Teenagers cannot attend university in The Sims 4. University is only open to Young Adults, Adults, and Elders.
However, teen Sims don’t have to wait until they age up to start the process.
During the final week of the Teen life stage, they can apply to university so they’re ready to enroll as soon as they become a Young Adult.
If accepted, the acceptance carries over, and they can enroll the moment they become a Young Adult.
That said, the game does let ambitious teens get a head start before they age up.
A few things to know:
Applications open about a week before your Sim ages up.
Your Sim needs aging turned on for this option to appear.
Getting in early means no gap between high school and university life.
Getting accepted, especially with a scholarship, comes down to preparation. Here’s what helps:
Build Skills Early
Skill-based scholarships usually unlock once a Sim hits Level 3 in the required skill, but hitting that minimum doesn’t guarantee acceptance. Aim for Level 5 or higher to give your Sim the best shot.
Apply for Scholarships
When your Sim submits a scholarship application, both universities consider it automatically. Once an acceptance letter arrives, your Sim can pick which university and degree program to join.
If your Sim doesn’t qualify for a skill-based scholarship, need-based options like Education for All and Helping Hand are worth applying for instead.
Consider a Loan
If money is tight, a university loan can cover the gap. It’s a common way to get a Sim enrolled without draining household funds first.
University can eat up a large chunk of a Sim’s Young Adult life, especially with a full course load. To avoid losing years of playtime to homework and classes:
Send your Sim to university housing.
Turn off aging once they’ve moved in.
Let them finish their degree at their own pace.
Turn aging back on after graduation.
This way your Sim graduates without burning through their prime Young Adult years.
Sims with traits like Overachiever and strong grades in high school are well positioned to get into university early and unlock career paths that aren’t available with just a high school diploma. Preparing during the teen years, building skills and applying for scholarships, makes the transition into university almost seamless.