Procedure 4.01.01

Part 1. Admission to Minneapolis College

Regular admission is designed for degree, diploma, certificate‐seeking, eventual transfer, or undecided students. Applicants who complete the following admission steps will be eligible to take placement tests, complete orientation, and register for classes.

To apply to Minneapolis College, the following items must be completed:

1. Complete the Online Admission Application.
2. Graduated from an accredited high school or completed their GED or adult diploma or are enrolled in an Ability to Benefit (ATB) program.
3. Submit official transcripts of previous college-level work. Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities are required. Official college or university transcripts shall be submitted to Minneapolis College from all institutions attended. Official transcripts from Minnesota State institutions are received electronically and do not need to be sent in paper form if the courses were taken after 1998. Admission to the college does not automatically qualify a student to register for all college‐level courses. Some course offerings in both career and transfer programs have special prerequisites and requirements.
4. The College utilizes rolling admission meaning students can apply to the college for an upcoming term through the 5th business day of the term.

Part 2. Application Fee

The application fee is non‐refundable.

Under certain conditions, students may be eligible for an application fee waiver. The College’s designee may waive the application fee if the student meets one of the following conditions:

1. Ward of the State,
2. Financial hardship, or
3. Free/Reduced Lunch recipient.

The President or designee may waive the application fee in other situations including, but not limited to the following:

1. Special recruitment initiatives
2. Other, as determined by the College's designee

For consideration of an application fee waiver, the student must provide documentation of one of the above conditions to the College.

Part 3. International Student Admission

A student enrolling at Minneapolis College as an international student must submit the following:

1. Completed online International Student Admission Application
2. Proof of academic achievement as documented by official high school or college transcripts (in English or English translation)
3. Proof of financial resources equivalent to one year’s cost of attendance
4. Proof of English proficiency
5. Proof of visa status if currently residing in the U.S, or copy of Form I-20 for F-1 visa holders and, if available, a copy of current passport and documentation of immunization.

Part 4. Visiting Students

Visiting Minnesota State students with a Star ID log into eServices from their home institution to select and register desired Minneapolis College courses. Students may need to submit a prerequisite verification form to register. After registering, students pay tuition, fees, and purchase books. Visiting students registering without a Star ID must create a Star ID before registration. 

Visiting students must satisfy Minneapolis College course prerequisites.

Part 5. Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Students

A student who is a high school sophomore, junior, or senior, may qualify to enroll in and attend college-level courses and apply earned credits toward high school graduation requirements and a college degree. (Refer to Minneapolis College Policy 3.23 and Procedure 3.23.01 for PSEO qualifications.)

Anyone interested in applying to Minneapolis College as a PSEO student must submit the following to the College:

1. Completed PSEO Student Admission Application
2. Completed Notice of Student Registration Form
3. Documentation of qualifying class rank, GPA, or nationally standardized test
4. Official high school transcript.

Part 6. High School Diploma/GED Validation

In the event Minneapolis College has reason to believe a high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity providing secondary school education, Minneapolis College can conduct additional research to determine if the diploma is valid. Additional research may be performed when:

• No apparent state legal authority for high school or G.E.D.
• Limited curriculum/instructors
• High school diploma given for a fee within a short period of time
• High school diploma date/place not consistent
• High school diplomas/transcripts/GEDs that were issued by a school that bears a non-traditional name that does not end in “high school”, such as “academy”, or “center”
• High school diplomas/transcripts/GEDs that were purchased and/or completed online
• High school diplomas/GEDs that have names and/or dates that have been written on the diploma, and those where “white out” type corrections have been made. 

Should any of the above exist, Minneapolis College can conduct additional research to include:

• Checking the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website for information relative to the validity of the school, and if the school provides secondary school education.  If Minneapolis College is unable to obtain the required information, Minneapolis College will contact the state the school is in to attempt to obtain the appropriate documentation.
• Determining if the school has previously been identified as a high school diploma mill, via internet research and existing lists the school maintains. 
• Determining if the diploma or transcript was purchased online with little work expected by the student, or if it was earned via brick-and-mortar traditional high school.

If Minneapolis College is not reasonably certain a high school diploma or G.E.D. is valid, the College has the right to deny admission to the College. Minneapolis College’s decision relative to the validity of a particular high school diploma or G.E.D. is final, and not subject to appeal.

Part 7. Students on Suspension from another Minnesota State College

A student who is on academic suspension at another Minnesota State college or university can submit an appeal for admission based on special, unusual, or extenuating circumstances causing undue hardship such as a death in the family, student’s injury or illness, or other special circumstances as determined by Minneapolis College.

A student who has an approved appeal shall be placed on probation for one evaluation period. Students must meet the academic probation standards of 2.00 GPA and a completion rate of 66.67%

See Satisfactory Academic Progress for further information.

Owner(s) Title: Vice President of Student Affairs

Date of Adoption: Original date not currently documented.

Date of Implementation (if different from adoption date): N/A

Date Last Reviewed: 5/8/2024 (Focused Review)

History and Subject of Revisions: 5/8/2024 (Updated visiting student information and suspension status information for clarity and accuracy to standards and practices, 2/15/2023 (Added high school diploma verification guidance), 11/17/22 (clarified that high school transcripts/GED diploma do not need to be submitted), 6/9/2022 (Comprehensive), 5/20/2021 (Comprehensive review, clarification of processes and updates to reflect current practices), 7/2020 (general updates), 7/12/2018 (general updates)

Regulatory Authority (e.g. Minnesota State policy, federal or state law): Minnesota State Board Policy 3.4 Undergraduate Admissions, Minnesota State Board Procedure 3.4.1 Undergraduate Admissions, Minnesota State Board Policy 3.5 Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program, Minnesota State Board Procedure 3.5.1 Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Program