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Math Placement

UL Lafayette utilizes, ACT, SAT, ACCUPLACER QRAS, ALEKS PPL, final high school GPA, or any college-level mathematics courses taken (including dual enrollment) to assess your preparedness for a particular course.

Your scores must be on file with the UL Lafayette Office of Admissions at least 30 days before your scheduled Orientation session to ensure correct course placement.

If any of your scores or credits are not on file with the University by your Orientation date, you must bring printed copies of your score reports and/or transcripts with you to Orientation to ensure that you are advised accurately. 

To determine which Mathematics course you qualify to take during your first semester, select the standardized test you've taken or view high school GPA requirements below.

After determining your current Math placement, visit our Placement Exams page to decide whether or not you would benefit from taking a Placement Exam.

Consider Placement Exams

Math Placement for Most Non-Science Majors

ACT Math ScoreCourse Placement for First Semester (for MOST non-science majors)
Less than 19

MTHS 102 and MTHS 102S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 102 without the required supplemental lab. 

Less than 21

MTHS 105 and MTHS 105S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 105 without the required supplemental lab.

19+Math 102 - Qualitative Reasoning
21+Math 105 - Applied College Algebra
SAT Math ScoreCourse Placement for First Semester (for MOST non-science majors)
Less than 510

MTHS 102 and MTHS 102S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 102 without the required supplemental lab. 

Less than 530

MTHS 105 and MTHS 105S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 105 without the required supplemental lab.

510+Math 102 - Qualitative Reasoning
530+Math 105 - Applied College Algebra
ACCUPLACER Math ScoreCourse Placement for First Semester (for MOST non-science majors)
Less than 250

MTHS 102 and MTHS 102S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 102 without the required supplemental lab. 

Less than 263

MTHS 105 and MTHS 105S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 105 without the required supplemental lab.

250+Math 102 - Qualitative Reasoning
263+Math 105 - Applied College Algebra
ALEKS PPL ScoreCourse Placement for First Semester (for MOST non-science majors)
0-34

MTHS 102 and MTHS 102S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 102 without the required supplemental lab. 

0-34

MTHS 105 and MTHS 105S (lecture and required 3 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER QRAS exam to attempt to place into MATH 105 without the required supplemental lab.

35+Math 102 - Qualitative Reasoning
35+Math 105 - Applied College Algebra
Final High School GPACourse Placement for First Semester (for MOST non-science majors)
3.00+ (4.0 scale)Math 102 - Qualitative Reasoning
3.25+ (4.0 scale)Math 105 - Applied College Algebra

Students with a GPA that meets one of the requirements listed above, will be placed into the corresponding Math class (even if their ACT Math or SAT Math scores do not meet the minimum requirements for MATH 102/105). 

Math Placement for Most STEM Majors

ACT Math ScoreCourse Placement for First-Semester (for most STEM majors)
20-22

MTHS 109 and MTHS 109S (lecture and required 2 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ALEKS PPL Math Assessment to attempt to place into MATH 109 without the required supplemental lab.

23+MATH 109 - Pre-Calculus Algebra
24+

MATH 110 - Pre-Calculus Trigonometry and Function Theory

May take MATH 109 and 110 concurrently; both needed as prerequisites for MATH 270.

26+MATH 143 - Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Equivalent of MATH 109 & 110 together)
28+

MATH 270 - Calculus I

Note: Pre-calculus trigonometry is an essential part of MATH 270. If you have not had pre-calculus trigonometry, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 110.

SAT Math ScoreCourse Placement for First-Semester (for most STEM majors)
520-540

MTHS 109 and MTHS 109S (lecture and required 2 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ALEKS PPL Math Assessment to attempt to place into MATH 109 without the required supplemental lab.

560+MATH 109 - Pre-Calculus Algebra
580+

MATH 110 - Pre-Calculus Trigonometry and Function Theory

May take MATH 109 and 110 concurrently; both needed as prerequisites for MATH 270.

610+MATH 143 - Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Equivalent of MATH 109 & 110 together)
660+

MATH 270 - Calculus I

Note: Pre-calculus trigonometry is an essential part of MATH 270. If you have not had pre-calculus trigonometry, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 110.

ALEKS PPL ScoreCourse Placement for First-Semester (for most STEM majors)
35-45

MTHS 109 and MTHS 109S (lecture and required 2 credit hour, credit/no credit supplemental lab)

You are strongly encouraged to take the ALEKS PPL Math Assessment to attempt to place into MATH 109 without the required supplemental lab.

46+MATH 109 - Pre-Calculus Algebra
61+

MATH 110 - Pre-Calculus Trigonometry and Function Theory

May take MATH 109 and 110 concurrently; both needed as prerequisites for MATH 270.

68+MATH 143 - Pre-Calculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Equivalent of MATH 109 & 110 together)
76+

MATH 270 - Calculus I

Note: Pre-calculus trigonometry is an essential part of MATH 270. If you have not had pre-calculus trigonometry, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 110.

Additional Ways to Earn Math Credit

If you have taken the AP exam and scored a 3 or higher, the CLEP exam and scored a 50 or higher, and/or scored a 25 or higher in Math on the ACT, visit the Math Department's website to learn about the course credit you may have already earned in Math.

If you are interested in taking the Mathematics Advance Credit Exam to attempt to earn credit in MATH 109 and/or MATH 110, visit the Math Department's website to learn more and register for the exam.

Placement vs. Credit

It is useful to define the terms placement and credit. For a detailed explanation of Math Placement and Advance Credit Exams, visit the Math Department's website. 

  • Placement into a course means permission to enroll in that course. Just because you place into a particular course, does not necessarily mean that that is the course you should enroll in. Use the search feature in the Academic Catalog to find your academic major and determine the Math courses you must take. Be sure to consider what you plan to take after this course and any restrictions imposed by your major. 
  • Credit, or course credit, means that your transcript will show credit for the course. Please remember that placement in a course does not mean that you will receive credit in a lower-level course.

Questions about Math Placement?

Learn more about Math Placement & Credit