Freshman Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to Mizzou for Fall 2027, you must meet the requirements for one of the following options:

Option 1 – Submit test scores

Complete the 17 required high school courses listed in the High School Coursework section below with satisfactory grades.
Earn the minimum test score shown in the Test Scores tables below.

Read about test scores below

Option 2 – Test-optional review

Complete the 17 required high school courses listed in the High School Coursework section below with satisfactory grades AND
Choose a test-optional review and complete the required short essay questions as part of your application for admission

Learn more about test-optional admission

High School 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
- Statistics
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
- Forensic 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: 6875
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 – Test Scores

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 – Test Scores

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

What if you don’t meet the requirements?

You can still apply if you do not meet the minimums listed in the charts above or are missing one or two required high school courses.

Applicants who do not meet Mizzou’s published admission requirements automatically receive a comprehensive review. We consider:

– The rigor of your high school curriculum
– Your core course GPA
– Any extenuating circumstances explained in a personal statement or letter of recommendation

After reviewing your application, we may recommend that you retake the ACT or SAT. We may also wait until later in your senior year to make an admission decision.

Other Options for Denied Students

Students who applied for admission but have been denied may qualify for another pathway to Mizzou:

Trial Admission: Available to some students graduating from Missouri high schools.
Tiger Pathways : Another potential route for students who were denied.
Verto Tigers Abroad: Please contact Mizzou Admissions for more details.

Core GPA

Mizzou calculates your core GPA using grades from:

All English, science, social studies and foreign language courses
All math courses at the Algebra I level or higher
Your highest grade in a fine arts course

High School Equivalency

If you have a high school equivalency certificate, you must meet separate admission requirements.

Home-Schooled Students

Students attending home school, or an unaccredited high school, must earn at least a 24 composite on the ACT or an 1160 SAT Total score (combined critical reading and math score) and submit a transcript stating completion of required course work to be eligible for admission. Home-schooled or students from an unaccredited high school are not eligible to apply for a test-optional admission review.

To provide an objective, standardized benchmark of academic readiness, students attending home school, or an unaccredited high school, are required to submit a standardized test score (ACT or SAT). Home school, and unaccredited high school, curricula and grading scales vary widely, these test scores validate the student’s transcript and ensure they have the foundational skills needed to succeed in college. Test scores act as an external verification that the GPA and coursework reflect genuine academic mastery.

Students Attending Non-Accredited Schools

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.