Instructions for Completing the Application for Admission

We welcome your application to Missouri State University. Please review and complete all of the required questions and all other items that apply to you according to the instructions outlined below.

If you have questions that are not addressed on this page, please contact the office of admissions at admission@missouristate.edu or call our office at 800-492-7900 or 417-836-5517.

First time in college, readmit undergraduate or transfer undergraduate

All fields are case sensitive. Text should be entered in title case (e.g. “Barney Rubble” is correct. “BARNEY RUBBLE” and “barney rubble” are incorrect).
Punctuation generally should not be used (e.g., “Ave” not “Ave.”).

About the readmit application

Learn more about readmission. Select the Readmit Undergraduate application if you meet one of the following criteria:

You must have been an undergraduate degree-seeking student when you last attended Missouri State University, OR
You have been gone from Missouri State University for more than one calendar year, OR
You were an undergraduate degree-seeking student who was suspended the last time you attended Missouri State University.

Name

Enter your legal name. There is space provided for you to give us any nicknames or other last names that you may have used on any academic records.

Address and phone

Follow the instructions provided on this page. Your admission packet and other written communication will be sent to the address that you provide.

Personal information

If you have an email account that you use frequently, please provide your email address. Missouri State University uses email communication on a regular basis.

As a state supported institution, Missouri State has a differential fee structure for residents and nonresidents. Your initial residence classification will be based on the information provided in this section, as well as how you answer various other questions on the application for admission.

Planned course of study

Use the drop down menu to select the academic area you wish to pursue a degree in. Choose “Undeclared major” if you are unsure at this time.

Parent/guardian or spouse

Follow instructions provided on this page.

High school

A high school code is required. Follow the instructions provided to get the most accurate information for this field.

Specific instructions for how to note a home school diploma, a GED certificate or a graduation from a high school outside of the U.S. are available.

College credit

You are required to provide information about all of the colleges or universities that you have attended, whether or not you completed the courses you registered for or received grades. This includes the college(s) that you may be attending or attended while in high school.

Failure to provide this information is considered falsification of records and could result in dismissal/suspension from Missouri State University.

Submitting the application

Once your application is complete, select the “Application is Complete” button. A confirmation page will display.

You will be able to pay your application fee by selecting the “Pay by Credit Card” link. We won’t be able to process your application without the application fee.

International undergraduate

All fields are case sensitive. Text should be entered in title case (e.g. “Barney Rubble” is correct. “BARNEY RUBBLE” and “barney rubble” are incorrect).
Punctuation generally should not be used (e.g., “Ave” not “Ave.”).

Name

List your name exactly as it appears or will appear in your passport. If you do not have a given name or family name listed in your passport, enter “none” in the required field.

Current mailing address

If you are currently in the U.S., provide your mailing address in the U.S. If your current mailing address is different than your permanent non-U.S. address, you must provide the last date that you will be at your mailing address.

International address

Provide a permanent address outside of the United States. Your permanent address does not have to be in the country of your legal residence, if you are not currently living in that country.

Personal Information

If you have an email account that you use frequently, please provide your email address. Missouri State University uses email communication on a regular basis.

International information

English proficiency must be demonstrated if your primary language is not English. Completion of one or more years of university-level study in the U.S. may be exempt at the discretion of the office of international student services. View the Requirements for Undergraduate Admission for additional information on providing proof of English language proficiency.

Planned course of study

If you have not yet decided on a planned course of study, please choose the area that most interests you.

Secondary school/high school

Please list the name of your secondary school certificate, if applicable (e.g., Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, General Certificate of Education, Caribbean Examination Certificate, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia).

Postsecondary school/college

List only postsecondary or university-level colleges in this section.

Test scores

Scores provided in this section are for information purposes only. You must have official test scores sent directly to Missouri State by the appropriate testing agency.

Essay question

This personal essay is for information purposes only and is not used to determine admissibility at this time.

Additional information

The office of international services would like to know if you have already corresponded with anyone at the University other than in the IS office. This information will assist our office in providing you with the best possible service regarding your admission. Information about how you first learned about Missouri State University will be used for information and statistical purposes only.

All other information in this section is required information.

Graduate

All fields are case sensitive. Text should be entered in title case (e.g. “Barney Rubble” is correct. “BARNEY RUBBLE” and “barney rubble” are incorrect).
Punctuation generally should not be used (e.g., “Ave” not “Ave.”).

Application fee

A non-refundable application fee is required of all first-time graduate applicants. No application will be processed without the application fee. The application fee will be good for one year.

If you are requesting to be readmitted, you may not need to pay the application fee again. Also, if you were admitted in the past to the Graduate College and have completed at least one class as a graduate student, you will not need to repay the application fee.

Application deadline

Fall semester – apply by July 20

Spring semester – apply by December 20
Summer semester – apply by May 20

Please note that some departments have specific deadlines. Check departmental listings in the Graduate Catalog to see if your department of interest has a specific deadline.

Late applicant

If you submit the required forms and transcripts for admission after the deadline, you may, at the discretion of the Graduate College, be admitted as a nondegree-seeking student pending full review of application materials.

Transcripts

Request one official transcript to be sent to the Graduate College. The Graduate College has access to your Missouri State University (Springfield campus) records; therefore, if you are a graduate of Missouri State, you do not need to request official transcripts.

Transcripts are not considered official unless they are received directly from the institution granting them. Transcripts that should be provided include the one showing completion of a bachelor’s degree and any course work taken since the completion of your bachelor’s degree.

As part of the admission process, your grade point average on your last 60 hours may need to be calculated; therefore you need to supply the Graduate College with official transcripts showing these hours.

Standardized tests

Applicants to certain programs may be required to submit scores for the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). See the program descriptions in the Graduate Catalog for test requirements.

Degree-seeking student

Students seeking a master’s, specialist or doctorate degree should complete the Graduate Application.

Accelerated master’s

This is a program designed for well qualified Missouri State University undergraduate students who are planning to seek a master’s degree in the same area as their undergraduate degree at Missouri State.

The accelerated master’s allows a student to receive credit for a few courses toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for a list of accelerated master’s options.

For-credit certificate programs

There are a limited number of departments who offer for-credit graduate certificates for students. Some of these certificates are designed to be taken along with a master’s degree to give more specialized training in a particular area. Others are designed to be taken in addition to the master’s degree to give additional skills.

International Graduate

If you have questions, please contact international services at InternationalStudentServices@missouristate.edu or 417-836-6618.

All fields are case sensitive. Text should be entered in title case (e.g. “Barney Rubble” is correct. “BARNEY RUBBLE” and “barney rubble” are incorrect).
Punctuation generally should not be used (e.g., “Ave” not “Ave.”).

Name

List your name exactly as it appears or will appear in your passport. If you do not have a given name or family name listed in your passport, enter “none” in the required field.

Current mailing address

International address

Provide a permanent address outside of the United States. Your permanent address does not have to be in the country of your legal residence, if you are not currently living in that country.

Personal Information

If you have an email account that you use frequently, please provide your email address. Missouri State University uses email communication on a regular basis.

International information

Planned course of study

If you have not yet decided on a planned course of study, please choose the area that most interests you.

Secondary school/high school

Postsecondary school/college

List only postsecondary or university-level colleges in this section.

Test scores

Scores provided in this section are for information purposes only. You must have official test scores sent directly to Missouri State by the appropriate testing agency.

Essay questions

Explain your purpose and goal in pursuing your chosen degree program.

All other information in this section is required information.

Nondegree-seeking undergraduate

Students who are 18 years of age or older and who wish to take courses but do not plan to pursue a degree at Missouri State University may be admitted as nondegree undergraduates without providing transcripts.

Students in this classification may enroll for up to 8 credit hours per semester, may earn a maximum total of 24 credit hours and are not eligible for financial aid. Students who later decide to seek a degree must meet requirements for regular admission as either freshmen or transfer students.

Nondegree-seeking graduate

Students who have a bachelor’s degree and wish to return to take additional courses but not to pursue an additional degree may enroll as nondegree graduate students without providing transcripts.

Students in this classification may take either undergraduate or graduate courses; however only nine hours of graduate credit may be earned under this classification.

Teacher certification students (those holding a bachelor’s degree and seeking Missouri teaching certification) should contact the teacher certification office at 417-836-8772. v