University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is the public research university of Kentucky's largest city and the newest member of the ACC. It enrolls about 17,000 undergraduates on the Belknap campus and admits roughly 79% of applicants, with enrolled first-years averaging a 3.60 high school GPA. Health professions lead the degrees conferred, reflecting UofL's large health sciences campus, followed by engineering at the J.B. Speed School and a broad set of social science and business programs. The university is test-optional, most students who test take the ACT, and its Cardinal Commitment Grant covers costs for eligible Kentucky students.
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Louisville 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
Louisville does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Louisville is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Louisville's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 33.4% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Louisville does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Louisville 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 Louisville's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $16,346 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
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
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Louisville admissions
Is it hard to get into the University of Louisville?＋
Not very. UofL admits about 79% of applicants, roughly 12,400 from a pool of 15,700, so it is accessible for solid students. Enrolled first-years average a 3.60 high school GPA, and the university weighs course rigor and GPA as its most important factors. Selective tracks like the Speed School of Engineering and health sciences programs hold higher internal bars.
What GPA and test scores do you need for the University of Louisville?＋
Enrolled first-years average a 3.60 high school GPA, and UofL rates rigor of coursework and academic GPA as very important. For the students who submit scores, the middle 50% scored 1010–1230 on the SAT and 19–27 on the ACT. The university is test-optional, so a strong transcript can carry an application on its own.
What is the out-of-state acceptance rate at the University of Louisville?＋
Out-of-state applicants are admitted at essentially the same rate as Kentucky residents. For Fall 2024, UofL admitted about 80% of in-state applicants and 82% of out-of-state applicants, while international applicants were admitted at roughly 40%. About 29% of first-years come from outside Kentucky, so out-of-state students are a meaningful part of the class.
Is the University of Louisville test-optional?＋
Yes. UofL is test-optional, and applicants choose whether their SAT or ACT scores are used in the review. Most students who test take the ACT: about 85% of enrolled first-years submitted an ACT versus 18% an SAT. Among those who tested, the middle 50% scored 19–27 on the ACT and 1010–1230 on the SAT.
How much does the University of Louisville cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $13,942 for Kentucky residents and $30,288 for out-of-state students. Around 66% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $19,098, and UofL meets roughly 65% of demonstrated need. The Cardinal Commitment Grant covers remaining tuition and fees for eligible Kentucky students after other aid.
What is the University of Louisville known for academically?＋
UofL is strongest in the health professions, the single largest field at about 16% of bachelor's degrees, anchored by its medical, dental, and nursing schools. Engineering at the J.B. Speed School is the next largest area, followed by social sciences, business, and psychology, and the university is classified as a top-tier research institution.
Does the application essay matter at the University of Louisville?＋
Somewhat. UofL lists the application essay as a factor it considers, below course rigor, GPA, and test scores in its review. The essay is not the deciding piece for most applicants, but a clear, specific statement can help borderline cases and matters more for competitive programs and scholarships.
Source: University of Louisville Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Louisville. Banner photo by Censusdata, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).