The University of Akron is a public research institute accepting applications for the fall, summer and spring semesters. Freshmen can apply through the Common Application portal and for PG programs through the Graduate Application portal.  The university admits around 20,000 students in each academic year from over 71 countries who have chosen the university as a destination for higher education in the U.S. due to its multicultural and welcoming learning environment. Deadlines for fall and spring intake of UG courses is May 16 and August 23 respectively. The PG courses have rolling admissions and candidates need to apply at least six months before the commencement date.

The University of Akron offers about 200 undergraduate majors and more than 105 graduate degrees to students in various disciplines, including Engineering, Business Administration, Management, Criminology, Communications and others. It has an acceptance rate of 73% which implies that the admission process is not highly selective, and candidates meeting all the admission criteria can expect an offer after evaluation.​ SAT scores and ACT scores are not mandatory for undergraduate international admissions, but they are considered in case the student wants to be considered for the scholarships that are available for international students in the U.S.

Highlights

Application Portal Common Application (freshmen and transfers);
Akron Application Portal (post-bac, exchange and adult students);
Graduate Application
Application Fee (non-refundable) Undergraduate: 50 USD
Graduate: 70 USD
Mode of Payment Credit Card
Acceptance rate 73%
Average SAT score 1185
Average ACT score 24
Average GPA 3.7 (high school)/3.4 (undergraduate)
Student to faculty ratio 18:1
Student population 17,600
No. of undergraduates 14794
No. of graduates 2806
Academic Calendar Semester Based
Intake Seasons Fall, Spring, and Summer
Work Experience Required for specific programs
Financial Aid Public and private scholarships available

University of Akron Application Deadlines

The University of Akron has a semester-based academic curriculum and enrols students whose application has been received within the deadlines. Deadlines for international students differ from domestic candidates. Students should be aware of the admission cycles in the U.S before applying to the university.

Here are the deadlines for international undergraduate applicants:

Term/Semester Deadline
Fall August 1
Spring January 3
Summer May 1

Deadlines for graduate courses differ depending on the program. Usually, international applicants are suggested to apply six months before the enrollment date. Some courses accept applications on a rolling basis. The semester start dates are mentioned below.

Semester Semester Starts
Summer May 16
Fall August 23
Spring January 16

The application deadlines for some of the popular graduate courses are mentioned in the table below.

Courses Deadlines
M.S in Computer Science Rolling Admission
M.S in Applied Politics

Fall- April 1

Spring- December 1
Applied Mathematics (BS-MS Accelerated Program) Rolling Admission
MS in Civil Engineering Rolling Admission
MS in Accountancy Fall – August 1

University of Akron International Student Admissions

The University of Akron encourages international students from all around the world to be a part of its multi-cultural environment. The International Centre of the university supports the students from the enrolment period, all up to the postgraduate buffer period. International students who want to study in the U.S can apply for undergraduate and graduate courses. The admission process is conducted online and international applicants have to meet some additional criteria for eligibility.

All international applicants need to have proper financial documents before applying to any university in the United States. Therefore, they should have an idea about the estimated cost of living and studying in the USA to make proper arrangements of funds. 

Application Portal: Common Application (freshmen and transfers); Acron Application Portal (post-bac, exchange and adult students); Graduate Application

Application Fee: 50 USD (undergraduates) and 70 USD (graduates)

Admission Requirements: Here are the documents required for international admission at the University of Akron.

  • Online Application with the non-refundable fee
  • Official academic transcripts 
  • Standardized test scores: SAT/ACT for undergraduates (optional, except for scholarship consideration) GRE/GMAT for graduates.
    • Preferred scores: SAT- 1185, ACT – 24; GRE – 85th Percentile, GMAT – 500+
  • Official Proof of English Language Proficiency
  • Letters of recommendations
  • Immigration requirements (visa, passport, etc.)
  • Resume/CV,
  • Statement of purpose, proof of work experience, etc.

Students must send the official hard copies of the documents to:

Undergraduates - International Recruitment

The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-4711
USA

Graduates - The University of Akron

Graduate School
Leigh Hall 515
Akron, OH 44325-2101

They can send unofficial digital documents via email to intlrecruit@uakron.edu (undergraduates) or gradsch@uakron.edu (graduates).

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

International applicants are required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency by submitting standardized test scores. Undergraduate applicants who do not meet the criteria but are otherwise acceptable to the chosen courses can avail of the Conditional Admission facility and register for the ELI course. They can get full admission after successful completion of the course.

The accepted English language tests and the minimum required scores by the University of Akron to be eligible for admission are given in the table below.

Tests Minimum required score for undergraduates
TOEFL-iBT 71
SAT (Evidence-based reading-writing) 500
ACT English 18
IELTS 6.0
Duolingo English Test (DET) 95
CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced) 169
PTE 48
GTEC CBT/GTEC 1126/1135

The English Language test scores (not more than two-year-old) needed for graduate admission are mentioned below.

Tests Minimum Required Score
IELTS* 6.5
TOEFL-iBT* 79

*can vary for some courses.

Visa Process for International Students

International students need an F-1 or J-1 visa to travel to the United States. The university will issue Form I-20 or DS-2019 (as applicable) to students who have been accepted for admission. They will receive the forms once admission is confirmed and can start the visa process.

To obtain the form I-20 or DS-2019, students must submit the following details to the admissions board:

  • Passport copy (photo page)
  • A valid bank statement, presenting funds that can cover education and living expenses
  • Declaration and Certification of Finances

The documents above must be submitted in PDF format to immigration@uakron.edu

After receiving the I-20/DS-2019, students can apply for the visa to the nearby consulate or embassy.

Note: Due to COVID-19, following the latest US immigration rules, the university may make changes to the process. Students should check before applying. They can find all the necessary guidelines here.

University of Akron Undergraduate Admissions

The University of Akron offers over 200 majors to applicants pursuing a bachelor's degree. From STEM to the Arts, applicants can choose their streams and enrol in the programs offered via online application. Some of the popular majors are Accounting, Business Administration, Business Data Analytics, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Economics, etc.

The university seeks students who have excellent communication skills, intellectual experience, critical thinking skills, and a ubiquitous understanding of the US education system. Undergraduate students with a high school GPA of 3.0 and above have better chances of selection.

Where to Apply: Common Application or Akron Application Portal

Application Fee: 50 USD

Admission Requirements: Applicants must submit the following documents at the time of admission:

  • Online Application with the non-refundable fee
  • Official secondary school transcripts
  • Standardized test scores of SAT/ACT (Optional, but considered for scholarships)
  • Official proof of English proficiency(for international students)

Academic Requirements

All undergraduate aspirants are required to have a high school report that suggests their commitment towards the core subjects of junior academics. 

  • GPA trends
  • High school curriculum (as mentioned in the table below)
English 4 Units
Mathematics (Geometry, Algebra I, II + minimum Algebra II complete) 4 Units
Science 3 Units
Social Studies 3 Units
Foreign language 2 Units
Arts/An additional unit of a foreign language 1 Unit

University of Akron Graduate Admissions

The University of Akron offers graduate degrees in Business Management, Accounting, Nursing Education, Engineering, Computer Science and other disciplines to students who have completed their bachelor degrees. International students who want to pursue a Master of Science in the United States can consider the University of Akron as their school of choice as it offers some excellent programs like MS in Applied Mathematics, MS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Civil Engineering, etc. It also offers several MBA Programs.

Where to apply? Graduate Application

Application fee: 70 USD (international)

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants for graduate programs must have a bachelor's degree (equivalent to a four-year bachelor degree in the U.S) in a discipline of their choice, along with an in-field GPA of 3.0 or higher along with GRE/GMAT scores.
  • The preferred GRE score is 85th Percentile and the GMAT score is 500 and above. The GMAT/GRE scores should not be more than 5 years old.

The selection is done on a competitive basis, and hence the decisions often boil down to academic achievements and GRE scores. Here are some of the popular graduate courses offered by the University of Akron and their admission requirements:

Requirements MS in Accountancy MS in Applied Mathematics MS in Civil Engineering MS in Electrical Engineering MBA in Finance
Official Transcripts Required Required Required Required Required
Academic Requirements Undergraduate degree in Accounting/non-accounting degree from an accredited institute; GPA of 3.0 and above; Baccalaureate in Engineering; GRE scores Two years UG  in Engineering Bachelors degree
Essay/Statement of Purpose SOP Required SOP Required SOP Required SOP Required SOP Required
GMAT/GRE Required - GMAT score of 500+ or GRE Required Required - GRE Required Required - GMAT score of 500+ or GRE
Work Experience Not mandatory - 3 or more years of experience can get a GMAT/GRE test waiver Not Required Not Required Not Required Not mandatory - 3 or more years of experience can get a GMAT/GRE test waiver
CV/Resume Required Required Required Required Required
Recommendations Two letters of recommendation Three letters of recommendation Three letters of recommendation Three letters of recommendation Two letters of recommendation

FAQs

Ques. What are the necessary documents for international student admissions at the University of Akron?

Ans: Official transcripts, proof of English Language Proficiency, Declaration and Certification of Finances, bank statements and a Copy of Passport are the necessary documents for international student’s admission.

Ques. What GPA is required for admission to the University of Akron?

Ans: Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 and above on a scale of 4.0 have an edge over others for selection. Also, a good GPA is important for scholarship consideration.

Ques. How will the applicants know their application status?

Ans: Applicants will receive a notification via email when the admissions committee has made a decision. Graduate applicants can contact their chosen academic departments to know about their application status as well.

Ques. Can students defer their admission?

Ans: Yes, students can defer their admission for up to one year.

Ques. Are international students rewarded with any financial assistance?

Ans: Yes. Students can claim tuition remissions, graduate assistantships, and funding for up to 5 years.

Ques. How has the pandemic impacted the admission cycle?

Ans: The pandemic has not changed the admission cycle very much, except campus tours have been halted and aspirants are required to apply online. For other information, candidates can check the university website.