Admission Requirements

Metropolitan State University of Denver uses two categories to classify applicants: those who are 19 years old and younger and those who are 20 years old and over. This includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents, asylees/refugees and non-citizens. Based on the university’s modified, open admission policy, each category, including International Students, follows its own admissions requirements and procedures.

MSU Denver students who have not attended the university for three consecutive semesters must submit an application for readmission. For more information, see “Admission of Previously Enrolled Students” in this catalog.

For information regarding admission to MSU Denver, click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

• Application Deadline
• Applicants 19 Years Old or Younger
• Applicants 20 Years of Age or Older
• Application Instructions
• Admission of Previously Enrolled (Readmit) Students
• Admission of Non-degree-seeking Students
• Admission of International Students
• Admission Notification
• College Credit in High School
• Rescinding Admission to MSU Denver
• Transfer Services
• Tuition Classification
• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Application Deadline

The application deadline is at least one to two months before the start of the semester.  To find out the exact application deadline date for your intended term of enrollment, please visit msudenver.edu/admissions. For the best possible selection of courses, students are advised to apply early. Refer to the Academic Calendar  for important dates.

Applicants 19 Years Old or Younger

Applicants who are 19 years old or younger on September 15 for either summer semester or fall semester, or on February 15 for spring semester, will be classified as traditional applicants. They will be considered for admission using the requirements described below. Note: to be eligible for admission, students must be at least 16 years old on the first day of the semester and must have either graduated from high school or received a General Education Development (GED) certificate.

First-Time College Students

• Applicants will be guaranteed admission with an unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Please review the university’s average admitted student profile:

• Applicants who have an unweighted, cumulative high school GPA below a 2.0 are strongly encouraged to submit letters of recommendation, an unofficial high school transcript, and a personal statement and must complete their application files by the stated Admissions Review Deadline.
• Applicants must request that the following credentials be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the high school or testing agency:
  • ACT or SAT test results (optional)
  • Official high school transcript with GPA and graduation date
• This information may be submitted at the end of the sixth, seventh, or eighth semester of high school, but an official, final transcript with date of graduation is required before the start of the initial semester of enrollment. Students should request the transcript and verify that the high school record with date of graduation has been received by the Office of Admissions. Degree-seeking students will not be permitted to register for a second semester.
• Applicants who have not graduated from high school but have passed and received the Colorado General Educational Development (GED) certificate with a score of 145 or higher on all four sections, or its equivalent will be accepted. ACT or SAT test results are not required with a GED, but if taken in the last five years of the semester start date, are highly recommended for advising and course placement purposes. Official GED certificates must be received from the testing agency.

College Transfers

• Applicants with 24 or more transferable semester hours completed will be offered admission. Students with fewer than 24 hours will be considered on an individual basis, based on high school GPA, ACT or SAT scores (optional) and college work completed.
• Applicants must request that the following credentials be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the high school, testing agency and/or college or university:
  • ACT or SAT test results (optional)
  • Official high school transcript with GPA or Official GED scores 
  • Official transcript from each college or university attended or currently attending

Applicants 20 Years of Age or Older

Applicants who are 20 or older on September 15 for either summer semester or fall semester, or on February 15 for spring semester, will be considered for admission using the requirements described below.

Freshmen (first-time college students)

• Applicants will be admitted to MSU Denver by indicating on the application for admission they have graduated from high school or have earned an official GED (General Educational Development) certificate or the equivalent. GEDs issued through the military will be considered on an individual basis.
• The ACT or SAT is not required for admission but, if taken within five years of the semester start date, is highly recommended for advising and course placement purposes.

College Transfers

• Applicants 20 years of age and older will be admitted to MSU Denver, regardless of their cumulative college GPA, by indicating on the application for admission they have graduated high school or earned an official GED (General Educational Development) certificate or its equivalent.
• In place of these credentials, official college transcripts from each institution of higher education attended showing completion of 24 or more transferable semester credit hours with grades of “C-” or better will be accepted. College transfer students should request to have college transcripts sent directly to the Office of the Registrar for transfer credit evaluation. Degree-seeking applicants are required to have all college and university transcripts on file to receive a complete evaluation.
• The ACT or SAT is not required for admission but, if taken within five years of the semester start date, is highly recommended for advising and course placement purposes.

Application Instructions

Applications for Admission are considered in the order in which they are received each semester. All credentials received by the university become the property of MSU Denver and will not be returned to the student. It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify the Office of Admissions of any changes to the application prior to the first day of classes. If changes are not reported to the Office of Admissions, the registration process could be delayed for subsequent semesters. Failure to report academic changes may result in rejection, dismissal and/or loss of credit. International applicants seeking to study on F-1 student visa should refer to the Admission of International Students section.

To apply for admission:

• Applications can be submitted online at msudenver.edu/admissions or are available from the Office of Admissions located in the Jordan Student Success Building, Room 180 at 890 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO 80204. You may call the Office of Admissions at 303-556-3058 with any questions.
• It is the student’s responsibility to request that all required official credentials be sent directly from the issuing institution or agency to the Office of Admissions. Hand-carried documents delivered in a sealed envelope will also be accepted.
• Although an applicant’s college record may be summarized on one transcript, an official transcript from each institution attended is required.
• For information on obtaining records and receiving credit for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and military training or other training, see the Alternative Credit Options section .
• The Admissions application and all credentials received by the university will be valid for two semesters beyond the term of application. Applicants wishing to attend MSU Denver after this period must submit a new application and application credentials that were not submitted and are outstanding.
• Applicants will be notified of their application status within two to three weeks.

Admission of Previously Enrolled (Readmit) Students

Readmit students are defined as individuals who have previously enrolled and have received a grade or grade notation at the university but have not been in attendance at MSU Denver for three consecutive semesters, including summer. Readmit students should:

• Submit a completed Application for Admission.
• Submit transcripts from institutions attended since last attending MSU Denver (if degree-seeking).
  If the student was not previously degree-seeking, then the student must submit transcripts from all institutions attended.

Readmit students who originally attended MSU Denver prior to 1998 are required to resubmit all credentials. In addition, all students who have not submitted final, official high school transcripts or an official GED report must also submit these credentials.

Admission of Non-degree-Seeking Students

The non-degree-seeking student classification meets the needs of students who wish to take college courses, but who do not currently intend to work toward a baccalaureate degree at MSU Denver. With the exception of high school students who have completed the concurrent enrollment approval process, non-degree students must have graduated from high school or received a GED to qualify for admission. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid, nor will any college transcripts submitted be evaluated for transfer credit.

Admission of International Students

Applicants who are international students (as determined by the Office of Admissions) seeking admission or to transfer need to submit the online Application for Admission. In addition, they are required to submit:

1. A minimum of an official high school transcript/diploma that is comparable to a U.S. high school transcript/diploma. Any high school credential issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by a word-for-word certified English translation. This requirement is waived if the student can transfer 24 or more college credits to MSU Denver. Students must submit official college transcripts to qualify. For non-U.S. college/university transcripts, a professional course by course translation and evaluation completed by a professional transcript evaluation service, in addition to the official transcript(s), will be required. The service agency must be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.) 
2. English language proficiency as determined by the Office of Admissions.

Applicants who are current F-1 visa holders seeking to transfer or who are seeking initial F-1 student status in addition to the above, are required to submit:

1. Documents demonstrating sufficient financial support to cover the costs of attending the university for one academic year as determined by the Office of Admissions.
2. Travel documents and proof of nonimmigrant status as requested by the Office of Admissions.

Application deadlines for F-1 international students are typically earlier than those for other applicants. Please refer to the Office of International Admissions website for more information.

Admission Notification

Once admitted, students will be mailed and emailed instructions regarding their admissions, course registration and other relevant information. All incoming degree seeking students new to MSU Denver are required to attend a New Student Orientation session. After orientation, first-time college students are also required to meet with an academic advisor. Depending upon a student’s submission of and performance on the ACT or SAT, placement tests may also be required and should be completed prior to attending orientation. Students denied admission may appeal the decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the Office of Admissions, along with new and compelling academic information, letters of recommendation and other supportive documentation.

College Credit in High School

Information regarding college credit in high school can be found at https://www.msudenver.edu/innovative-lifelong-learning/collegecreditinhighschool/. 

Rescinding Admission to MSU Denver

If MSU Denver discovers that a student knowingly omitted information, provided false information on the application for admission, or submitted fraudulent documents, the Office of Admissions may rescind the student’s acceptance to the university.

Appeal Process

The student may appeal to the Chief Enrollment Officer within five working days of the date of the decision. Such appeals shall be in writing and the student will be notified in writing of the outcome of the appeal within 15 working days. The decision of the Chief Enrollment Officer will be final.

Transfer Services

The Office of Transfer Services offers assistance to students transferring from other institutions to MSU Denver. Specific services provided include the following:

• Assistance with admission requirements and the application process;
• Weekly visits to local community colleges in the Denver metro area;
• Visits to other Colorado community colleges once or twice annually;
• Guidance on selecting appropriate transferable courses;
• Preliminary transcript evaluation;
• Transfer student scholarship information;
• Referral assistance to academic departments;
• Resolution of transfer course issues.

Transfer counselors are available for walk-in counseling. Counselors work closely with transcript evaluators to provide students with information about transfer credits and how those credits may be applied to their degree programs. General questions regarding a transfer evaluation or preliminary evaluation should be referred to the Office of Admissions/Transfer Services, Jordan Student Success Building, Room 180, or transferquestions@msudenver.edu. For questions about Transfer Credit Evaluation, please see the Registration and Records  section of the catalog.

Tuition Classification

A student is classified as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes at the time of admission. This classification is based on information supplied by the student on the application for admission and is made in accordance with the Colorado Tuition Classification Law (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado revised Statutes). Once determined, a student’s tuition classification status remains unchanged unless clear and convincing evidence that a change should be made is presented. If a student believes that they are entitled to in-state status, the student must submit their request, along with evidence of in-state status to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline dates. Details on university policies and procedures as they pertain to the Colorado Tuition Law, the forms and deadlines can be found at msudenver.edu/admissions/residency.

The tuition classification statute requires that, in order to qualify for in-state status, a student (or the parents or legal guardian of the student in the case of students under 23 years of age who are not emancipated) must have been domiciled in Colorado for one year or more immediately preceding the first day of the semester for which such classification is sought.

Domicile for tuition purposes requires two inseparable elements: (1) a permanent place of habitation in Colorado and (2) intent to remain in Colorado with no intent to be domiciled elsewhere. Some examples of connections with the state that provide objective evidence of intent are: payment of Colorado state income tax as a Colorado resident, permanent employment in Colorado, ownership of residential real estate property in Colorado, compliance with laws imposing a mandatory duty on any domiciliary of the state, such as the drivers’ license law and the vehicle registration law and registration to vote. Other factors unique to the individual can also be used to demonstrate the requisite intent.

Any questions regarding the tuition classification law should be directed to the Tuition Classification Officer with the Office of the Admissions. In order to qualify for in-state status for a particular semester, the student must prove that domicile began no later than one year prior to the first day of classes for that semester. Refer to the Academic Calendar  for deadlines to submit the proper request.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Through WUE, students in western states/territories (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana, Islands, Federal States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau) may enroll in many two-year and four-year college programs at a reduced tuition level. At MSU Denver, WUE students pay 150 percent of the student’s share of Colorado resident tuition plus mandatory fees.

WUE is open to new students who meet both MSU Denver admission and WUE program requirements. New students applying for the WUE program must submit an application for admission by the admissions application deadline and a WUE application by the published census date of the student’s first semester. The student may be required to provide evidence of residency in one of the qualifying states. If the student is under 23 years of age, evidence of residency for both parent/guardian and student may be required. Students who are accepted in the program are ineligible to petition for in-state tuition during their time of attendance at MSU Denver. The WUE program is not available to current MSU Denver students.

Page modified on July 18, 2024.