The degree programs offered are in a wide variety of academic programs in liberal and fine arts, mathematics, sciences, business, and applied sciences. Each of these programs is aligned among any one of its 6 undergraduate colleges and 1 graduate school.
The admission requirements in the university vary according to different levels and types of degrees offered. The various admission requirements are explained below.
Undergraduate Admissions
The varied requirements of students applying for undergraduate courses at Midwestern State University are explained below in various sub-sections.
State of Texas Uniform Admissions Policy
Texas Education Code (TEC) requires that all students meet one of the following college readiness standards to be eligible to be considered for admission at a Texas Four-Year Public Institution:
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Successfully complete a curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigour to the foundations plan with an endorsement, recommended, advanced or distinguished achievement plan at a high school program at a high school that is exempt from offering such programs; or
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Satisfy the College Readiness Benchmarks on the SAT or ACT assessment
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SAT - 1500 out of 2400 (Critical Reading + Math + Writing) for exams prior to March 2016.
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SAT - 480 - Critical Reading/Writing and 530 - Math for exams after March 2016.
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ACT - 18 English, 21 Reading, 22 Mathematics, and 24 Science.
Automatic Admission
Students will be admitted if they graduate in the top ten per cent of their class from an accredited Texas public high school and if they meet the following conditions:
- Graduated from high school within the two years prior to the academic year for which admission is sought; and
- Submitted a complete application and an official transcript from the high school before the deadline.
Unconditional Admission
For unconditional admission, students must graduate from a high school accredited by a regional accrediting agency or from a high school accredited by the Texas Education Agency and must meet the following high school unit, class rank, and ACT/SAT score requirements:
Class Rank
|
Old SAT Minimum Scores
(Taken Prior to March 2016)
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New SAT Minimum Scores
(Taken March 2016 or Later)
|
ACT Minimum
Composite Scores
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Top 25%
|
Automatic Admission
|
Automatic Admission
|
Automatic Admission
|
Second Quartile
|
990
|
1070
|
21
|
Third Quartile
|
1070
|
1140
|
23
|
Fourth Quartile
|
1110
|
1180
|
24
|
Home Student Program/Non-Ranking High Schools
Home Student Program
Students who graduate from home school programs, classified as a nontraditional secondary education, will be assigned a class rank for admission evaluation purposes. The applicant will be assigned to the average high school graduating class rank of undergraduate applicants to the institution who have equivalent SAT (math and critical reading only for exams taken prior to March 2016 or the SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math scores after March 2016) or ACT composite scores as the applicant. The previous fall term will be used for the comparison group.
Students from Non-Ranking High Schools
Students who graduate from non-ranking high schools will be assigned a class rank for admission evaluation purposes. The applicant will be assigned to the average high school graduating class rank of undergraduate applicants to the institution who have equivalent SAT (math and critical reading only for exams taken prior to March 2016 or the SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math scores after March 2016) or ACT composite scores as the applicant (Section 51.9241 of the Texas Education Code). The previous fall term will be used for the comparison group.
NOTE: Students must submit transcripts or details of course work completed to show proof of unit requirements.
GED Students
Students who pass the GED examination in lieu of the high school diploma must meet the requirements listed below.
The student must have been out of high school for at least six months and must meet all state requirements for GED testing. The unit requirements will be met if a score of 50 (for those who tested prior to January 1, 2002) or a score of 500 (for those who tested after January 1, 2002).
An average of Test 1 and Test 4 is used for the English score. Applicants who meet minimum state requirements on the GED and do not meet the unit requirements may be considered on an individual basis. Beginning with the 2014 year, the GED test will have a passing score of 150 for each subject.
Students will need to reach a score of at least 150 on each subject and a total score of 600 or higher across all four subjects in order to receive the GED test credential.
Students who took the GED between 2002 and 2013, must have an average of 450 and no score lower than 410 to meet the unit requirements. All GED students are considered on an individual basis. GED students under 21 years of age must submit official ACT or SAT scores if the unit requirements on the GED are not met.
Individual Approval
Students who do not meet the admission requirements will be reviewed for individual consideration. In addition to the high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores, the student should supply information about socioeconomic background, bilingual proficiency, financial status and performance level of a high school district, a region of residence, family educational background, involvement in community activities, extra-curricular activities, responsibilities while attending school (employment and/or raising children), commitment to a particular field of study, admission to a comparable accredited out-of-state institution, and any other information which might be helpful. Information should be sent to the Admissions Office.
Students in this category may be required to enroll in certain courses during the first semester of enrollment. Official ACT/SAT scores must be submitted to the MSU Admissions from ACT and/or College Board.
Graduate Admissions
The varied requirements of students applying for graduate courses at the Dr Billie Doris McAda Graduate School of Midwestern State University are explained below in various sub-sections.
Unconditional Admission
An applicant who meets each of the following admission criteria may be eligible for unconditional admission by the graduate faculty of the student’s intended major:
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A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The McAda Graduate School must receive an official transcript, including one on which a bachelor’s degree is posted, directly from each institution the applicant has attended. International graduate student applicants must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA that includes verified transcripts. MSU strongly prefers the WES ICAP evaluation but will accept a comparable evaluation from a NACES member.
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A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 from the student’s graduating institution.
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A competitive score on the standardized graduate test, if required by the graduate program. The requirement for standardized test scores is decided at the college level. The student should contact the graduate coordinator of the intended graduate program for information. The McAda Graduate School must receive official admissions test scores directly from the organization that administers the test.
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An undergraduate background judged by the graduate faculty of the student’s intended major to be adequate for success in the student’s intended major.
Conditional Admission
An applicant who does not meet each of the above admission criteria may be eligible for conditional admission by the graduate faculty of the student’s intended major if the applicant has the following:
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A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The McAda Graduate School must receive an official transcript, including one on which a bachelor’s degree is posted, directly from each institution the applicant has attended. International graduate student applicants must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA that includes verified transcripts. MSU strongly prefers the WES ICAP evaluation but will accept a comparable evaluation from a NACES member.
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An official score for the standardized graduate test, if required by the graduate program. The requirement for standardized test scores is decided at the college level. The student should contact the graduate coordinator of the intended graduate program for information. The McAda Graduate School must receive official admissions test scores directly from the organization that administers the test.
A student who is conditionally admitted must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the first four graduate courses (which total at least 12 semester credit hours) applicable to the student’s graduate major. Students who are assessed additional undergraduate levelling work must complete that work in the direction and to the satisfaction of the coordinator of the student’s graduate major. To continue in the program, the student must meet the conditions set forth in the conditional admission.