Undergraduate Admissions

Admission to the School of Design is highly competitive. Our admission standards exceed the minimum average ACT/SAT and high school percentile rank for the campus. The middle 50 percent of our First Year class enter with an ACT Composite score of 21–26. Applications are evaluated and selected based on a holistic review of a student’s Common Application, transcripts, GPA, ACT/SAT score, high school percentile rank, recommendation letters, and personal statement. Because of the high demand for limited spaces in our design programs, we recommend that applicants submit their applications as early as possible. All admission decisions are final.

UIC First-Year Admission Requirements

Admission and placement into the School of Design is highly competitive. Students seeking transfer should contact an academic advisor to determine the program that best suits their interests.

Transfer applications are evaluated and selected based on a holistic review of a student’s Common Application, transcripts, GPA, recommendation letters, and personal statement. No more than 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of credit may be accepted as transfer work from a community or junior college. All admission decisions are final.

The Bachelor of Arts in Design Studies (BA) is a transfer degree program that offers a hands-on introduction to a range of design practices. It is possible to complete the BA Design Studies in three years.

The Bachelor of Design (BDes) is a four-year degree program that provides an intensive pre-professional education centered on a design discipline. Please note that the BDes is a four-year program regardless of transfer status and students are admitted in the fall term only. If you are interested in the Bachelor of Design, which leads to a concentration in Graphic Design or Industrial Design, and are planning to enroll in a community college with eventual transfer to UIC, we ask that you re-evaluate this approach. The BDes Program begins in the first year of undergraduate study. It is possible to receive credit for some academic courses upon transfer but credits from design courses from other institutions do not transfer.

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science + Design (BS) is a collaboration between the UIC School of Design and the UIC Department of Computer Science (CS). Based in the College of Engineering, this joint degree program provides intensive technical study in computer programming alongside sequential studio-based instruction in visual design. The BS in CS + Design begins with the first year of undergraduate study. Credits from design courses from other institutions do not transfer.

UIC Transfer Admission Requirements

Intercollege transfer students are current UIC undergraduate students who are in a program outside of the School of Design and want to change to a degree program within the School of Design. This process is also for students wishing to add a dual degree in Design.  

CADA Intercollege Transfer Application and Instructions 

Intercollege transfer requirements include the following: 

• Application materials must be submitted at least one semester in advance of the next eligible term. 
• Bachelor of Design and BA in Design Studies requires a minimum GPA of 2.75. 
• CS + Design requires a minimum GPA of 3.25 and completion of Calculus I and CS 111 (or a course equivalent to CS 111). 

Admission and placement into the School of Design is highly competitive. Application and processing timelines for international students are lengthy, and we recommend initiating an application as early as possible. School of Design programs require international applicants to present a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with sub-scores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (International).

UIC International Admission Requirements