Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn college credit tuition free while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college courses. With traditional PSEO, these courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online.
 
Most PSEO courses are only open to high school students during their 11th- and 12th-grade year, with each participating college and university setting their own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses and programs. Students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis. Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act and described in the PSEO Reference Guide (below).
 
PSEO for Students and Families
Visit About PSEO for a short guide about benefits of the program, making the decision to participate and how to apply.

PSEO Notice of Student Registration (NOSR)
All students must complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) for the school year and term during which they intend to enroll. Access PSEO NOSR forms on the MDE School Finance Page.
 
Transportation Reimbursement Available for Qualified Students
Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for PSEO students whose families are at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government, to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions. If you have any questions regarding the mileage reimbursement for low-income students' participation in the PSEO program, contact Kelly Garvey at 651-582-8524.
 
 

PSEO for 10th Graders

Eligible 10th grade public, nonpublic and home school students may enroll in one state-paid Career Technical Education (CTE) course during the first term of PSEO enrollment. Not all institutions offer PSEO to 10th grade students or have CTE courses. Visit our PSEO for 10th Graders (CTE Pathway) page to learn about student and course requirements for the 10th Grade CTE Pathway. Please contact each institution for specific course questions.
 
For a list of campuses offering PSEO to 10th grade students, including eligible CTE courses, access the Participating Postsecondary Institutions List. 

Participating Institutions and Course Offerings

Postsecondary institutions must be located in Minnesota and approved by the Minnesota Department of Education to offer PSEO as defined by the PSEO statute. Each participating college and university sets their own requirements and deadlines for enrollment into PSEO courses and programs. Students may enroll in more than one institution during the same term. 
 
Visit the Eligible Institutions and Courses page to find out more about Minnesota campuses offering PSEO and what kinds of courses are PSEO-eligible by state statute and MDE policy. 

Tuition and Fees

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 or for textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies.

How to Enroll in PSEO

Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements by grade level and abide by participation limits outlined in the PSEO Reference Guide (download above). All students should meet with their high school counselor to discuss eligibility, graduation requirements and the benefits and risks of enrolling in the PSEO program.
 
Interested and eligible 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students should contact the postsecondary institution to find out about their admissions requirements, which courses are offered, and what the application process and timeline is at that institution.
 
All students must complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) for the school year and term during which they intend to enroll.
 

Public School Students

Public school students should work directly with their high school counselor to complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration. The school/district completes section two of the form.
 
Inform your District/School of your Intent to Enroll by May 30 
Public school students are required to inform their district of their intent to enroll in PSEO courses during the following school year by May 30. If public school students do not notify the enrolling district by May 30 and the enrolling district does not waive this deadline on the PSEO Notice of Student Registration, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary tuition expense.

Nonpublic and Home School Students

Nonpublic (private) school students should work directly with their high school counselor to complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration. The private school completes section two of the form.
 
Home school students should work directly with the postsecondary institution to complete the PSEO Notice of Student Registration. The home school completes section two of the form.
 
Nonpublic and home school students must register with the commissioner of education each year of PSEO enrollment even after age 17.
 
How to Register with the Commissioner of Education
Complete and submit one of the following forms, available on the MDE Nonpublic and Homeschools page: 
  • Initial Registration Form for Unaccredited Schools - to be submitted to the resident school superintendent by October 1 of each year, or within 15 days of withdrawing a child from public school, or, 
  • Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction - to be submitted to the resident school superintendent by October 1 of each year after the home school has provided the same district with an Initial Registration Form.

Additional Information for Public School Students

Participation in High School Activities
Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.
 
Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The PSEO statute does not differentiate students with disabilities from their general education peers. Therefore, the participation limits and student eligibility guidelines explained in the PSEO Reference Guide (download above) apply uniformly to all public school students.
 
Dissemination of PSEO Information by Districts and Charter Schools
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), a district must provide up-to-date information on the district's or charter school’s website and in materials that are distributed to all students and their parents in grades eight through grade 11 about the program, including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit.
 
District Grade Weighting Policies 
Each year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades.
 
Access to School Building and Technology 
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.
 
Credits and Transcripts
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.
 
Extended Eligibility for Students Not on Track to Graduate
If a school district determines a student is not on track to graduate with their cohort, the student may continue to participate in PSEO on a term-by-term basis. Check with your school counselor if this applies to you.
 
PSEO State-Approved Early/Middle College Programs
PSEO funding can be used for developmental courses only when a student is enrolled in a State-Approved Alternative Program’s Early/Middle College. This program is specifically designed to allow the student to earn dual high school and college credit with a well-defined pathway leading to a postsecondary degree or credential. Find out if your school partners with a postsecondary institution to offer this unique opportunity.