Transcript Requirements

Applicants with degrees completed in the United States

• Unofficial transcripts from U.S. and Canadian institutions are needed from each undergraduate institution attended and should be uploaded in the Academic History section of the online application unless you accumulated less than 15 credits.
  • Official transcripts will need to be submitted upon admission to be eligible for second semester registration.
• Unofficial transcripts from U.S. and Canadian institutions are needed from each graduate institution attended and should be uploaded in the Academic History section of the online application regardless of the number of credits accumulated.
  • Official transcripts will need to be submitted upon admission to be eligible for second semester registration.
• Unofficial transcripts from St. Cloud State and other Minnesota State institutions should be uploaded in the Academic History section of the online application.
  • St. Cloud State can directly obtain your official St. Cloud State or Minnesota State transcript upon admission. 
  • If credits from institutions outside of Minnesota State were used toward your Minnesota State degree, those unofficial transcripts should also be uploaded in the application. Official transcripts will need to be submitted upon admission to avoid registration hold.

Applicants with degrees completed outside the United States

St. Cloud State University professional staff may evaluate unofficial or official transcripts and academic records, degree certificates, and mark sheets completed outside the United States as a service to applicants to determine compliance with degree completion standards and GPA conversion.

The School of Graduate Studies may utilize the services of approved NACES-affiliated agencies or require applicants purchase a NACES-affiliated course by course evaluation at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies staff.

The School of Graduate Studies requires expedited processing fees for applications received after deadlines defined below ($75, payable in addition to application submission fees). No expedited processing fees will be required if students elect to submit, at personal expense, a course by course evaluation from an approved NACES-affiliated agency. 

NOTE THAT GRADUATE PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINES MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY EARLIER THAN THE DATES ABOVE– applications for those programs must be received and completed by the final deadline to be considered for admission.

APPLICANTS REQUIRING STUDENT VISA THAT ARE CURRENTLY RESIDING OUTSIDE THE US WILL HAVE EARLIER APPLICATION DEADLINES TO ACCOMMODATE I-20 ISSUANCE AND IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES. Review your program page for deadlines.

Requirements

If you attended college or graduate school outside the United States you must also answer “Yes” to having attended college or graduate school in a country other than the United States in the International Student Questions in the Program Materials section of the online application, regardless of your citizenship status.

Intentionally misrepresenting your Visa, Residency Information, Academic History, and Program Materials may lead to forced application withdrawal or rescinded admission offers.

Applicants that are unsure of how to answer this question should contact graduateadmission@stcloudstate.edu for advising BEFORE submitting the application.

Evaluation of international academic records are subject to the following requirements:

• Documents are complete and legible, including but not limited to:
  • Institution name and affiliations
  • Official stamp or attestation of originality by the Registrar or Chief Records Officer
  • Certified English translation, if applicable
  • Copy of native language record, if applicable
  • Degree type and major
  • Dates of attendance and completion date
  • Grade Scale Legend and definitions
  • Listing of individual courses taken with credits and grades

• Official documents must be received by Graduate Studies via mail or accepted electronic record distributors 
  • Unofficial transcripts or academic records are received unsealed or provided directly by students - Applicants may be provisionally reviewed to make a preliminary decision on admission eligibility, at the discretion of the School of Graduate Studies.
  • Official transcripts are academic records received in sealed, original envelopes or received via mail directly from the institution or via electronic delivery from authorized agencies - Official transcripts are required in all circumstances in order to achieve Unconditional Admission. Students failing to provide official documents will not be permitted to register for second term coursework.

• Applicants required or opting to submit a course by course evaluation from a NACES-affiliated organization at personal expense should select St. Cloud State University Graduate Studies as the receiving institution.
  • Application files submitted without this evaluation will not be reviewed for admission consideration until a transcript evaluation is received unless noted via MOU or exception. 
  • Your undergraduate, graduate or doctoral transcripts from non-USA or non-Canadian education institutions must be sent to your preferred agency in an official capacity, directly from your institution, sealed and delivered in original condition.
  • If you have a graduate degree from a United States or Canadian accredited institution, a course-by-course transcript evaluation of your international undergraduate work may not be necessary. Please confer with the Director of Graduate Admissions.
  • You are required to send the School of Graduate Studies an attested copy of your last term marks/grades and diploma if it is not included in your transcript evaluation in order to achieve Unconditional Admission. At the time of enrollment at St. Cloud State, all grades must be recorded on your official transcript and the appropriate degree must be conferred and posted. If the appropriate degree is not conferred, you will not be allowed to commence graduate-level coursework.

• Academic records determined to be fraudulent will result in immediate withdrawal of admission offers or institutional disciplinary action and, if applicable, reported to USCIS, partner institutions, and other relevant agencies.