Postsecondary Enrollment Options
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO on a term by term basis.
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the date a student registers for courses for the following school year (whichever is earlier), schools must provide PSEO information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families. To assist the district in planning, a student must inform the district by May 30 of each year of their intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year.
There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed, textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies, or for tuition costs if they do not notify the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement.
Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions.
Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.
School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.
Each year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades.
All courses taken through the PSEO program must meet graduation requirements. Districts must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Districts have the authority to decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between the district and the student regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the student may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits will be final.
Postsecondary institutions are required to allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.
Tenth-grade students may initially enroll in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) PSEO course if they receive a reading proficiency score of “meets” or “exceeds” on the 8th grade MCA. If 10th graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional postsecondary courses. If the student did not take the MCA in 8th-grade, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.
For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Student Eligibility
Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.68 and 124D.09
Public School Student Eligibility – 11th or 12th Grade Pupil, Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 5.
An 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a Minnesota public, nonpublic, home school or American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to an eligible postsecondary institution (PSI) to enroll in nonsectarian courses.
Public School Student Eligibility – 9th or 10th Grade Pupil, Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 5(b).
A 9th or 10th grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may apply to enroll in nonsectarian courses offered under 124D.83, subdivision 10 courses according to agreements, if:
- The school district and the eligible PSI providing the course agree to the student’s enrollment; or
- The course is a world language course currently available to 11th and 12th grade students, and consistent with section 120B.022 governing world language standards, certificates, and seals.
Nonpublic/Home School Student, Alternative Pupil Eligibility – 10th, 11th or 12th Grade Pupil, Minnesota Statues, section 124D.09, subdivision 4.
Alternative pupil means a 10th (Career or Technical Education (CTE) only), 11th, or 12th grade student who is not enrolled in a public school district and includes students attending nonpublic schools and students who are home schooled. An alternative pupil must register with the commissioner of education before participating in the PSEO program.
A 10th grade student qualifies as an alternative pupil if the student: (1) is enrolled in a career or technical education course offered by an eligible institution; and (2) received a passing score on the 8th grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, or another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution. A career or technical education course must meet the requirements under subdivision 5a. If an alternative pupil in 10th grade receives a grade of "C" or better in the career or technical education course taken under this subdivision, the postsecondary institution must allow the student to take additional postsecondary courses for credit at that institution, not to exceed the limits in subdivision 8.
Public School Student CTE Eligibility – 10th, 11th or 12th Grade, Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 5(a).
A 10th, 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a district or an American Indian-controlled tribal contract or grant school eligible for aid under section 124D.83, except a foreign exchange pupil enrolled in a district under a cultural exchange program, may enroll in a CTE course offered by a Minnesota state college or university. A 10th grade pupil applying to a CTE course must have received a passing score on the 8th grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in reading as a condition of enrollment. A current 10th grade pupil who did not take the 8th grade MCA in reading may substitute another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling PSI.
Limit on Participation, Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 8.
- A pupil who first enrolls in grade 9 may not enroll in PSEO courses for more than the equivalent of four academic years.
- A pupil who first enrolls in grade 10 may not enroll in PSEO courses for more than the equivalent of three academic years.
- A pupil who first enrolls in grade 11 may not enroll in PSEO courses for more than the equivalent of two academic years.
- A pupil who first enrolls in grade 12 may not enroll in PSEO courses for more than the equivalent of one academic year.
- If a pupil in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 first enrolls in PSEO during the school year, participation shall be reduced proportionately.
- If a pupil is in a learning year or other year-round program and begins each grade in the summer session, summer sessions shall not be counted against the time of participation.
- If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, the limit on participation does not apply to that pupil.
- A pupil who has graduated from high school cannot participate in a program under this section.
- A pupil who has completed requirements for graduation but who has not received a diploma may participate in the program.
Academic Year
For purposes of determining PSEO eligibility, an academic year is equivalent to a school year and is defined as July 1 through June 30.
Early Middle College Program – Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 9(b).
An institution must not enroll secondary pupils, for PSEO purposes, in remedial, developmental, or other courses that are not college level except when a student eligible to participate and enrolled in the graduation incentives program under section 124D.68 enrolls full time in a middle or early college program designed with a welldefined pathway to allow the student to earn a certificate or degree.
Fees; Textbooks; Materials – Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 20.
All textbooks and equipment provided to a pupil, and paid for by the department, are the property of the pupil’s PSI. Each pupil is required to return all textbooks and equipment to the PSI after the course has ended.
Participation in High School Activities – Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 11(a).
A school district must allow a student enrolled in a course under this section to remain at the school site during regular school hours.
Access to Building and Technology – Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivisions 11(a) and 11(b).
A school district must allow a student enrolled in a PSEO course to remain at the school site during regular school hours. A school district must adopt a policy that provides a student enrolled in PSEO with reasonable access during regular school hours to a computer and other technology resources the student needs to complete coursework for a PSEO course.
For a complete guide to postsecondary enrollment option, go to the MDE Website.
