Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Domestic Students

Unofficial Transcript (Domestic):

A transcript that is submitted by the student directly. Accepted methods are:

• Uploading directly to application portal (PDF files preferred) dsu.edu/AppPortal
• Emailed to admissions@dsu.edu
• Mailed to DSU Admissions at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

Official Transcript (Domestic):

A transcript that is sent directly to DSU from the school (high schools or colleges). Accepted methods are:

• Electronically through Third-Party Services used by the school such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.
• Emailed to admissions@dsu.edu by an authorized school counselor/official. (only for high school transcripts)
• Mailed to DSU Admissions at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

International Students

Unofficial Transcript (International):

A transcript that is submitted by the student directly. Accepted methods are:

• Uploading directly to application portal (PDF files preferred) dsu.edu/AppPortal
• Emailed to international@dsu.edu
• Mailed to DSU International Programs Office at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

Official Transcript (International First-Time undergraduates):

A transcript that is sent by the high school directly. Accepted methods are:

• Emailed to international@dsu.edu by an authorized school counselor/official
• Mailed to International Programs Office at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

Official Transcript (International Transfer undergraduates):

To send a non-US college transcript, an evaluation done by an official organization such as WES/ECE/Spantran etc. is required. Accepted submission methods are:

• Results of evaluation emailed to international@dsu.edu by the organization
• Results of evaluation mailed to International Programs Office at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

To send a US college transcript, please contact the school to send your official transcript directly to us. Accepted methods are:

• Electronically through Third-Party Services used by the school such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.
• Emailed to international@dsu.edu by an authorized school counselor/official
• Mailed to DSU International Programs Office at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

To send us a high school transcript, please contact the school to send your official transcript directly to us. Accepted methods are:

• Electronically through Third-Party Services used by the school such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.
• Emailed to international@dsu.edu by an authorized school counselor/official
• Mailed to DSU International Programs Office at 820 N Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042

If you're under 24 and graduated from high school, you'll enter DSU as a freshman. You must fulfill one requirement from each of these two categories.

GPA or test scores

Fulfill one of these three requirements:

• An ACT composite score of 18 or above or a Total score on the SAT (Math and Evidence-Based Reading) of 950 or above
• A cumulative GPA of 2.6 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Rank in the upper 60 percent of your high school graduating class

If you do not meet one of these three requirements, you may still be admitted under probation or exception policies. Contact DSU Admissions to discuss your options. 888.DSU.9988

Official policies can be complex and confusing so we’re here to help! Please contact our Admission Office at admissions@dsu.edu for more details on how you may be admitted to DSU. 

Coursework or equivalent test scores

Complete these courses, or demonstrate equivalent test scores, in all of these categories:

English

• Four years of English or,
• ACT English subtest score of 18+ or,
• AP English score of 3+

Advanced mathematics

• Three years of advanced mathematics or, 
• ACT Math subtest score of 20+ or,
• AP Calculus score of 3+

Laboratory science

• Three years of laboratory science or,
• ACT Science Reasoning subtest score of 17+ or,
• AP Science score of 3+

Social science

• Three years of social science or,
• ACT Social Studies/Reading subtest score of 17+ or,
• AP Social Studies score of 3+

Fine arts

• One year of fine arts or,
• AP Fine Arts score of 3+

Computer science

As a DSU applicant, we expect you to have:

• Basic keyboarding skills
• Experience using the Internet
• A basic understanding of computer word processing applications, as well as database and spreadsheet programs

You may meet these expectations through high school coursework.

If you meet the admission requirements, but not the course requirements listed above, you can be admitted to an associate degree program. Once you complete the associate program, you may apply for admission into a bachelor's program.

If you did not graduate from high school, you must meet both of the requirements below:

• Be 18 years or older
• Complete the GED High School Equivalency Certificate with the following minimum scores:
  • Total score of at least a 580
  • A score of at least 145 on each subject

If you were home-schooled or attended a non-accredited high school, submit an official transcript (in a semester format) for review from either an accredited regional authority or home-school provider, in conjunction with state requirements.

You must meet both of these requirements:

• Meet the minimum course requirements listed above in the "High School Graduate" section
• Submit an ACT score composite score of 18+ or a subscore on the SAT (Math and Evidence-Based Reading) of 970+

If you’re 24 or older, you should have completed one of the following:

• Graduated from high school
• Completed the GED with a minimum combined score of 580 and a score of at least 145 on each subject
• Met state requirements for the high school equivalency certificate

If you have completed less than 24 transfer credit hours, you must meet the following requirements: 

• One of the high school requirements listed above
• 1.8 cumulative college GPA
• You must be in good standing with the school you most recently attended.

If you have completed 24 - 44.99 transfer credit hours:

• 1.8 cumulative college GPA required
• You must be in good standing with the school you most recently attended.

If you have completed 45 or more transfer credit hours: 

• 2.0 cumulative college GPA required
• You must be in good standing with the school you most recently attended.

Questions?

If you do not meet these requirements, you may still be admitted under an exception policy. Contact DSU Admissions to discuss your options. 888.DSU.9988

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