Freshman Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to Mizzou for Fall 2024, you must meet the requirements for one of the following options:
Option 1
- Complete the 17 specific high school courses listed below with good grades AND
- Earn the minimum test score according to the tables below
Read below for more information on Option 1.
Option 2 (available only for Fall 2024)
- Complete the 17 specific high school courses listed below with good grades AND
- Choose a test-optional review and complete the required short essay questions as part of your application for admission
Read more information about Option 2 on the Test-Optional page.
High School Coursework
You must complete a minimum of 17 units (one unit = one year) of the following coursework:
English: 4 Units
- One unit may be in speech or debate.
- Two units must focus on composition or writing skills.
- Acceptable
- English Literature
- Speech
- Debate
- Not Acceptable
- Yearbook
- Acting
- Theater
- Drama
- Business English
- Media
Mathematics: 4 Units
- All units must be Algebra I or higher-level courses.
- Acceptable
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Trigonometry
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus
- Geometry
- Analytical Geometry
- Math Analysis
- Non-Acceptable
- Computer Math
- Programming
- Consumer Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Accounting
- Basic Math
- Technical Math
- Computer Science
Science: 3 Units
- One unit must be a laboratory course
- Acceptable
- Earth Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Not Acceptable
- General Science
Social Studies: 3 Units
- Acceptable
- World History
- American History
- American Government
- Principles of Democracy
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Economics
Foreign Language: 2 Units
- Both units must be in the same language. For degree programs in the College of Arts & Science and the School of Journalism, students who have taken four units of the same language may be exempt from MU’s degree requirement of foreign language.
- ASL is acceptable
Fine Arts: 1 Unit
Students missing one of the core course requirements may still be considered for admission if all other requirements are met.
Test Scores
If you are able to take the ACT or SAT, be sure to send your scores to Mizzou each time you take either test.
Mizzou will use the superscores provided from ACT and calculate a superscore for all official SAT scores sent directly from College Board. We will use superscores for admission and scholarship decisions and will retroactively superscore ACT and SAT exams for students entering Mizzou as freshmen for all tests taken since 2016.
Our institution codes are:
- College Board (SAT) code: 006875
- ACT code: 2382
The writing sections of the ACT and SAT will not affect your admission.
The test score and class rank or core GPA you must earn to be admissible are shown in the charts for ranking and non-ranking high schools below.
Ranking High Schools
We only use this table if your high school gives each student a class rank. We do not accept class ranks given by a high school classified as non-ranking. This table shows the minimum test scores and class rank you must earn.
| ACT | SAT | Class Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 24+ | 1160+ | Any rank with 2.0+ core GPA |
| 23 | 1130–1150 | Top 52% |
| 22 | 1100–1120 | Top 46% |
| 21 | 1060–1090 | Top 38% |
| 20 | 1030–1050 | Top 31% |
| 19 | 990–1020 | Top 22% |
| 18 | 960–980 | Top 14% |
| 17 | 920–950 | Top 6% |
Non-Ranking High Schools
We only use this table if your high school does not rank. The table below shows the minimum test scores and core GPA you must earn.
Your core GPA is recalculated using only the core courses listed above. Your core GPA might be lower than your transcript GPA.
| ACT | SAT | Core GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 24+ | 1160+ | 2.0+ |
| 23 | 1130–1150 | 2.80 |
| 22 | 1100–1120 | 2.90 |
| 21 | 1060–1090 | 3.05 |
| 20 | 1030–1050 | 3.20 |
| 19 | 990-1020 | 3.35 |
| 18 | 960-980 | 3.50 |
| 17 | 920-950 | 3.65 |
Below Minimum Requirements
What happens if you don’t meet the minimums listed in the charts above? What if you are missing a required course (or two)? You can definitely still apply. Applicants who do not quite meet our published admission requirements automatically receive a comprehensive review that considers the rigor of the curriculum, core course GPA and extenuating circumstances mentioned in an accompanying personal statement or letter of recommendation. We might recommend that you re-take the ACT or SAT, or we’ll wait to make a decision until later in your senior year.
Some students graduating from Missouri high schools who have applied for admission but been denied might be eligible for Mizzou’s Trial Admission Program.
Students who have applied for admission but been denied might also be eligible for Mizzou’s Tiger Pathways program.
High School Equivalency
If you have a high school equivalency certificate, you must meet separate admission requirements.
Home-Schooled Students
Because class rank and core GPA do not apply to home-schooled students, you must earn at least a 24 composite on the ACT or an 1160 SAT combined critical reading and math score to be eligible for admission. You also must submit a transcript stating you have completed the required course work.
Students Attending Non-Accredited Schools
Students graduating from a non-accredited high school must earn at least a 24 composite on the ACT or an 1160 SAT combined critical reading and math score to be eligible for admission. You also must submit a transcript saying you completed the required course work.
Admission to Programs and Majors
Freshman admission does not guarantee admission to professional or upper-division programs. Many majors have competitive or selective admission after the freshman year. Programs that currently have separate admission criteria include journalism, engineering, business and others.