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Programs

Course Placement Policies

For college level math and English.

Email Course Placement Staff

Admitted Students

Course Placement Overview

First-Year and Transfer Students

Newly admitted first-year and transfer students are placed into English and math courses based on existing academic measures. These include:

  • High school GPA
  • MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments)
  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Previous college-level coursework
  • Existing Accuplacer scores

International First-Year and Transfer Students

Newly admitted first-year and transfer international students are placed into English and math courses based on existing measures. These include:

  • ACT or SAT scores
  • Previous college-level courseword
  • Accuplacer scores

PSEO students (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) are placed using the same criteria as new entering students.

NOTE: The following placement rubric applies to domestic students who graduated from high school less than 10 years ago.

Course Placement Table using High School GPA - Math

High School GPA Math Placement
HS GPA 2.8+ and C- or better in HS algebra

Math 112

HS GPA 2.8+ and C- or better in HS algebra

Stat 154, Math 201

HS GPA 3.2+

Math 113, Math 115, Math 130, and Math 181

HS GPA 3.8+

Math 121

Course Placement Table using High School GPA - English

High School GPA English Placement
HS GPA 2.6+ ENG 101

Understanding Your Course Placement

The tables below are designed to help you understand your placement based on official university policies. For questions or help with registration, students should consult with an academic advisor.

Math Course Placement

MSU College Levels ACT Math Sub Score SAT Math Sub Score MCA Math Score Next Gen Accuplacer AAF Score
Math 1: STAT 154 19 or higher 500 or higher  1148 or higher  250 or higher
Math 2: Math 112, 201 22 or higher OR 20-21 and HS GPA 2.7 or higher 530 or higher OR 520-529 and HS GPA 2.7 or higher 1158 or higher OR 1152-1157 and HS GPA 2.7 or higher 250 or higher OR 236-249 and HS GPA 2.7 or higher
Math 3: Math 113 22 or higher 550 or higher NA 260 or higher
Math 4: Math 115, 130, 180, 181 23 or higher 560 or higher NA  260 or higher
Math 5: Math 121 24 or higher 580 or higher NA 275+ AND Accuplacer Calculus College Readiness score of 21 or higher
Math 6: Math 290 29 or higher 680 or higher NA NA

English Course Placement

MSU College Level ACT English Sub Score SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score NG Accuplacer Reading Score
English or Writing College Level: Eng 101 18 or higher OR 16-17 and HS GPA 2.5 or higher 480 or higher OR 440-479 and HS GPA 2.5 or higher 250 or higher OR 236-249 and HS GPA 2.5 or higher

International Student: English Course Placement

Course TOEFL Score (minimum) IELTS Score (minimum) Accuplacer ESL Reading Test Score Accuplace Writer Placer Score Course Pre-Requisites
Eng 101 69 (iBT) or 523 (PBT) 6 110 (and Accuplacer Writer test score 5) 6 Successful completion of Eng 100

Note: International students with a Duolingo score of 105 or PTE score of 55 are currently permitted to register for ENG 101.

Questions

For questions and course placement policies or taking the Accuplacer, please email course placement staff. 

Email Course Placement

Official University Policy Information

English 101 Course Placement Policy

Math Course Placement Policy