Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Florence, Alabama
96.5% Acceptance Rate
University of North Alabama — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
96.5%Acceptance Rate
3.6Avg GPA
$22,086Annual Cost
$45,415Grad Salary
24.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
96.5%
Avg GPA
3.6
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$11,024
Need-Based Aid
24.1% receive Pell
University of North Alabama is a public regional university that emphasizes professional preparation, academic excellence, and community service. Admissions are selective, focusing on academic rigor and a student's demonstrated readiness for a comprehensive university experience. The university seeks students who are motivated by a sense of purpose and who are eager to participate in its wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Prospective students should highlight their academic consistency and their involvement in activities that foster teamwork or leadership. As the university is highly engaged with regional industry and professional fields, applicants who can connect their studies to real-world outcomes will stand out. The admissions team favors students who are not only academically prepared but also ambitious, self-directed, and ready to leverage the resources of a growing, research-active, and student-focused public university to build a strong professional career.
University of North Alabama Acceptance Rate
University of North Alabama (UNA) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 96.5% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 96.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.15
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
UNA GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at UNA is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.80–4.00.UNA GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.20 – 3.39
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.19
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Early Admission (EAdm) nursing pathway requires acceptance to both UNA and the Presidential Mentor Academy or Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College the semester immediately following high school graduation; apply by March 31.
- EAdm students skip the standard nursing admissions exam but must maintain a 3.0+ GPA and meet with an assigned nursing advisor every semester.
- Students not meeting EAdm criteria are placed in the standard traditional nursing applicant pool rather than being disqualified.
- Rolling general admission; acceptance rate figures vary across sources (57%?96%), so confirm current-cycle figures directly with UNA admissions.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at UNA
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of North Alabama's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of North Alabama (UNA) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if UNA is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into UNA Without SAT or ACT?
UNA neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UNA
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
UNA's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Apply for Nursing Early Admission (EAdm) by March 31 of Senior Year to Skip the Competitive Applicant Pool Entirely
UNA's Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions offers Early Admission to high school seniors who are simultaneously accepted into the Presidential Mentor Academy or Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College - bypassing the standard competitive nursing application and its admissions exam entirely, guaranteed as long as requirements are met. Since EAdm access requires being admitted to UNA and Honors/PMA the semester immediately following high school graduation, apply to both tracks well before the March 31 EAdm deadline rather than treating Honors as a separate, later decision.
Maintain a 3.0+ GPA in Your First 9 Credit Hours - Early Admission Isn't a Permanent Guarantee
Even after securing Early Admission nursing status, students must keep a 3.0+ cumulative GPA throughout their prerequisite semesters and remain in good standing with PMA or the Honors College, meeting with an assigned advisor every semester. Treat EAdm as a conditional, ongoing status contingent on continuous performance - not a locked-in guarantee the moment you're accepted as a senior.
Sequence Your Prerequisite Coursework to Land the Traditional Nursing Application in Your Final Semester Before Entry
UNA's EAdm structure expects entry into the traditional nursing option 4?5 semesters (excluding summer) after starting, with the actual traditional nursing application submitted during your final semester of prerequisite coursework. Build a semester-by-semester prerequisite plan from day one aligned to this specific timeline, rather than taking prerequisites in a scattered order and hoping the application timing works out.
If You Fall Short of EAdm Criteria, You're Automatically Rolled Into the Standard Applicant Pool - Not Rejected Outright
Students who don't meet every EAdm requirement aren't disqualified from nursing altogether; they're simply placed in the traditional application pool and must complete the standard admissions exam. If you're borderline on EAdm eligibility, don't panic - treat it as a fallback to the normal (still viable) nursing admissions path rather than a dead end.
Expert Insight:
Students sometimes treat "meeting the minimum requirements" for Early Admission nursing as equivalent to guaranteed acceptance - UNA's own program materials explicitly state that meeting minimum EAdm requirements does not guarantee admission into the EAdm option, so a borderline applicant assuming automatic entry could be caught off guard if the "guarantee" language elsewhere refers only to those who fully satisfy every listed criterion, not those who merely qualify on paper.
UNA Profile
Full Name
University of North Alabama (UNA)
City
Florence
State
Alabama
ZIP Code
35632-0001
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a UNA Degree Worth It?
Whether UNA is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $48,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.39%.
How much does a degree from UNA Cost?
The sticker price is $22,086/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $11,024.
24.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 29.6% take federal loans at UNA — file your FAFSA early and list UNA as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a UNA Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $45,415 — about 12% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at UNA
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About UNA Admissions
Median earnings for University of North Alabama graduates sit around $45,415 a year.
At about $22,086 a year, University of North Alabama is on the more affordable end.
University of North Alabama's Pell Grant rate of 24.1% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 96.5%, University of North Alabama's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of North Alabama average a 3.6 GPA.
University of North Alabama doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.2, University of North Alabama becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.