Apply early -- avoid disappointment and maximize your opportunities for funding, early registration, and more.
Start early as it takes time to acquire documents necessary to complete your application.
Follow the checklist on the right to successfully complete your application. It is very important to read the details as they apply to you and follow all deadlines and requirements.
- Late applications will not be accepted. Once an application deadline passes, you may select the next available term in the Program Selection of the online graduate admission application.
- International students may be subjected to earlier submission deadlines.
- Individual programs have early, priority, and final deadlines for submission.
- All application materials must be uploaded in the submitted application or POSTMARKED by the posted application deadline to guarantee review for the term sought.
- The graduate school may continue to process application materials received after the application deadline, but candidacy will be reviewed on a case by case and space available basis.
- Applications submitted as incomplete that are missing items will not be considered for future terms. You must reapply for the next available start term, meeting all updated academic and document requirements.
Online Admissions Application
Features that optimize admission processing and review include:
- Upload unofficial transcripts.
- Request official transcripts be delivered directly to graduateadmission@stcloudstate.edu.
- Unofficial documents may be used for the admission review process. If admitted, you will need to submit official documents before coursework commences or a registration hold will be placed on your student account.
- Official documents of a higher education institution or agency encompass the characteristics of being official only if they are sealed, or directly reported from an institution or agency directly to the School of Graduate Studies. Opened or unsealed documents are considered unofficial.
- Upload all required documents, including a customized Statement of Intent, Resume of educational and professional skills and experience, writing samples, and other required documents prescribed under program-specific admission policy.
- Applicants may request official scores from Educational Testing Services (ETS), such as GRE and TOEFL directly through the GradCAS application portal or through ETS directly by using School Code 6679
- Other entrance and proficiency exams include GMAT, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo. Send official scores to the School of Graduate Studies as a designated recipient directly inside those platforms to satisfy official document requirements.
- Recommendation contact information will be entered directly into the application system to solicit Likert Evaluation or Letter of Recommendation per program-specific requirements. Please do not email or mail Letters of Recommendation that are not required.
- Once you submit your application, you can no longer make changes to it or upload additional documents.
- Pay the application fee online with a credit card or request a PayPal invoice.
- Track application completion, document receipt, and review processing statuses by monitoring your Personal URL and email.
Completed Applications
Once your application is complete and all application materials are received, the School of Graduate Studies may begin the evaluation process.
Application fees*
- Non-degree seeking (visiting students, Pathway to 18, etc.): Free
- Graduate certificate: $40
- Master-level graduate program: $40
- Doctoral Studies: $55
*Application fees are automatically waived for veterans of the United States Armed Forces and their spouse or special scholars, such as Muskie Scholars, McNair Scholars, and Fulbright Scholars. Applicants determined to not meet these criteria must pay the full application fee.
Applicants granted automatic waivers that are later determined to not meet these criteria are subject to denied or rescinded admission.
Fees are non-refundable and are in compliance with Minnesota State policies.
Application Fee Duration
The admission application fee is valid only for the original term of application.
- Applicants that receive admission offers may defer admission up to one year from the original application term at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Directors. Typical reasons for deferred admission requests are unavailability of Visa interviews or Visa denials for international students, or admitted students that experience hardship or other circumstances that necessitate a delayed start.
Applications that are missing documents or incomplete and have not been reviewed for admission eligibility cannot defer the application to a future term and must reapply, including payment of a new application fee.
- If all required materials are not received prior to established deadlines, the applicant must reapply and pay a new application fee.
Denied applicants or those placed on Wait Lists, but do not matriculate are required apply and pay the application fee for each future term admission consideration is sought.
Previously admitted SCSU graduate students
New and updated applications, including application fee payment are required for each licensure track, graduate certificate, masters, or doctoral program to which you seek admission consideration.
- Additional copies of your transcript and test scores may not be necessary.
- A new Statement of Intent, Resume of educational and professional experiences, and Recommendations are required per program-specific admission policy.
Multiple Applications
- If you choose to apply to multiple graduate programs or certificates at the same time, you will need to submit an admission application and pay an application fee for each graduate program to which you seek admission consideration.
- Additional copies of your transcripts and test scores are not necessary.
- A separate, program-specific Statement of Intent, Resume of educational and professional experiences, and Recommendations are required for each program to which you will apply, per program-specific admission policy.
- Only apply for the program and term start that you intend to begin graduate-level coursework.
- Applicants determined to be ineligible for graduate studies will be denied admission.
- Internal program transfers will not be considered until the end of the first enrolled semester and require a new application for admission to the new program. There is no guarantee that any credits will meet degree completion requirements of the new program, potentially requiring a restart at additional cost of tuition and fees.
