Official transcripts from all years of secondary school (or high school) must be sent directly to International Student & Scholar Services by the student's current or previous educational institution(s). If your current or previous high school cannot send your transcripts directly do us, they can provide official documents to you in a sealed and stamped envelope. If transcripts are not in English, you must provide a certified translation.
If you have attended ANY college or university:
Official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended MUST be submitted to NKU as part of the application, regardless of wether you want to receive transfer credits. Failure to include university studies on an application, whether the university was in the U.S. or abroad, can result in the immediate rescinding of an admission offer.
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) requires students to meet readiness standards to enter Kentucky public colleges and universities. If you standardized test scores fall below CPE college readiness standards, you will be required to take a College Placement Test to determine proper placement in English, math, and/or reading classes priori to course registration.
CPE Placement Standards
ACT: English 18, Math 19, Reading 20
SAT: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480, Math 500
If your scores fall below the above mentioned, you must take a College Placement Test(s) in each of the areas in which you did not meet the requirement. You will NOT be able to register for classes until your College Placement Test(s) have been taken. The College Placement Test is only available to admitted students. You may choose to re-take the SAT or ACT test to raise your subject scores.
TOEFL (iBT): Composite score of at least 79, with a minimum of 14 in reading
TOEFL (PBT): Composite score of at least 550, with a minimum of 48 in reading
IELTS: Composite score of at least 6.5, with a minimum of a 5.5 in Reading and 5 in Writing
Duolingo English Test: Minimum score: 115
SAT: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing score of 480 or higher, or 25 or higher on Writing and Language Test, and 26 or higher on Reading Test
ACT English: 18, Reading: 20
Pearson PTE: Composite score of at least 55
Freshmen applicants with a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admission regardless of ACT/SAT scores.
Freshmen applicants with a 2.5-2.749 unweighted high school GPA are not required to submit ACT/SAT scores. However, submitting test scores may allow for direct placement into their major if their application reveals zero or one overall deficiency*. If the applicant chooses not to submit test scores at all, or if their application reveal 2 or greater deficiencies*, they will be admitted into our Pathfinders Program.
Freshmen applicants with a 2.0-2.49 unweighted high school GPA are not required to submit ACT/SAT scores and will be admitted into our Pathfinders Program.
Freshmen applicants must have a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA to be considered for admission.