Eligibility Criteria for PSEO

Riverland Community College follows the PSEO admission guidelines set forth by Minnesota State. Participation shall be available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled through a Minnesota high school, home school, or alternative learning center, who present evidence of the ability to perform college-level work. Such evidence includes the following:

10th grade (Sophomores) must:

• Meet or exceed the 8th grade Reading Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA)
  • MCA 850 or better
• If student did not take 8th grade MCA in reading, the student would need to take Accuplacer Reading prior to acceptance.
• May enroll in one Career Technical Education (CTE) course during the first term of PSEO enrollment 
  • If the student receives a grade of “C” or better in the one CTE course during their first term of enrollment at Riverland Community College, then the student can take additional postsecondary courses for secondary credit.
    Sophmore Course List

• Freshman and Sophomore Students: Freshman and Sophomore students that meet the Sophomore admission criteria associated with the MCA reading assessment or another reading assessment, may be eligible to enroll in a college concurrent or PSEO course in World Language if the course is being offered to Juniors and Seniors at their high school. In addition, Freshman and Sophomore students may be admitted to PSEO and concurrent enrollment classes if it is approved both by the college and the high school based upon an assessment of academics and emotional readiness.

11th grade (Juniors) must:

• Rank in upper third of their graduating class

                    OR

• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better

                   OR

• Score at or above the 70th percentile on a nationally standardized test.
  • For reference the 70th percentile scores are:
    • ACT Composite: 24
    • SAT Total Score: 1120
    • PSAT Composite: 1030

                   OR

• Accuplacer cut score

Students who do not meet any of the above requirements have an option to submit a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor that specifically outlines their readiness for college level coursework. The student must meet any or all of the course prerequisites, Accuplacer cut scores, or other course enrollment standards establish by the college. Recommendations will be reviewed by Academic Dean and Director of Admissions.

12th grade (Seniors) must:

• Rank in upper half of their graduating class

                   OR

• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better

                   OR

• Score at or above the 50th percentile on a nationally standardized test.
  • For reference the 50th percentile scores are:
    • ACT Composite: 20
    • SAT Total Score: 1010
    • PSAT Composite: 920

                           OR

• Accuplacer cut score

Students who do not meet any of the above requirements have an option to submit a letter of recommendation from a high school counselor that specifically outlines their readiness for college level coursework. The student must meet any or all of the course prerequisites, Accuplacer cut scores, or other course enrollment standards establish by the college. Recommendations will be reviewed by Academic Dean and Director of Admissions.