First-Year Student (Freshman) Admission Requirements

First-year applicants are defined as those who are applying to attend college for the first time after high school graduation.

Committed to high academic standards and professional support for students, Minot State University is dedicated to student success, engaged and life-long learning, advancement of knowledge, effective student service, and development of students of character. All first-year students will participate in First-Year Experience. Additional assessments will be used to identify specific individual needs. Advisors will work closely with students to define goals, establish appropriate support, and monitor progress.

Admission Checklist Requirements for First-Year Applicants

  • A completed online undergraduate Application for Admission
  • A $35 non-refundable application fee
  • Official transcripts (all final high school, GED, or college/university transcripts)
  • High School Core Admission Requirements
    • Required of first-year students who are less than 25 years of age on the first day of class
    • Required of U.S. students only
  • Recommended: ACT or SAT test results 
    • ACT and/or SAT scores are used for some scholarships, awards, and grants. See Financial Aid for more details.
  • Student Health Records: (Not required for admission consideration)
    1. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella requires two doses of vaccine given no less than one month apart, or positive serologic tests.
    2. Students ages 21 and younger must provide documentation of immunity against meningococcal disease given at or after age 16.
    3. All students must complete the tuberculosis questionnaire.

To submit the required documentation, go to MinotStateU.edu/health/immunization.shtml. No student will be permitted to enroll in a subsequent term until immunization or documentation of a waiver is complete. 

Minimum Academic Admission Requirements for First-Year Applicants

  • Minimum of 17 Composite ACT (920 SAT Total) AND a 2.0 Cumulative High School GPA

Important Additional Information

Admission by Review

Minot State University encourages all students to apply even if they do not meet the above high school GPA requirements and high school core admission requirements. Applicants that do not meet the high school core requirements will be reviewed based on additional criteria by the Admissions Exemption Committee.

Application Process

Admission begins by submitting an online admission application and the corresponding $35 fee to the Enrollment Services Office. The $35 application fee is mandatory and nonrefundable. Other required items (official transcripts, test scores, etc.) may be submitted at later dates as they become available. Communication will then be sent to the applicant advising of their fully admitted status, file incomplete status, or denied admission status. Eligible students will receive subsequent electronic correspondence directing them to the date, place, and time for orientation/registration activities. All communication is done via email, with some mail correspondence.

All materials should be on file prior to the student’s registration. Students must be fully admitted before financial aid will be distributed. Admission to Minot State University is contingent upon successful completion of any current studies, if applicable. Therefore, it is imperative to send all final, official transcripts to Minot State upon completion of any current studies.

Immunization Records

Proof of two immunizations as required by the State Board of Higher Education: (Not required for admission consideration)

  • Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella requires two doses of vaccine given no less than one month apart, or positive serologic tests.
  • Students ages 21 and younger must provide documentation of immunity against meningococcal disease given at or after age 16.
  • All students must complete the tuberculosis questionnaire.

To submit the required documentation, go to MinotStateU.edu/health/immunization.shtml. No student will be permitted to enroll in a subsequent term until immunization or documentation of a waiver is complete.  

ACT/SAT Test Results

ACT or SAT scores are not used to determine a student’s acceptance to the University. The scores are used to assist students and their academic advisors in making good academic planning decisions. ACT scores should be sent to the University directly from the ACT office in Iowa City, Iowa. A student specifies the schools to which he/she wants scores sent at the time of writing the ACT exam. Subsequent requests may be made by contacting ACT Records, P.O. Box 451, Iowa City, IA 52243, (319)337-1313 or logging into their account at http://www.act.org/. Note: Minot State University’s ACT code is 3214, SAT code is 6479.

Official Transcripts

An official high school transcript records all work completed from grades 9-12, as well as the official date of high school graduation and cumulative GPA is required to complete your admissions file. This transcript must be sent directly from the high school to the Enrollment Services Office. Full admission status is contingent upon receipt of the final, official transcript sent when it becomes available.

GED

Students who hold a GED (General Education Development—high school equivalency certificate), rather than a high school diploma, must submit a photocopy of their GED scores and certificates. For admission purposes, GED scores must average ≥450 overall with no score lower than 410 on any of the subparts. Any student who tested for the GED in 2014 or later must provide documentation of a GED with a minimum score equal to or greater than 145. Applicants with a GED are required to provide a high school transcript for further review unless they are 25 years of age or older.

High School Core Admission Requirements

North Dakota State Board of Higher Education policy (402.2) requires that all students who are less than 25 years of age on the first day of class must have completed the following high school courses before being permitted to enter Minot State University:

  • English (4 units) - Including the development of written and oral communication skills.
  • Laboratory Science (3 units) - Including at least one unit each in two or more of the following: biology, chemistry, physics, or physical science.
  • Mathematics (3 units) - Algebra 1 and above, excluding business, consumer, and general mathematics.
  • Social Studies (3 units) - Excluding consumer education, cooperative marketing, orientation to social science, and marriage/family.

The State Board of Higher Education strongly recommends that high school students intending to enroll in baccalaureate universities take algebra II (advanced algebra) and two units of a single classical or modern language, including American Sign Language and Native American languages.

Developmental Course Requirements

What are developmental courses?   NDUS Procedure 402.1.2
Developmental courses are required as prerequisites for higher-level English and math courses, they do not count as credit toward graduation, and they do not impact college GPA. Students in developmental courses must earn a “C” or higher in order to take the next level course. The developmental courses qualify for financial aid.


What entrance exam scores require developmental courses?

- An ACT English score of 17 or lower or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 480 or lower (if taken after September 2018) or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 470 or lower (if taken between March 2016-September 2018).

- An ACT Math score of 20 or lower or SAT Math score of 540 or lower (if taken after March 2016) or SAT Math score of 510 or lower (if taken prior to March 2016). On-campus students may have the opportunity to take a credit bearing math course with a lab if their ACT is between 18-20 or SAT Math between 440-540 (if taken after March 2016) or SAT Math between 400-510 (if taken prior to March 2016).
 

What should I do next?
If you feel your current ACT or SAT score(s) is not an accurate measure of your ability, you will want to consider taking the Next Gen ACCUPLACER Placement exam. If you do not have an ACT/SAT score, you are required to take this exam.

You may have the opportunity to take the Next Gen ACCUPLACER exam when you come to New Student Orientation; however, if you would like to take the exam in advance, you may schedule an appointment by contacting the Minot State Testing Center at 701-858-3990. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact the Registrar’s Office at 1-800-777-0750 ext. 3345.