Graduate Admissions
Admission Decisions
Our Decision Process
Applicants are admitted based on the strength of their undergraduate and graduate record and admission materials. An applicant may be unconditionally admitted, provisionally admitted, conditionally admitted or receive a language admission.
The St. Cloud State University School of Graduate Studies complies with all National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) ethics policies and standards.
Types of Admission
Unconditional Admission
This status is granted to applicants who have fully satisfied the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and the graduate program.
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Provisional Admission
This status is granted, at a program's request, to academically strong applicants whose application files are missing an item or who need to submit official documents. A provisional admission status allows the student to start classes, but within the first semester the provisionally admitted student must submit the missing materials. If unofficial documents were submitted with the application, it is imperative that official documents are submitted during the first term of enrollment.
- A student will not be allowed to continue as a provisionally admitted student beyond one term.
- Official documents must be submitted during the first term of enrollment for continued registration opportunities.
Conditional Admission for Domestic Applicants
Conditional Admission is granted to domestic applicants who do not satisfy the minimum GPA or the minimum GRE score requirements, or who have deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation. The offer of a conditional admission is recommended at the program level. A domestic applicant who has been admitted conditionally will complete an educational plan with their program that specifies a minimum of six to nine credits to be completed with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher in the first term of enrollment. Upon completion of this requirement, the student's academic record will be reviewed for consideration to be granted unconditional admission.
Denial of Admission
A denial determination indicates an applicant has been denied admission to a degree program and may not earn a graduate degree from St. Cloud State University even if he or she has successfully completed advanced courses. Reapplication does not guarantee admission to the School of Graduate Studies.
A denial decision may be due to the limited number of available spaces for new students to be admitted within some programs. Applicants with weak academic records or limited probability of succeeding in graduate work may be denied admission to a degree program and permission to take graduate courses. Applicants may also be denied if the program involved and the dean of the School of Graduate Studies concur that the applicant does not meet the professional standards commonly required for a student earning a graduate degree in the discipline.
Readmission
Students planning to take a leave of absence or returning to SCSU after a leave of absence from graduate work may require readmission.
Deferral of Admission
- If you are admitted and need to defer your admission, you may defer enrollment for up to one calendar year if approved by the graduate program director and to the School of Graduate Studies.
- Complete the Deferred Admission Request Form and submit to Graduate Admissions before your original intended term of enrollment begins. Graduate Admissions will coordinate with your graduate program director and the Center for International Studies and will notify you of your eligibility for deferred admission.
- This process allows an admitted student three semesters (including summer term) from the initial desired term to enroll without needing to reapply.
- Example: An applicant applies and is admitted to an upcoming fall semester. If approved by the program, the admitted student may defer admission to the following fall semester (one year later). If the applicant sought to defer to the spring semester outside of that one year, a new application and application fee would be required for reconsideration.
- Extensions beyond three semesters (including summer term) from the initial desired term will necessitate the need to reapply and submit an application fee.
- Doctoral students may defer enrollment for up to two years to join the appropriate cohort.
Readmission Guidelines
Master-level, Post-Master Graduate Programs and Graduate Certificates
- An absence of more than four consecutive semesters from SCSU will require readmission. If you have been absent from a graduate program for more than four consecutive semesters (including summer term) it will be necessary, to submit a new application, application fee, a new statement of intent, and possibly new admission materials, to be reconsidered for admission.
- Programs may elect to have a more restrictive time frame.
- However slowly or rapidly a student may be able to return to SCSU, the maximum time limit for valid course work is seven years.
Exceptions
- If you are returning to SCSU (after stopping out) and had an approved Leave of Absence from the School of Graduate Studies, of four semesters or less you do not need to seek readmission. Your application materials have been maintained electronically.
- You are encouraged to directly contact your graduate adviser to review changes in curriculum, licensure requirements, and program updates. Your graduate program plan will need to be updated and may need new approval. Please work directly with the Office of Records and Registration to register for course work.
- Exceptions may be available if called away for active Armed Forces military duty or have completed all required SCSU graduate course work and have returned to submit and defend your culminating project, thesis or starred paper. If you meet one of these exceptions you need to inquire about your standing with the Director of Graduate Student Services.
- The readmission process does not apply to applicants who have been dismissed from SCSU for any reason, including academic dismissal. Individuals dismissed from SCSU need to inquire about their standing with the Director of Graduate Student Services.
Doctoral Programs
- An absence of two semesters of every three terms (summer, fall, spring) from SCSU will result in the loss of a student’s status as an enrolled doctoral student. Students may reapply for admission to the doctoral program; however, readmission is not guaranteed.
- If you have been absent from a doctoral program for two semesters of every three terms (summer, fall, spring) or more, it will be necessary to submit a new application, application fee, a new statement of intent, interview with program faculty, and possibly other new admission materials, to be reconsidered for admission.
- However slowly or rapidly a student may be able to return to SCSU, the maximum time limit for valid course work is seven years.
- Students who previously advanced to doctoral candidacy should refer to the Continuous Registration for Doctoral Candidates policy for additional readmission requirements including reapplying for candidacy and registration of missing semester credit hours.
- Upon readmission, students must directly contact their doctoral adviser to review changes in curriculum, licensure requirements, and program updates. Your doctoral program plan will need to be updated and may need new approval. Please work directly with the Office of Records and Registration to register for course work.
Exceptions
- If you are returning to SCSU (after stopping out) and had an approved Leave of Absence from the School of Graduate Studies, you do not need to seek readmission. Students who do not return from leave on the specified semester will need to apply for readmission.
- Exceptions may be available if you were called away for active Armed Forces military duty. If you meet this exception you need to inquire about your standing with the Director of Graduate Student Services.
- The readmission process does not apply to applicants who have been dismissed from SCSU for any reason, including academic dismissal. Individuals who have been dismissed from SCSU need to inquire about their standing with the Director of Graduate Student Services.
Minnesota State Board Policy
3.4 Admissions, Part 5, Subpart G
Students who have been suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons from any post-secondary institution may be denied admission to a Minnesota State college or university.
MORE ADMISSION CRITERIA INFORMATION
Wait Lists
Getting into programs with high demand.
Wait Lists
Admission Criteria
What we are looking for to be admitted to our programs.
Admission Criteria
