Math Placement

At UC, you are placed into the appropriate level of math course to optimize your success in your program of study. The following placement options are acceptable pre-requisites to register in your first UC math course and select courses:

  • ACT math test scores of 26 or above (preferred)
  • Prior college-level math course credit
  • ALEKS math placement module

ACT Math Test

If you have previously submitted your ACT scores for admission consideration, you don’t need to do anything further for math placement – we have your scores already. If you didn’t submit your ACT scores, you can submit them to UC directly from your MyACT account (note that there is a $19 fee). You may also self-report your ACT math score for free in the Bearcat Portal. Note that UC remains test optional. Submitting your ACT scores for course placement does not affect your admission to UC. The ACT math test is UC’s preferred math placement option, in lieu of earned college credit.

Prior College Credit

If you have earned college-level math course credit through UC or another accredited college or university, it will be used to place you into the appropriate UC math course. Credit earned through College Credit Plus, dual enrollment, transfer credit, and test credit such as AP are permitted, as long as UC has received the appropriate transcript or test credit report. 

ALEKS Math Placement

Completion of the ALEKS placement modules are encouraged only for students without an ACT score or college math course credit. ALEKS may also be utilized by students who have older ACT scores (i.e., the student has learned a significant amount of math since they last took the ACT). Learn more

Math Placement Scores

Learn which scores are required for placement in UC math courses.

Minimum scores required for placement in math and statistics courses.

Course

MPT

ALEKS

ACT

SAT

MATH 0025 Prep Algebra II

320

17

-

-

MATH 0029 Math Literacy

260

14

-

-

MATH 0031 Intro Algebra

290

14

-

-

MATH 0034 Intermediate Algebra

370

30

-

-

MATH 1006 Intro to Math Reasoning

420*

30*

-

-

MATH 1008 Found Quant Reasoning

420*

30*

-

-

MATH 1012 Math in MGMT Science 

420*

30*

-

-

MATH 1014 Math Social Choice

420*

30*

-

-

STAT 1031 Intro Statistics

420*

30*

-

-

STAT 1041 Intro to Data Science

420*

30*

-

-

STAT 1034 Elem Statistics I

420*

46*

-

-

MATH 1019 College Algebra with Review

430

40-43**

17

470

MATH 1020 STEM-Prep I Algebra 

420

46

21

530

MATH 1021 College Algebra

430

44

20

520

MATH 1022 Trigonometry

550

61

21

530

MATH 1023 STEM-Prep I

420

46

21

530

MATH 1024 STEM-Prep II

550

61

23

560

MATH 1026 Pre-Calculus

550

46

22

540

MATH 1044 Applied Calculus I

570

61

21

530

MATH 1046 Business Calculus

620

66

25

590

MATH 1060 Calc I w/ Pre-Calc

700

70

24

580

MATH 1061 Calculus I

750

76

26

610

MATH 1071 Discrete Math

570

61

22

540

*recommended

Minimum scores required for placement in natural sciences courses.

Course

MPT

ALEKS

ACT

SAT

BIOL 1081 Biology I

260

14

22

560

BIOL 2001C A&P I

260

14

22

560

CHEM 1030 General, Organic, Biochem I

400

43

-

-

CHEM 1040 General Chemistry I

500

55

26

670

PHYS 1011 Introductory Physics I

430

44

-

-

PHYS 1017 How Things Work

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1018 How Things Work

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1032 Meteorology

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1033 Physics of Sound and Music

500

55

-

-

PHYS 1035 Elegant Universe

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1037 Energy in the 21st Century

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1051 General Physics I (Algebra-based)

580

62

-

-

PHYS 2005 College Physics I (Calc-based, PHYS majors)

670

68

-

-

PHYS 2011 Engineering Physics I

750

76

-

-

PHYS 2020 Intro to Physical Astronomy I

340

26

-

-

PHYS 1005C Physics for Allied Health

310

16

-

-

PHYS 1051C General Physics I (Algebra-based) LEC+LAB

580

62

-

-
Minimum scores required for placement in other courses where math test scores are required.

Course

MPT

ALEKS

ACT

SAT

ECE 2095 Found Math Early Child

320

17

-

-

ENED 1100 Found Eng Dsgn I

550

61

26

700

ENED 1120 Found Eng Dsgn II

700

70

28

730

MLSC 2030 Stats and Research in MLS

420

46

-

-