MUS Admission Requirements

Entrance Requirements For:
Entering High School Graduates
Non-Traditional Age Students
Open Admission

Entering High School Graduates

In order to be fully admitted to a 4‐year university in the MUS, entering high school graduates are required to meet the following standards:

Complete the college preparatory program: mathematics (3 years), english (4 years), science (2 years), social studies (3 years), and electives (2 years) – includes languages, computer science, visual/performing arts, speech, or vocational education.

Demonstrate Mathematics Proficiency: earn an ACT math score of 22, SAT score of 520, or complete the Rigorous Core.

Demonstrate Writing Proficiency: earn an ACT writing/English score of 18, SAT score of 440; or score 7 or higher on the ACT/SAT essays, or 3.5 or higher on the MUS writing assessment test (MUSWA).

Achieve one of the following requirements:

1. Earn at least a 2.5 high school GPA; or
2. Rank in the top half of the school’s graduating class; or
3. Score composite ACT of 22 or higher, or SAT of 1540 or higher (except MSU‐Northern requires ACT score of 20, SAT score of 1440).

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission is granted to students scoring 18‐21 on ACT and 440‐510 on SAT mathematics tests. A 2.5‐3.0 on the MUSWA or 5‐6 on ACT or SAT essays is also accepted.

Rigorous Core

The rigorous core is an alternative to the math proficiency standards and an eligibility requirement for receiving the MUS Honors Scholarship. In addition to college prep courses required for entrance to 4‐year universities, the rigorous core adds one additional year of math (4 years total), science (3 yrs.), and electives (3 yrs.) ‐ including languages, computer science, arts, or vocational education. For more information on the MUS college preparatory program and rigorous core, click here.

Provisional Admission
Students who don’t meet the writing and math proficiency standards are admitted to 4‐year universities on a provisional basis. Students who are provisionally admitted can gain full admittance by:

• Earning a “C” or better in developmental courses preparing students for college level course work (must be done within the first three semesters); or
• Earning satisfactory scores on individual campus math placement exams; or
• Completion of an associate of arts or associate of science degree.

Admissions Checklist for current High School Students

Exemptions

Entrance requirements do NOT apply to the following groups:

• Non-traditional students (those who do not enter college for a period of at least three years following high school graduation);
• Summer‐only students; and
• Part‐time students taking seven or fewer credits per semester.

In addition, institutions may exempt up to 15% of first‐time, full‐time undergraduates from the entrance requirements listed above. This exemption is reserved for students with special talents, minorities, and others who demonstrate special needs.

Non-Traditional Age Students

A non-traditional student is defined as those who do not enter college for a period of at least three years following high school graduation.

In order to be admitted to a 4‐year university in the MUS, non-traditional students are required to meet the following standards:

• An official high school transcript posting graduation date, or an official GED, or Compass results
• Applicants who have graduated three of more years prior to the semester in which they intend to enroll are not required to submit ACT/SAT test results

Open Admission

Two-year colleges in the MUS offer open admissions that do not require the academic standards listed above. However, certain programs (such as nursing) have admission standards.

A high school degree or GED is required for admission to all degree programs.