Admission Requirements and Deadlines

To be considered for admission directly from an accredited high school, students must meet the following minimum high school core requirements and selection index.

High school core curriculum

The high school core curriculum requirement is based on recommendations of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

English/Language Arts

Four units of coursework emphasizing college preparatory composition, research skills, analysis of literature, and other content of comparable or greater rigor. Speech and debate courses may be included.

Acceptable courses: English or language arts, literature, speech, debate, journalism (if writing intensive).
Unacceptable courses: student publications, broadcast media, theater.

Mathematics

Three units of coursework emphasizing college preparatory algebra and other content of comparable or greater rigor are required. Four units are recommended, including one during the senior year. Students who complete algebra prior to their freshman year must complete at least three additional units in grades 9-12.

Acceptable courses: algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, pre-calculus, math analysis.
Unacceptable courses: computer math/programming, pre-algebra, general math, consumer math, business math.

Social studies

Three units of coursework emphasizing American history, Missouri government and Missouri history as required by state statute (Missouri residents only), geography/world civilizations, and other content of comparable or greater rigor.

Acceptable courses: world history, American history, American government, state/regional history, principles of democracy, civics, psychology, sociology, economics, political science, geography.
Unacceptable courses: family relations, human development, consumer education, personal finance.

Science

Three units emphasizing college preparatory biology, chemistry, and other content of comparable or greater rigor. One unit must be a laboratory course.

Acceptable courses: biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, botany, zoology, integrated science, physical science, earth science, environmental science.
Unacceptable courses: general science, consumer science.

Fine arts

One unit emphasizing visual arts, instrumental or vocal music, dance, theater, or other content of comparable or greater rigor. Graduates of accredited Missouri high schools meet this through completion of the fine-arts requirement for graduation.

Acceptable courses: art, music (band, orchestra, choir, music appreciation or music theory), dance, drama, theatre appreciation.
Unacceptable courses: speech, debate, mass media, arts and craft.

Academic electives

Three units.

Acceptable courses: Must be selected from foreign language and/or the areas listed above or computer science. Two units of a foreign language are strongly recommended.
Unacceptable courses: physical education, accounting, family studies, keyboarding, vocational courses.

Additional electives

Additional elective credit to bring total to 24 units (required of Missouri high school graduates).

Selection index

If you successfully complete the high school core curriculum upon graduation from high school, you will qualify for admission if you meet the requirements in the scale below.

How to use this scale

Using your class rank percentile and GPA on a 4.00 scale (see below if your school does not use a 4.00 scale), determine which will place you higher on this scale. For example, if your class rank percentile is 50 and your GPA is 3.23, you would use the line based on your GPA. If your school does not rank, your GPA will be used to determine your eligibility. If your school provides both a weighted and an unweighted GPA, the highest will be used to determine your eligibility for admission. Students with a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher will be admitted without a test score on file.

Follow the line you identified in step 1 across the scale to determine the minimum ACT or SAT score you must have. Using the example above, a student with a class rank percentile of 50 and a GPA of 3.23 would need either an ACT composite or ACT superscore of 20 or higher or an SAT total or SAT total superscore of 1030 or higher.

A student who submits only one test score will be considered based on that score, either an ACT composite or SAT total. ACT composite is the average of the four subsection scores. SAT total is the sum of evidenced-based reading and writing score and math score.

A student who submits multiple scores will be considered based on ACT composite or superscore (calculated as the average of the highest ACT English, Reading, Math, and Science subject tests taken from all ACT tests taken and sent to the University), whichever is higher, or SAT total (sum of the evidence-based reading and writing score and math score) or superscore total (calculated as the highest combined evidence-based reading and writing score and highest math score from all SAT tests taken and sent to the university).

Class Rank Percentile	GPA (on a 4.00 scale)	ACT Composite or ACT Superscore	SAT Total or SAT Superscore Total
64 or above	3.25 or above	Test score optional	Test score optional
56 to 63	3.04 to 3.24	20	1030
48 to 55	2.85 to 3.03	21	1060
40 to 47	2.63 to 2.84	22	1100
34 to 39	2.50 to 2.62	23	1130
Below 34	Below 2.50	Not admissible

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: If your school uses a standard grading scale with an A or A+ at the top of the scale and an F equal to 0, 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]. If your school uses a percentage (100 point scale), this formula is not valid. Your GPA will be converted by the Office of Admissions when you apply.

Other student types

Students with transfer credit

If you have completed courses for college credit during high school or after, you are required to provide transcripts from each regionally-accredited college or university where you have enrolled as part of the admission process.

If you have completed college credit at another college or university following graduation from high school (with the exception of the summer immediately following your graduation), you will be considered a transfer student. Transfer student admission requirements are determined by the number of credit hours you have completed at the time of application:

Transfer students with fewer than 24 hours of college credit must meet the requirements of this freshman admission policy.
Transfer students with 24 hours or more of college credit must instead meet the requirements of the transfer admission policy.

Homeschooled students

Homeschooled students should refer to the admission policy for homeschooled students.

Students with high school equivalency diploma

Students who receive a high school equivalency diploma (e.g., GED) should refer to the admission policy for students with a high school equivalency diploma.

International students

Eligibility of international students is determined by the international student undergraduate admission policy.

Students who graduated three or more years ago

Students who graduated from high school three or more years previously are exempt from the selection index and core requirements.

Right to limit enrollment

The university reserves the right to limit enrollment and to admit students on a space-available basis. Students are encouraged to apply early.

Still not sure?

Admission Eligibility Calculator

How to Apply

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. 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 WP.MissouriState.edu or call 417-255-7955.

Admission information for other student groups

Students who have earned dual credit in high school are evaluated for admission under the freshman admission policy. All dual credit students must submit an application for admission and meet published deadlines to be considered for admission and scholarships.
If you are ready to come back to school, Adult Student Services staff will assist you through the admissions process. Adult students with no prior college since graduating from high school pursuing an undergraduate degree must meet the same high school core requirements as entering freshmen. The selection index requirement is waived if high school graduation was more than three years ago.

GED and HiSET

Students who choose to take the General Educational Development (GED) or the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) examination will be considered for admission on the basis of their combined high school equivalency diploma test score and their ACT (or SAT) scores according to the table below.

Students who are 22 years of age or older and who have received a passing score on the GED or HiSET and thus received an equivalency diploma are exempt from the ACT/SAT requirement.

Students who have enrolled in another college or university subsequent to receiving their equivalency diploma will be considered for admission under the transfer admission policy.

ACT Composite	SAT Total*	GED - prior to 2014	GED - 2014 and forward	HiSET
17	920	2820 - 4000	680 - 800	75 - 100
18	960	2790 - 2810	668 - 679	71 - 74
19	990	2690 - 2780	656 - 667	67 - 70
20	1030	2590 - 2680	644 - 655	63 - 66
21	1060	2480 - 2580	632 - 643	59 - 62
22	1100	2400 - 2470	620 - 631	54 - 58
23	1130	2310 - 2390	608 - 619	50 - 53
24	1160	Passing scores required

*Sum of Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score and Math score.

Information on taking the GED can be found at ged.com.

Information on taking the HiSET can be found at hiset.ets.org.

Students are encouraged to begin the process at least six months prior to the beginning of the semester for which they plan to apply.

Homeschooled students are evaluated for admission under the freshman admission policy as are other students and thus must meet both the core curriculum requirement and selection index requirement.

Homeschooled students are expected to provide detailed transcripts similar to those provided for traditionally-schooled students. The transcript must include the name of each class, the semester in which it was taken, the amount of credit it is worth, and the grade received. It should also include a cumulative grade point average. Transcripts sent prior to graduation must also include in-progress courses. A cumulative GPA must also be provided. The final transcript must show a graduation date. The university may request additional information or documentation to supplement the transcript.

Important deadlines

Date	Deadline
October	FAFSA becomes available (MSU FAFSA code: 00253) Housing application becomes available
December	Presidential Scholarship application deadline Early housing priority deadline
January	Inclusive Excellence Leadership Scholarship application deadline
February	Financial aid and scholarship priority deadline Early housing assignments become available SOAR (Student Orientation, Advisement and Registration) registration becomes available
May	May 1 - National Day of Decision May 1 - Confirm intent to enroll by paying the $125 confirmation fee
June, July, August	Attend SOAR (Student Orientation, Advisement and Registration)
July	July 1 - Official final high school transcripts due to certify admission status and scholarship eligibility. Transfer must include graduation date.
August	August 14–16 - Welcome Weekend August 17 - Classes begin

Questions

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at Admissions@MissouriState.edu.