Freshman Admissions

Admission Standards

The categories described below were designed to clarify the process used to evaluate undergraduate applications. It is not necessary for you to choose a category in which to apply, but familiarity with the requirements in each category will assist you in understanding the admissions process and your likelihood of being admitted. The categories are:

• Honors Admission for high ability students,
• Guaranteed Admission for the majority of our applicants,
• Conditional Admission for applicants not meeting standard admission requirements who have special talents or circumstances which should be taken into consideration.

Applicants who graduated from high school in 1993 or after are required to have completed fourteen core courses. Applicants who graduated high school between 1989 and 1993 are required to have completed the same core courses with the exception of the visual and/or performing arts course.

MTSU will continue to admit a very limited number of applicants who have not completed all of the specified high school units (using the Conditional Admission category). Competition for these spaces is keen. Applicants with more than two deficiencies are rarely admitted.

NOTE ABOUT TEST SCORES: Only freshman applicants who are less than 21 years of age (as of the first day of classes) are required to present ACT or SAT examination scores. When test scores are required, they must be less than 3 years old on the first day of class.

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Application Deadlines

Students are encouraged to submit an application as early as possible to receive first consideration. Application deadline dates are:

• February 15 - First priority deadline for fall semester. Applications received after February 15 will be considered until July 1 (second priority deadline) or when the undergraduate enrollment capacity is reached.
  

• December 15 for spring semester
  

• December 1 - Scholarship Deadline. Incoming freshmen who have submitted their admission application and official high school transcript and official test score by December 1 will be considered first for scholarships and awards.

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Honors Admissions

Applicants who meet the condition outlined below and are accepted into the University are admitted automatically into the University's Honors College:

ACT composite score of 25 or higher and a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Out-of-state freshmen may qualify by presenting equivalent scores on the SAT test.

Students admitted into the Honors College may choose to register for special Honors courses or Honors sections of general studies classes. They may also choose to participate in the Honors Student Association and related extracurricular activities. However, participation in the Honors College is not required of applicants admitted in this category.

For more information about the Honors College at MTSU, please write to the Dean of the Honors College, Box 267, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, or call (615) 898-2152.

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The majority of freshman applicants will be admitted in the Standard Admission category. In addition to completion of the required high school courses, applicants must present one of the following:

• a minimum 3.0 GPA
• a minimum composite ACT of 22 (SAT of 1020)
• a minimum 2.7 GPA and minimum ACT of 19 (SAT of 900)

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Any student not meeting guaranteed admission requirements will be considered for conditional admission. The review will include all academic credentials as well as other special interests and skills, and other non-academic factors as explained on the Personal Statement Form. Students admitted in this category will be expected to:

• remove high school deficiencies (if applicable) within the first 64 hours of enrollment
• maintain academic good standing as defined by University retention standards
• receive services from the University College Advising Center
• enroll in University 1010 the first semester of enrollment

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Graduates of Unapproved or Unaccredited High Schools

Please see Application Instructions for detailed information on how to apply for admission.

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Academic Assessment Placement Testing Requirements

As a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system, MTSU administers the Academic Assessment Placement Testing in accordance with the following TBR guidelines:

1. Freshmen applicants who will be 21 years of age or older at the time of admission are required to undergo assessment for each area or may elect to provide official ACT/SAT scores from tests that have been taken within three years prior to the first day of the first term of enrollment.
2. Incoming freshmen will initially be assessed for Academic Enrichment Program placement according to valid ACT/SAT scores. Those with ACT scores less than 18 (SAT of 450 or less) in English are required to take the COMPASS test. Those who have a test score of less than 19 (SAT of 460 or less), in Mathematics & Reading, are required to take the COMPASS test for placement purposes; otherwise, these students will be placed in appropriate courses. Permissible test scores are less than three years old from first day of class. COMPASS testing is required before students come to CUSTOMS and before they are allowed to register for classes.
3. Students without valid ACT/SAT scores are required to undergo departmental assessment to determine appropriate placement in the program.
4. Transfer students who have not earned credits in college-level, algebra-based mathematics or college-level English will be assessed based on valid ACT/SAT scores or other appropriate departmental assessment.

If required to take the COMPASS examination for any of the reasons listed above, the Admissions Office will send you a test registration card after reviewing and approving your application. The applicant is responsible for signing up for a COMPASS test session prior to registration. For more information about the test's content, please contact the MTSU University Studies Office, (615) 898-2568.

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