Admissions Eligibility

If students are going to college, they must plan their high school experience accordingly. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education adopted the Higher Education Admission Requirements that are entry requirements for students planning to attend any of Colorado’s public four-year colleges or universities.

Private colleges and universities set their own admission standards, so students should contact those institutions directly for information regarding their enrollment policies. Additionally, public two-year colleges have open enrollment policies, meaning that students applying to these schools do not need to meet the following admissions requirements.

Meeting the Higher Education Admissions Requirements does not guarantee admission to a four-year public institution. Colleges and universities may have additional requirements. These requirements are separate from the Weld RE-4 High School Graduation Requirements.

College admission is usually dependent on the following:

  1. Grade point average
  2. Rank in graduating class
  3. Personal recommendations from teachers, counselors, and community members
  4. Participation in school and community activities
  5. College essay (required at selected colleges)
  6. Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
  7. Rigor of coursework

Students planning to attend a four-year college or university in Colorado will need to complete the following classes in order to fulfill the Higher Education Admission Requirements:

  • English: 4 years
  • Mathematics (must include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or equivalents): 4 years
  • Natural/Physical Sciences (two units must be lab-based): 3 years
  • Social Studies (at least one unit of U.S. or World History): 3 years
  • Foreign Language: 1-3 years, depending on the institution
  • *Academic Electives: 2 years

*Acceptable Academic Electives include additional courses in English, Mathematics, Natural/Physical Sciences and Social Sciences, Foreign Languages, Art, Music, Journalism, Drama, Computer Science, Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate courses, and appropriate CTE courses.