PSEO – Post-Secondary Enrollment Options

Updated 3/07

Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a Minnesota program open to high school juniors and seniors. The state pays tuition, fees, and books for these students who elect to attend college classes at eligible post-secondary institutions.

*The above list is by no means comprehensive but includes schools more commonly attended by EPHS PSEO students. To view the complete list and more detail about the PSEO program, check out the Minnesota Department of Education site.

Criteria for Acceptance

The receiving college must approve the student’s application, and colleges have different entrance requirements for the program which may include specific ACT, SAT or PSAT results; class rank; and teacher/counselor recommendation. In 2005-06, Augsburg allows only one course per semester, and Bethel College accepts only incoming seniors. Many (but not all) require a GPA of 3.7 or higher and a rank in the top 10-15% of the class. Interested students should meet with their EPHS counselors before EPHS registration is closed for the following year. Your counselors can give you information about entrance requirements and contacts at the various institutions, and also make sure all high school graduation requirements will be met in the process.

Course Selection

PSEO students will in most cases register for the college courses after the college students do, so courses will be on a space available basis.

Part-time PSEO or Full-time PSEO

Students can choose to go part-time PSEO and part-time EPHS, but timing can be difficult. Busing is available for the 10:00 class at Hennepin Technical College. Southwest Metro buses run from the Southwest Metro station in Eden Prairie to the University of Minnesota campus

College Acceptance of PSEO Credits

The Career Resource Center has information on whether PSEO credits are accepted or not (and, if so, to what extent) at a number of individual colleges. Some colleges will accept a maximum number of PSEO credits or accept them only if the student earns a specific grade or better. Some will accept them only if the student does not receive high school credit for them. See www.edenpr.org/ephs/students/faq.pdf or check the admissions regulations of the college(s) you may be attending.

University of Minnesota PSEO

The University of Minnesota office of Advanced High School Student Services (AHS3) administers the PSEO program. They offer an information session for prospective students and their parents, with dates to choose from in February and March. (See “For Prospective Students” at U of M PSEO.) Reservations are required.