A Northwest student works on a biology project.

Admissions Criteria

The admissions standards at Northwest Missouri State University are moderately selective. New freshman admission is based on a combination of ACT/SAT score, class rank and GPA. Northwest does not require the writing component of the ACT. Students graduating from high school in the Spring of 1996 or after are required to have followed a college-preparatory curriculum that includes at least 16 units of credit and meet the requirements in either Category I or Category II.

Category I

21 ACT composite or higher (or the SAT equivalent: SAT-860; SATI-970); and
A minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA or above (on 4.00 scale)

Category II

Have a combined percentile index (see below) that equals or exceeds 100 points; and
A minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA or above (on 4.00 scale)

Transfer students who have completed at least 24 hours of transferable, college-level coursework must have a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) cumulative college grade point average in transfer. An ACT score is required for all education majors and is recommended for placement purposes. For students with a cumulative college GPA in transfer below 2.00, consideration may be given based on professional judgment, and acceptance may be granted on a probationary basis. In all cases, a student must be eligible to return to the last institution attended in order to be accepted to Northwest.

Transfer students who have less than 24 hours completed will be considered for admission on the basis of freshman admissions requirements, in addition to college work that have been completed. (Students transferring from non-accredited institutions will also be considered as a first-time freshman; credit cannot be transferred into Northwest from a non-accredited institution.)

Returning/Former Student

Application Process
If you have been absent from Northwest for one trimester or longer, you must reapply for admission. An application fee is not required.

Home-Schooled Students

Application Process
We encourage home-schooled students to apply for Admission at Northwest Missouri State University. Home-schooled students will be evaluated, similar to those students who attend/are attending a public or private high school. Applicants must submit their ACT or SAT results and a transcript listing of high school courses and grades in each course.

In order to be accepted, home-schooled students must meet one of the following criteria:

a 24 or higher on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) or
a 21 ACT and a GED score of 45 or better (or 450 depending on date of test)

GED Applicants

Application Process
Based on the 2002 GED score standards, a student may be considered for admission after receiving an equivalency certification meeting the following criteria: a total score of at least 2250, no sub-score lower than 410, and an average of all sub-scores of at least 450 and above. ACT/SAT test scores are required.

See item 2 under freshman application process.
Submit official GED and ACT/SAT test results to Northwest.
(Northwest does not require the writing component of the ACT.)
Have your high school send an official copy of your partial high school transcript.

Enhanced Freshman Seminar

The Enhanced Freshman Seminar program at Northwest was designed for the first-time freshman who, after thorough and thoughtful review of academic records and transcripts, is believed to have the potential to be successful at Northwest given the proper support. Students selected for participation in this program have identified areas of weakness and must participate in this program in order to enroll as a student at Northwest.