First-Time First Year

A first-time first year applicant is a degree-seeking undergraduate who applies for admission:

  • while attending high school, regardless of the amount of AP, IB, or college credit earned, OR
  • plans to attend a summer term (only) at a college immediately following high school graduation, OR
  • graduated from high school and has not attended another post-secondary institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.

First-Year Transfer

A first-year transfer applicant is a degree-seeking undergraduate who applies for admission:

  • graduated from high school and has attended another post-secondary institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate but attempted or earned less than 24 hours of transferable college credit by the desired term of entry.

Transfer Applicant

A transfer applicant is a degree-seeking undergraduate who has:

  • attempted or earned 24 semester hours or more of transferable college credit by the desired term of entry.

Graduate Applicant

A graduate applicant is a degree-seeking applicant who has:

  • earned or plans to earn a Bachelor's Degree (or a Master's Degree) from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution by their term of entry to UIS.

Non-Degree Seeking

Non-degree is a guest status and is typically not eligible for financial assistance. A non-degree applicant is an applicant who:

  • desires to take classes at UIS but does not wish to earn a degree or
  • wishes to pursue a graduate certificate or licensure coursework at UIS.

Applicants already possessing a Bachelor's degree will be enrolled as Graduate Non-Degree; Applicants that do not possess a Bachelor's degree will be enrolled as Undergraduate Non-Degree.