Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

APPLICANTS 19 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER

Applicants who are 19 years of age or younger on September 15 for either the summer semester or the fall semester, or February 15 for the spring semester, will be classified as traditional applicants. They will be considered for admission using the requirements described below. Note that to be eligible for admission, students must be at least 16 years old on the first day of the semester and must have either graduated from high school or received a General Education Development (GED) certificate.

Freshman (first-time college students)

• Effective for applicants who graduate from high school in 2008 or later, resident and non-resident freshman must meet both MSU Denver’s CCHE index standard and have completed the Higher Education Admissions Requirements (HEAR).

• Applicants with Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) index scores of 76 or greater will be considered for admission. Those with index scores below 91 are strongly encouraged to submit letters of recommendation and a personal statement, and must complete their application files at least four months before classes begin. Otherwise, they will be considered for the following term. Those denied admission will be encouraged to enroll at a community college. Calculate your CCHE index.

• Applicants with a CCHE index score of 91 or greater, an ACT English subscore of 18 or above and a reading subscore of 17 or above (or an SAT verbal score of 440 or above), who have completed all HEAR course work, and who apply by the published application deadline will be admitted. Applicants who do not meet all of the criteria listed above may considered for admission through the window.

The HEAR required courses are:

Note: One unit is the equivalent of one year of a high school course.

** Two units of ESL English may count for HEAR requirements when combined with two units of successfully completed college preparatory English.

*** College-preparatory ESL mathematics/science courses that include content and academic rigor/level comparable to other acceptable courses may satisfy HEAR requirements.

**** Acceptable Academic Electives include additional courses in English, mathematics, natural/physical sciences and social sciences, foreign languages, art, music, journalism, drama, computer science, honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate courses, and appropriate CTE courses.

• Applicants must request that the following information be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions from the high school or testing agency before an admissions decision can be made:

• ACT or SAT test results

• Official high school transcript with GPA and class rank

• This information may be submitted at the end of the sixth, seventh, or eighth semester of high school, but no later than six weeks before the expected term of enrollment. An official final transcript with date of graduation is required no later than the fourth week of the term of enrollment. Degree-seeking students will not be permitted to register for a second semester nor will any financial aid funds be dispered until after this credential is received. Students should request the transcript and verify that the high school transcript with date of graduation mailed by the high school and has been received by the Office of Admissions.

• Beginning in 2008, students 19 and under who earn a GED and apply to a four year institution must meet the HEAR academic requirements. If a student’s transcript does not meet the Higher Education Admissions Requirements, he/she may be admitted through the admissions window.

• ACT or SAT results are not required with a GED. Official GED certificates must be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions by the issuing agency before an applicant can be accepted.

COLLEGE TRANSFERS 19 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER

• Applicants with 30 or more transferable semester hours completed with a 2.3 cumulative GPA and all required remedial coursework completed will be offered admission.

  • Applicants with 30 or more transferable semester hours completed with a 2.3 cumulative GPA must request that the following credentials be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions from their previous institution(s): Official transcript from each college or university attended or currently attending. Please note: To qualify for financial aid, applicants must have at least 60 transferable credit hours. 

  • All required credentials must be received before a final decision can be made.

• Applicants with fewer than 30 transferable semester hours will be considered on an individual basis, based on high school GPA, ACT, SAT scores and college work competed.

• Applicants who have less than a cumulative 2.3 GPA from all colleges and universities attended will be considered on an individual basis that includes a careful review of all credentials. Letters of recommendation and a personal statement are strongly recommended. Such applicants must complete their application files by the posted Admissions Review deadline, otherwise they will be considered for the following term.

• Applicants with fewer than 30 transferable semester hours and/or less than a 2.3 cumulative GPA from previous college work must request that the following credentials be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions from their previous institution(s):

  • ACT or SAT test results

  • Official high school transcript with GPA and class rank

  • Official transcript from each college or university attended or currently attending

  • All required credentials must be received before a final decision can be made

  • Degree-seeking students will not be permitted to register for a second semester nor will any financial aid funds be dispered until after all official credentials have been received.

 
APPLICANTS 20 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER

Applicants who are 20 or older on September 15 for either the summer semester or the fall semester, or February 15 for the spring semester, will be considered for admission using the requirements described below:

Freshman (first-time college students)

• Applicants will be admitted to the college upon indicating on the Application for Admission that they have graduated from high school or that they have received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or the equivalent. A GED issued through the military will be considered on an individual basis.

• By submitting the Application for Admission, degree-seeking applicants are certifying that they will request either a high school transcript with date of graduation or GED test scores be sent to the Office of Admissions. Degree-seeking students will not be permitted to register for a second semester nor will any financial aid funds be dispered until after the official credential is received.  PLEASE NOTE:  Starting December 1, 2012, all required credentials must be received before a final admissions decision can be made. 

• The ACT or SAT is not required for admission, but is highly recommended for advising purposes.

College Transfers

• Applicants will be admitted to MSU Denver, regardless of their cumulative college GPA, if they indicate on the Application for Admission that they have graduated from high school or that they have passed and received a Colorado General Educational Development (GED) certificate or its equivalent.

• By submitting the Application for Admission, degree-seeking applicants are certifying that they will request that either a high school transcript with date of graduation or GED test scores be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. In place of these credentials, official college transcripts showing completing of 30 or more transferable semester credit hours with grades of "C-" or better will be accepted (Please note: To qualify for financial aid, applicants must have 60 or more transferable credits). College transfer students should request to have college transcripts mailed directly to the Office of Admissions for official transfer credit evaluation. Degree-seeking applicants are required to have all college and university transcripts on file to receive a complete transfer evaluation.

• All required credentials must be received no later than the fourth week of the term of enrollment. Degree-seeking students will not be permitted to register for a second semester nor will any financial aid funds be dispered until after all required credentials are received.  PLEASE NOTE: Starting December 1, 2012, all required credentials must be submitted before an admissions decision can be made. 
  

• The ACT or SAT is not required for admission but, if taken within five years of the semester start date, is highly recommended for advising and course placement purposes.