Graduate Admissions Guide: Steps and Requirements for Admission
We're excited that you're considering the University of Nebraska at Omaha for your graduate education! An online application must be completed for anyone seeking:
- A graduate degree or graduate certificate
- Graduate credit for renewal of a teaching certificate or professional development
- To transfer graduate credit to another university
Before You Apply
- You need to have earned or will have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S., or the equivalent of such degrees in another county.
- Each individual program has its own application deadline and application requirements. Please visit the UNO Graduate Catalog to find all deadlines, program requirements, and program contact information.
- Consider talking to the Graduate Program Chair (GPC)/advisor for your program of interest.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee (paid online) is required for all applicants. Once your application is submitted, your program of interest cannot be changed.
Please refer to CollegeNet Payment Information if you have questions about payment processing.
- Degree-seeking applications: $50.00 (USD)
- Non-degree, unclassified, and graduate certificate applications: $25.00 (USD)
- Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate UNO course: $25.00 (USD)
The application fee is waived for the following groups:
- All U.S. Military Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, Veterans, and dependents with proof of military status. Please provide one of the following documents as proof of military status: DD214, Notice of Basic Eligibility, or Military orders.
- McNair scholarship recipients
- Undergraduate Pell Grant recipients who provide their current Student Aid Report (SAR)
- AmeriCorps with Certification of Service Letter if service is completed, or official documentation of current service start date and expected end date.
Application Materials Needed
- Transcripts from all higher education institutions that you have attended, including transfer credit listed on another transcript and any credit earned as part of a dual enrollment program. Study abroad credits are excluded from this requirement.
- To expedite the processing of your application, you may upload copies of all transcripts and entrance exam test scores with your application.
- Each uploaded copy of your transcripts and/or mark sheets must contain your name, institution, all grades earned in each course, and if a degree has been awarded, must show conferral date and degree name.
- International transcripts: Transcripts and/or mark sheets and degree certificates/diplomas from all higher education institutions you have attended are required. You will need to order a secure PDF or have a paper copy sent directly to yourself to upload a digital copy of these documents into your application. These documents should be in their original language and include an English translation. UNO will have a course-by-course evaluation of these documents completed. This evaluation is not transferable, and copies of the evaluation will not be provided to applicants for personal use.
- Please note that we will also accept course-by-course evaluations from The Evaluation Company, WES, ECE , or Educational Perspectives.
- Please note that we will also accept course-by-course evaluations from The Evaluation Company, WES, ECE , or Educational Perspectives.
- To expedite the processing of your application, you may upload copies of all transcripts and entrance exam test scores with your application.
- Letters of Recommendation (if applicable to the program you are applying to): You will be asked to provide contact information for your recommender during the application process. Your recommender will receive an email with instructions on completing the recommendation via our online portal. Letters of recommendation may come from employers or supervisors who are familiar with the applicant’s work, or from faculty/advisors familiar with the applicant’s academic performance.
If you need to update your recommender, or recommender contact information, you can do so via your application portal. Refer to Recommendation Support for additional information on how to edit or change your recommender.
- Other documents may include:
- GRE/GMAT/MAT scores
- English Language Proficiency Scores
- Résumé
- Writing samples
- Teaching certificate or license
- Portfolio
- Personal interviews
- Specialized interviews
- Statement of purpose
Start your UNO graduate application today! You can save your progress and don't need everything ready to begin.
After You Are Admitted
All official academic records are required before you can register for any classes.
- U.S. transcripts: Official transcripts received directly from the issuing institution to UNO, are accepted by mail, or electronically through Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse.
- International transcripts: Official transcripts and/or mark sheets and certificates/diplomas are required prior to enrollment. Details regarding submission of these documents will be sent via email to the email address you used in your application.
- Official exam scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, etc.)
If you applied for admission prior to your degree being conferred, the official degree transcript and/or mark sheets showing final grades and completion of the degree must be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies before the end of the first year of enrollment.
How to Receive an F1/J1 Visa
If you are admitted and expect to receive a student visa, the following documents must be submitted through the iGlobal portal prior to issuance of an I-20:
- Complete a Graduate Financial Affidavit
- Submit financial documents. These documents must be translated into English and can include:
- Bank documents from a checking or savings account
- Current official letter of award addressed to UNO, which includes terms of support, the specific amount of support, and the period covered by the sponsoring organization (home government, international organization, university employer, etc.).
- Copy of your passport, which can be uploaded when completing your initial application.
All bank documents are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. You will be emailed with detailed instructions on how to submit these documents after admission. All documents will be submitted through the iGlobal portal, and should not be sent via email.
*Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring all their materials have been received. If it is determined that an applicant has submitted false records or omitted information about previous school attendance, their application will be denied, or admission will be rescinded.