Freshman Admission Requirements
You will qualify for admission to Missouri State if you are (or will be) a graduate of an accredited high school and meet both the core curriculum and selection index requirements described below. If you have completed courses for college credit, you must also have at least a 2.00 grade point average on those course.
CORE CURRICULUM
The following 16-unit high school core curriculum was established by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and is required of all students except those who graduated from high school prior to 1996.
- ENGLISH: Four units, two of which must emphasize composition or writing. One unit may be speech or debate.
- MATHEMATICS: Three units (algebra I or higher, including algebra II).
- SOCIAL STUDIES: Three units (must include American history and at least one semester of government).
- SCIENCE: Two units, not including general science. One unit must be a laboratory course.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: One unit (graduates of accredited Missouri high schools meet this through completion of the fine arts requirement for graduation.
- ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: Three additional units of core electives selected from any combination of two or more of the above subject areas and/or foreign language. Computer science may also be used if it has a prerequisite of algebra I or higher.
For additional details and examples of core curriculum courses, please contact your high school counselor or our office.
SELECTION INDEX
If you meet the core curriculum requirement, you will automatically qualify for admission if you meet the following scale. This scale is based on a selection index (sum of class rank percentile and ACT percentile) of 108. To use this scale, you must know your high school class rank percentile and/or your grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale, as well as your ACT composite score or SAT total (critical reading plus math).
To calculate your class rank percentile: Subtract your rank in class from the number of students in your class then divide that number by the number of students in your class. For example, if you are ranked 24th in your class of 200, your class rank percentile is 88 [(200 - 24) ÷ 200 = 0.88 or 88th percentile].
If your school does not grade on a 4.00 scale: Convert your GPA to a 4.00 equivalent by multiplying your GPA by four and dividing that number by the scale your school uses. For example, if you have a 10.50 GPA on a 12.00 scale, your converted GPA equivalent is 3.50 [(10.50 x 4) ÷ 12 = 3.50].
You can also use our admission calculator to determine whether or not you meet the selection index requirement.
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How to Use This Scale
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STEP 1: Using your class rank percentile and GPA, determine which will place you higher on this scale. For example, if your class rank percentile is 60 and your GPA is 3.30, you would use the line based on your GPA. If your school does not rank, your GPA will be used to determine your eligibility. |
STEP 2: Follow the line you identified in Step 1 across the scale to determine the minimum ACT or SAT score you must have. Using the same example from Step 1, a student with a class rank percentile of 60 and a GPA of 3.30 would need either an ACT composite of 19 or higher or an SAT total of 910 or higher. |
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Class Rank Percentile
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or
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GPA
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ACT Composite
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or
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SAT Total*
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75 or higher
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3.50 or higher
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No minimum test score required for admission purposes.
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73 to 74
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3.48 to 3.49
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18
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870
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64 to 72
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3.25 to 3.47
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19
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910
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56 to 63
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3.04 to 3.24
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20
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950
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48 to 55
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2.85 to 3.03
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21
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990
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40 to 47
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2.63 to 2.84
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22
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1030
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34 to 39
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2.48 to 2.62
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23
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1070
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Below 34
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Below 2.48
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24
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1110
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*sum of critical reading and math scores
FRESHMAN ADMISSION ALTERNATIVES
As a selective admission institution, our objective is to admit students with demonstrated potential for academic success. We recognize that some students have potential for success not clearly evident through standard measures of class rank, grade point average, and test scores. If you do not meet the requirements listed above, please review our freshman admission alternatives.
The Missouri State University system includes an open admission campus in West Plains (about 100 miles southeast of Springfield). Students who do not qualify for admission to the Springfield Campus may begin at the West Plains Campus, which offers programs that enable students to transfer seamlessly to Springfield. For information on the West Plains Campus, please visit www.wp.missouristate.edu or call 417-255-7955.
The university reserves the right to limit enrollment and to admit students on a space-available basis. Students are encouraged to apply early.
If you have any questions, please call the Office of Admissions at 417-836-5517 or 800-492-7900, or write to: Office of Admissions, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897.