of our standard application options.
We encourage applications from students who have been denied admission but who have improved their academic records at other institutions. We keep applications on file for one year.
- If you have applied to UMass Dartmouth within the last year—but did not attend—please use our Reactivation Form.
- If it has been more than a year, please re-apply using one of our standard application options.
Students who previously attended UMass Dartmouth/Southeastern Massachusetts University (day division) as degree candidates, and who registered for one or more semesters, may request readmission:
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I submit my test scores?
Students should carefully consider whether their SAT/ACT scores reflect their overall academic performance in high school. Students with an SAT of 1020 or higher, or an ACT of 20 or higher, should submit their scores for additional scholarship consideration.
If students believe their scores are not indicative of their achievement and potential and do not support their candidacy for admission, they may wish to withhold their scores.
Are test optional applicants eligible to receive scholarship money?
Yes. Merit and need-based scholarship programs are available to all applicants, and students with a 3.25 high school GPA are eligible for merit awards, with or without test scores. Course selection and overall grade point average are weighted heavily in the review process. If a student achieves an SAT of 1020 or higher, or an ACT of 20 or higher, those test scores provide further evidence of academic ability and potential and should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to increase scholarship opportunities.
Why is UMassD offering test optional?
The decision to allow students the option of submitting standardized test scores within the undergraduate admissions process gives students the autonomy to decide what information they believe best represents their qualifications for admission to UMass Dartmouth.