Placement Testing

M State uses ACT, SAT, MCA, Accuplacer scores, high school GPA or previous college coursework to determine course placement. Accuplacer testing is available on campus for students who would like to re-test or have their current course placement re-evaluated. M State cannot use MCA scores for writing placements.

Course placement may be determined by:

• Scores from ACT, SAT and/or the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA)
• Accuplacer
• High school GPA for students who have graduated from high school within the last 10 years. Transcripts can be emailed in PDF format. In the absence of an official high school transcript, self-reported high school GPA may be submitted to records@minnesota.edu.
• Completion of college-level coursework from an accredited college or university
• Guided self-placement

Guided self-placement

Guided self-placement with an academic advisor is available for students who have earned a GED or graduated from high school more than 10 years ago. Please bring your GED results to the meeting with the advisor.

Students who are planning to apply to an M State selective admissions program cannot use guided self-placement.

If you are using guided self-placement, you will be asked these questions to help us place you in the courses that best support your learning needs:

1. What language did you first learn to speak?
2. Which language do you speak most often at home?
3. How many years of education (elementary through high school) did you attend in the United States?