Graduate Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility, documents and steps for graduate degree admission

University of Idaho’s graduate admission requirements establish the baseline for entry into all U of I graduate programs. All applicants must meet general requirements for previously held degrees, GPA, letters of recommendation and English language proficiency.

Individual programs may have additional criteria you’ll need to meet.

Use Degree Finder to explore program-specific admission requirements.  

Bachelor’s degree requirement

To be considered for graduate admission at University of Idaho, you must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution—either in the U.S. or abroad through a recognized accrediting body, ministry of education or official quality assurance organization. The degree should represent four years of study and be equivalent to 120 semester credits or 180 quarter credits.

Domestic applicants

You must have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association. If the degree is from a recognized but not regionally accredited institution, the application will be reviewed by the department and by the College of Graduate Studies.

International applicants

Find information about equivalency and required academic credentials by country of education. 

Student visa and SEVIS information

Find F1 and J1 visa admissions requirements, financial verification and more.

Learn more

Submitting graduate admission documents to University of Idaho

Any change in specific degree, major or starting semester before enrollment requires a new application (including uploaded material) and a non-refundable application fee.

When these items are submitted by applicants or educational consultants/agencies, approved or not, they are considered unofficial.

Send your U of I graduate admission documents to:

Graduate Admissions 
University of Idaho 
875 Perimeter Drive MS 3019 
Moscow, ID 83844-3019

Additional items that applicants may upload into the application include (if required):

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (as required by your program)
  • Statement of purpose (required)
  • Scans of official transcripts (optional, see below)
  • Writing sample (some programs)
  • Portfolio (some programs)

Failure to adhere to these requirements could delay your credential evaluation and/or admission to University of Idaho. For more information or assistance, visit our documentation tips. 

Eligibility requirement FAQs

Grade point average (GPA)

Graduate program applicants must have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 grade scale equivalent to U.S. bachelor’s degree regardless of chosen program. If your GPA meets the minimum admission requirements, the department of major will determine if your overall academic record and test scores meet department/program-specific requirements.

If you do not meet the minimum 3.00 GPA, your application can be considered for admission if you:

  • Earned an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for your last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits

OR

  • Worked in the program specific profession for 5+ years
  • Obtained a letter of support from a faculty member in the department
  • Wrote a detailed statement/essay describing your professional experience and potential to succeed academically 
Letters of recommendation

The number of required letters of recommendation varies by program but most ask for one to three.

Before you apply, be sure to gather the names and email addresses those recommending you. You will enter this information into your online application.

Let your recommenders know ahead of time—they will receive an email with instructions to upload their letters directly.

Important:

  • Use your recommenders' institutional email address.
  • Letters should be on university or company letterheads when possible.
  • Recommendations should come from teaching or research faculty in your field or a supervisor who can speak to your qualifications.
Transcripts

An official academic record from all post-secondary education institutions attended is required. This may take some time so start this early in your application process.

In the instance that official records cannot be obtained, unofficial records may be used to consider your application. These documents are typically issued to the student and may be considered official after further review. This applies to cases where it is impossible to obtain the official records and will be considered only on a case-by-case basis. 

Obtaining official transcripts

  • International institutions: Find specific transcript and transfer instructions through the International Programs Office.
  • U.S. institutions:  
    • Transcripts must come directly from the awarding institution in a sealed envelope with the institution’s seal, stamp or signature.
    • Electronic transcripts are accepted directly from U.S. institutions.
  • Current or former U of I students: No need to request transcripts—Graduate Admissions will retrieve them.

Uploading transcripts to your application

  • You may upload scanned copies of official transcripts and certified English translations through the online application.
  • Scans must be high quality (600 dpi or higher, front and back, including grading keys/scales) from the university registrar’s office or original documents from your institution.
  • These scans may be used for admission review but official transcripts will still be required if admitted. 
Submitting test scores
  • Official test scores (e.g., GRE, TOEFL) must be sent directly from the institution or testing center to Graduate Admissions.
  • Use institution code 4843 when ordering test scores.
  • Department codes:  
    • GRE: 5199 (default if needed)
    • TOEFL: 99 (default if needed)

Note: All tests must have been taken within two years of your application submission date 

International student visa application

To obtain an I-20 certificate of F-1 visa eligibility, see international student requirements.  

For F-1 students transferring from another U.S. institution: You must complete the SEVIS transfer procedure before enrolling at University of Idaho. 

Graduate certificate program requirements

Certificates are ideal for students and professionals who do not desire a master's or doctoral degree, but who want a basic understanding of techniques and applications within a specific discipline.  

Certificates can be particularly useful because success in the modern workplace requires knowledge and insights that cross traditional disciplinary bounds. Certificates allow students to concentrate on fields of direct relevance to their current careers.  

Application requirements for graduate academic certificates

For new graduate certificate applicants:

  • Complete the online application ($30 fee).
  • Submit unofficial transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • If your GPA is below 3.0, you may still apply. Admission is based on departmental review.
  • Graduate certificate students are not eligible for financial aid.
  • International applicants must meet University of Idaho’s English proficiency language requirement.
  • F-1 and J-1 visa holders are not eligible for this program due to immigration regulations.

For current University of Idaho graduate students:

For current U of I undergraduate students:

  • Must have senior standing and a 3.0 GPA to take graduate-level courses.
  • To reserve a course for the graduate transcript, file a Course Level Adjustment form (max 12 credits).
  • After earning a bachelor’s degree, apply as a graduate certificate-seeking student to complete the program. 

U of I GRE Information

Not all departments require the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). To find out if your program requires the GRE check the departmental requirements on the program’s degree page.

The University of Idaho Institution Code for the GRE is 4843.

If you need a department code, and do not know your department code, use: 5199  

For more information on the (GRE), visit http://www.gre.org/. 

Non-degree seeking graduate student requirements

Non-degree students cannot be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies but may take graduate courses with instructor and dean approval. If a non-degree student earns a C, D or F in a 500-level course, they lose the privilege of taking more graduate-level courses.

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for Title IV financial aid.

Domestic, non-degree seeking graduate applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Degrees from non-regionally accredited institutions require department and College of Graduate Studies review.

International, non-degree seeking graduate applicants should use the Degree Equivalency Guide to check academic credential requirements by country. University of Idaho may require a professional credential evaluation for verification, transfer credits or to expedite application processing.

Learn about U of I’s in-house transcript evaluations for graduate applications.