University of Kentucky: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The University of Kentucky is a public university with an acceptance rate of 94%. Located in Lexington, the University of Kentucky is the flagship campus for the state university system and is the largest university in the state with nearly 30,000 students. The University of Kentucky's colleges of business, medicine, and communication studies have all placed well in national rankings, and students can choose from over 200 academic programs offered through UK's 16 colleges and professional schools. The university was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences. In athletics, the Kentucky Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference.

Considering applying to University of Kentucky? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, the University of Kentucky had an acceptance rate of 94%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 96 students were admitted, making UK's admissions process less competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

The University of Kentucky requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, 23% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UK's admitted students fall within the top 50% of test-takers nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to the University of Kentucky scored between 540 and 650, while 25% scored below 540 and 25% scored above 650. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 530 and 670, while 25% scored below 530 and 25% scored above 670. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1320 or greater will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Kentucky.

Requirements

The University of Kentucky does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject Tests. Note that UK considers your highest composite score from a single sitting of the SAT. The admissions office will update your application to reflect your highest combined score if you submit scores from multiple test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

The University of Kentucky requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2019-20 admissions cycle, 89% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Kentucky's admitted students fall within the top 35% of test-takers nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UK received a composite ACT score between 22 and 29, while 25% scored a 29 or higher and 25% scored a 22 or lower.

Requirements

Note that the University of Kentucky does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. The University of Kentucky does not require the optional ACT writing section.

GPA

According to the University of Kentucky's common data set, The average high school GPA for matriculated first-year students was 3.52. 39% of those students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher, and 10.2% had a 4.0 GPA. High school grades are considered a very important part of a student's application.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Kentucky. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Kentucky, which accepts the majority of applicants, has a less selective admissions process. Most students who are admitted have grades and standardized test scores that are average or better. However, UK has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Applicants who wish to be considered to the Lewis Honors College or one of several competitive academic scholarships will need to submit an additional essay. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside of University of Kentucky's range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The great majority of successful applicants had ACT scores of 19 or higher or a combined SAT score of 1000 or higher. Most accepted students had a "B" or higher high school average. Higher test scores and grades improve your chances of getting an acceptance letter, and almost no students with "A" averages and above average SAT/ACT scores were rejected.

All admissions data has been source from the National Center for Educational Statistics and University of Kentucky Undergraduate Admissions Office.