University Admissions

Policy

University Admissions- Policy.pdf

The Office of University Admissions processes applications for undergraduate and graduate students and adheres to minimum university standards, as defined by Minnesota State. Academic departments at the university determine admission requirements for academic programs and coordinate with the Admissions Office as it relates to reviewing application documents and communicating with students.

Undergraduate Admissions

Definitions

New entering first-year students are students who have never attempted or earned credit at a post-secondary institution (exclusive of courses taken through a concurrent enrollment or PSEO program) and applying within three years of completing the following milestones:

• high school graduation
• completion of a General Education Degree (GED) or similar high school diploma equivalent
• homeschooling

Transfer students have attended a college or university (demonstrated by their college/university transcript) after completion of secondary education and are seeking admission to a university as an undergraduate student to earn a certificate, diploma, or degree from the university. (This definition does not include courses taken through a PSEO or concurrent enrollment program).

Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and Concurrent Enrollment students are admitted while still enrolled in high school and earn college credit and high school credits simultaneously to meet high school graduation requirements and work towards their future higher education degree.

Non-traditional students have never been registered at a post-secondary institution and are applying to the University more than three years after graduation from high school, earning a GED, or completing homeschooling. (This definition does not include courses taken through a PSEO or concurrent enrollment program).

Non-degree seeking students are admitted to the University to take courses without the intent to complete a certificate, degree, or diploma. They are not admitted at another Minnesota State college or university. They may be attending a non-Minnesota State college or university, or not attending any college or university.

International students are non-US citizens who seek to enter the United States through a formal process to complete part or all their post-secondary education. These applicants are seeking a nonimmigrant visa (F-1 or M-1) or an exchange visitor visa (J-1) to study at the college or university. International students may be new entering or transfer students.

Admission Standards

New Entering First-Year Students

To be eligible for admission, applicants should have completed the college preparation standards defined in System Procedure 3.4.1 Undergraduate Admissions as the Required Academic Core. Students apply through the Minnesota State University, Mankato application or through the Direct Admission process.

High School Graduation Students

Applicants must meet one of the following admission requirements:

• A rank in their high school graduating class in the top 50%
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• A minimum ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam) and a minimum grade point average of 2.7

All applicants must provide proof of high school graduation, GED, or completion of homeschooling is required before enrollment.

Students Who Have Completed a GED

Applicants must attain a minimum score of 165 on each content area exam within the GED examination.

Students Who Are Home-Schooled

Students must attain a composite score on the ACT, the PSAT, or the SAT at or above the 50th percentile on the national norms. Please refer to Academic Core in Minnesota State Procedure 3.4.1 to be prepared to meet the academic challenges during your college experience.

Transfer Students

Applicants who have completed at least 24 semester (36 quarter) college or university level credits with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and a 67% credit completion rate will be admitted. Transfer students who have completed fewer credits must also submit a final high school transcript, and eligibility for admission will be based on the high school and collegiate records.

Applicants who have completed an Associate’s degree at an accredited post-secondary institution will be admitted. *(Students who do not demonstrate a positive grade trend in most recent coursework will be considered using the comprehensive review process.)

Applicants who were not enrolled in a post-secondary institution for at least one year will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer applicants who are under academic or disciplinary suspension or who were dishonorably dismissed from previous institutions will not be considered for admission during the term of the suspension. Likewise, students who are unable to obtain official transcripts from previous institutions will not be considered for admission until all official transcripts have been provided to the Office of Admissions.

Non-Traditional Students

Applicants are admitted upon providing evidence of graduation from a high school, receiving a GED, or completing homeschooling in the United States.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Non-degree seeking students must have completed their high school diploma or GED. To apply for more than 16 credits, students must apply for and be granted regular admission status.

Enrollment Criteria

1. Applicants are required to apply for and be granted regular admission status to register for more than 16 credits.
2. Students must be formally admitted to be eligible to earn a degree or a certificate.
3. Non-degree seeking students may be admitted to regular admission status if they meet all the requirements. Information about degree-seeking Admission requirements may be found on the Office of University Admissions Website.
4. International students intending to study in the United States as a non-degree student should contact the Kearney International Center at 507-389-1281 for assistance.

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal financial aid or residential housing. Registration is on a space-available basis and, in some cases, may require departmental approval.

PSEO Students

Seniors must meet one of the following admission requirements to participate in PSEO at the university:

• A rank in their high school graduating class in the top 50%.
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• A minimum ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam) and a minimum grade point average of 2.7.

Juniors must meet one of the following admission requirements to participate in PSEO at the university:

• A rank in their high school graduating class in the top 33%.
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• A minimum ACT composite score of 24 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam) and a minimum grade point average of 2.7.

Sophomores and freshmen are not eligible for PSEO courses.

These standards are also applied to home-schooled students seeking PSEO enrollment. ACT scores are required and must meet the standards identified above.

Concurrent Enrollment Students

Seniors must meet one of the following admission requirements to participate in concurrent enrollment at their high school:

• A rank in their high school graduating class in the top 50%.
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• A minimum ACT composite score of 21 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam) and a minimum grade point average of 2.7.

Juniors must meet one of the following admission requirements to participate in concurrent enrollment at their high school:

• A rank in their high school graduating class in the top 33%.
• A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• A minimum ACT composite score of 24 (or equivalent score on a nationally normed college entrance exam) and a minimum grade point average of 2.7.

Sophomores and freshmen must meet one of the following requirements to participate in concurrent enrollment at their high school:

• Rank in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
• A grade point average of at least 3.8 (on a 4.0 scale).
• Score in the top 10% of a nationally normed test.

Exceptions to these requirements through comprehensive review will be considered by the Office of Admissions and the PSEO Office. The review may include consultation with an official from the student’s high school. Decisions will fit within the parameters of state law and Minnesota State System policy and procedure.

International Students

International applicants must demonstrate equivalent academic performance to the criteria listed above (completion of secondary education, cumulative GPA). International applicants must also demonstrate English Language proficiency and economic self-sufficiency.

English proficiency

International applicants who are not native speakers of English will demonstrate proficiency in English on a standardized test. A list of acceptable tests and minimum scores is published on the Admissions website. Please note that the Aviation-Professional Flight and Nursing programs require higher English language proficiency scores than required for general admission to the University.

Economic self-sufficiency

Prior to being admitted to a college or university, an international applicant shall demonstrate economic self-sufficiency to be able to afford the costs of tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, health insurance, and any other costs necessary for the completion of the academic year.

International Transfer Students

International transfer students must meet the admission requirements for Transfer Students listed above. Students transferring from a U.S. college or university can meet the English proficiency requirement by completing one semester of Freshman English Composition I with a grade of C or better. If transferring from a school on the quarter system, both Freshman Composition I and II must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Graduate Admissions

Definitions

Degree Seeking graduate students admitted into a specific academic program and completing graduate credit toward a master’s or doctorate degree or graduate certificate program.

Non-degree Seeking graduate students are not admitted to a specific academic program and are not planning to earn a graduate degree or certificate. They are completing graduate credit for personal or professional reasons. No more than 12 graduate credits taken by a non-degree seeking student may be applied to a graduate degree program. This option is not typically available to international students.

International students are non-US citizens who seek to enter the United States through a formal process to complete part or all their graduate education. These applicants are seeking a nonimmigrant visa (F-1 or M-1) or an exchange visitor visa (J-1) to study at the college or university.

Admission Standards

To be considered for graduate admission, students must apply online and submit all required materials, including an application fee. Completed applications are forwarded to and evaluated by graduate faculty in the applicable graduate degree program. Completed applications are forwarded to and evaluated by graduate faculty in the applicable graduate degree program.

Degree seeking Graduate Students

The standard admission requirements for the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR) are the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent using the grading scale of an international applicant’s home country or institution).

Some graduate programs have admission requirements that exceed the minimum set CGSR. Letters of recommendation, personal goals statements, writing samples, or additional materials may be required. Additionally, some programs require the submission of official scores for the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Requirements for each program are listed on the University Admissions web page and on program web sites.

Others graduate programs may consider additional factors if the applicant’s GPA is below the minimum. Applicants should review the admission requirements for the program they are interested in before starting their application.

Non-degree seeking Graduate Students

Non-degree seeking applicants must meet the standard admissions requirements above and submit a non-degree seeking student application prior to registration.
International students are generally not admitted as non-degree-seeking students.

International Students

In addition to the standard admission requirements and any program-specific admissions requirements, international applicants who are not native speakers of English will demonstrate proficiency in English on a standardized test. A list of acceptable tests and minimum scores is published on the Admissions website. Test results must be sent directly to the College of Graduate Studies and Research from the testing service.

International applicants must also submit a transcript evaluation by an approved NACES or AICE evaluation agency. Applicants are expected to have earned the first university degree from an institution recognized and approved by the home government to award the degree. Additional detailed information for international applicants is posted on the University Admissions web page.

Summer admission is typically not available for international students.

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Rationale

Minnesota State Mankato is committed to providing educational opportunities for individuals who desire and are prepared to continue their education. Past performance by Minnesota State Mankato students indicates that adequate preparation prior to entry into the University is of considerable importance. Consequently, admission requirements have been established to emphasize the need for such preparation prior to admission.

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History of Revisions

• Effective Date of Last Review: August 1, 2026
• Date of Last Review: September 2025
• Revisions Made:
  • 2025: Modified definitions to align with System language. Revised descriptions of processes and decisions to align with current practice.

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Procedure

University Admissions- Procedure.pdf

Admissions Deadlines

Completed undergraduate applications must be submitted at least five (5) business days prior to the start of classes. Under certain circumstances, the University may institute an earlier priority admission deadline. Academic departments may also institute earlier admission deadlines to manage enrollment in their respective programs.

Most graduate applications have an earlier application deadline that is program-specific. These dates are listed on the Graduate Studies website.

International students have an earlier application deadline in accordance with the needs of obtaining a visa.

Withholding or providing incorrect information on your application is considered fraud and could impact your ability to attend the University.

Students who have not been in attendance for 720 days will have their admissions status ended and will need to reapply to the University. Details about how to reapply are on the University Admissions website.

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History of Revisions

• Effective Date of Last Review: August 1, 2026
• Date of Last Review: September 2025
• Revisions Made:
  • 2025: Modified definitions to align with System language. Revised descriptions of processes and decisions to align with current practice.
    
    

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Rationale