University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a public research university and the birthplace of cooperative education, pairing classroom study with paid professional co-op rotations across nearly every program. Set on the Uptown campus near downtown Cincinnati, it enrolls about 34,400 undergraduates and admits roughly 88% of applicants, with enrolled first-years averaging a 3.67 high school GPA. Business and marketing leads the degrees conferred, followed by the health professions and engineering, and UC is also known nationally for its DAAP design and architecture college. The university is test-optional, and most admitted students who test submit ACT scores in the 24–30 range.
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Cincinnati admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly admissions
Cincinnati does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized tests
Cincinnati is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cincinnati supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
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Class rank
Where Cincinnati's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 43.59% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Cincinnati does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions factors
How Cincinnati weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Cincinnati's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati admissions
Not especially. UC admits about 88% of applicants, roughly 29,700 from a pool of 33,800, so it is accessible for solid students. Enrolled first-years average a 3.67 high school GPA, and academic GPA is the factor UC weighs most heavily. Selective programs such as DAAP design, nursing, and the co-op engineering tracks are more competitive than the overall rate.
Enrolled first-years average a 3.67 high school GPA, and UC rates academic GPA as a very important factor. For the minority who submit scores, the middle 50% scored 1160–1340 on the SAT and 24–30 on the ACT. UC is test-optional, so a strong transcript can carry an application on its own.
Ohio residents are admitted at a somewhat higher rate than non-residents. For Fall 2025, UC admitted about 90% of in-state applicants and 85% of out-of-state applicants, with international applicants at roughly 83%. Out-of-state students still make up a meaningful share of the class, so the gap is modest for domestic applicants.
Yes. UC is test-optional, and students choose whether to have SAT or ACT scores considered with their application. About 25% of enrolled first-years submitted an ACT and 9% an SAT. Among those who did, the middle 50% scored 24–30 on the ACT and 1160–1340 on the SAT.
Yes. A 1300 sits above the median SAT of 1250 for enrolled first-years and within the middle-50% range of 1160–1340. Paired with a strong GPA it makes for a competitive application, and because UC is test-optional, a 1300 can only help your file.
Annual tuition and mandatory fees run about $14,394 for Ohio residents and $29,728 for out-of-state students at the Uptown campus. Around 48% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $10,076. UC's signature co-op program also lets many students earn money during paid work rotations to offset costs.
UC is the founder of cooperative education, and paid co-op placements are built into engineering, business, design, and many other majors. Business and marketing is the largest field at about 20% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the health professions at 14% and engineering at 12%, and its DAAP college is among the most respected design and architecture programs in the country.
Yes, though it sits below the transcript. UC rates the application essay as a considered factor, alongside recommendations, extracurriculars, and test scores, while academic GPA and talent or ability carry the most weight. While admissions are not highly selective overall, a clear, specific essay helps for competitive majors and scholarships, and it is one of the few places to show fit beyond your GPA.
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Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: University of Cincinnati Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-08-20. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from UC Cost of Attendance. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Cincinnati. Banner photo by Steinsky, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “University of Cincinnati admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/cincinnati (retrieved 2026-08-20).