Post Secondary Enrollment Option

  • Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

    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 and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, 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 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 may take one career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.

    There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year. For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

    State eligibility guidelines are as follows...
    • Seniors - Top half of class or better
    • Juniors - Top third of class or better
    • Sophomores - 8th grade MCA Reading composite proficiency level of "meets or exceeds" (for CTE courses only)
    • Qualifying Scores on ACT or Placement Test
    Process
    • Student/Parent/Counselor Meeting is required to initiate PSEO application.
    • Please note that Colleges may set PSEO enrollment standards at a higher level.
    Other information
    • Students' grades become part of their permanent college transcript
    • Student is responsible for fulfilling high school graduation requirements
    • Parents are not notified of attendance or programs
    • Students' peer group changes; part of an adult environment instead of a high school setting
    • Academic schedules at the high school and the college do not align

    For questions on PSEO please contact:

    Darcy Josephson, Asst. Superintendent - Teaching & Learning, (320) 762-2141 ext. 4205, djosephson@alexschools.org