Alcorn State University
Where Knowledge and Character Matter ®

Admissions Requirements

ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY

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All inquiries concerning admission to Alcorn State University should be directed to the Office of Admissions. To be eligible for admission, a person must be a graduate of a recognized high school. Persons who are not high school graduates are required to pass the General Education Development (GED) test and make a satisfactory score on the ACT and/or SAT before being admitted.


Applications for admission are accepted any time during the calendar year. Persons interested in applying should write or call the Admissions Office for instructions on applying. All applicants should have high school and/or college transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, or a GED passing score transcript sent directly to the Office of Admissions, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, 39096-7500.

When the application for admission, ACT or SAT profile, transcript and/or GED transcript is received, the applicant will be notified concerning his/her status. It is advantageous to submit a partial transcript, as this will enable the staff to evaluate the academic record and provide an early response to the applicant’s request for admission. Partial transcripts should include all available grades earned from freshman year to present. The partial transcript does not substitute for the final transcript, which should be submitted after graduating from high school.

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ADMISSION OF FORMER STUDENTS

Former students in good standing who have not enrolled for one or more semesters (summer session excluded) must fill out an application for readmission that is available online. A former student must be in good standing before being readmitted.

Alcorn State University adheres to the principle of equal opportunity. The university does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap.

Undergraduate Requirements

There are five ways to gain Freshman Undergraduate admission to Alcorn State University:

  1. Complete the College Prep Curriculum as listed below with a minimum 3.2 GPA.
  2. Complete the College Prep Curriculum with a minimum 2.5 GPA and score at least 16 or higher on the ACT or rank in the upper 50% of your class and score at least 16 or higher on the ACT.
  3. Complete the College Prep Curriculum with a minimum 2.0 GPA and score 18 or higher on the ACT.
  4. Students who meet full-qualifier certification requirements for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
  5. Summer Developmental Program

*In lieu of ACT scores, students may submit equivalent SAT scores.

Students 21 Years of Age or Over

A student 21 years of age or over who does not meet or satisfy admission requirements set forth in paragraph B or C above may apply for admission as a non-degree-seeking student. Admission may be granted for such programs or courses as he or she may be prepared to enter. Degree-seeking student status may be achieved by meeting admission standards as set forth in paragraph B or C above or by completing a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours with a "C" average or higher. Persons who are not high school graduates are required to pass the General Education Development (GED) test.

Applicants Under Age 21 Without A High School Diploma

Applicants under age 21 who have not graduated from a regionally accredited high school must submit qualifying scores on the General Education Development Test (GED) or be home-schooled. Submission of scores on the ACT or SAT is strongly encouraged. Home-schooled students must present portfolios which summarize their educational experiences and other applicants must submit transcripts reflecting academic performance in courses taken. All applicants must appear for an on-campus interview.

Applicants Without A High School Diploma

Applicants who have not graduated from a regionally accredited high school and were not home-schooled must submit qualifying scores on the General Education Development Test (GED) and any transcripts reflecting academic performance in high school. Home-schooled students must present portfolios summarizing his or her home-school education. Submission of scores on the ACT or SAT is strongly encouraged. Applicants may be required, at the discretion of the admitting IHL institution, to appear for an on-campus interview.

College Prep Curriculum for Freshman Class of 2023

  • English: (4 Carnegie Units) Units must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading and Writing may not be included

  • Mathematics: (4 Carnegie Units) CPC-approved math (1 unit), Algebra I or its equivalent, Math higher than Algebra I (2 units)

  • Science: (3 Carnegie-Units) Biology I or its equivalent, Science higher than Biology I (2 units)

  • Social Studies: (3 Carnegie Units) Units must include integrated courses of social sciences and humanities promoting civic competence
  • Arts: (1 Carnegie Unit) Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two 1/2 units) of visual and performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high school graduation

  • Advanced Electives: (2 Carnegie Units) Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II, Option 2: Foreign Language I and one unit from option 3, Option 3: (1) Any combination of an advanced level course above the required Carnegie units as noted in the (a) Office of Academic and Student Affairs CPC Manuel and/or any (b) Advanced Placement (AP), Academic or Career and Technical Duel Credit (DC), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) course. (2) Completion of any two-year Career and Technical course may count as one unit. Example: completion of both Health Sciences I and II will count as an advanced elective.

  • Technology or Computer Science Course: (1 Carnegie Unit) A technology course is defined as one that emphasizes the use of technology as a productivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. the application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course. A computer science course emphasizes computational thinking to solve problems. Courses will involve the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their applications, and their impact on society and should include focus on one or more of the following core concepts: computing systems, networks and the internet, data and analysis, algorithms and programming, and impacts of computing. Course equivalent or additional advanced elective may be acceptable for non-Mississippi residents.

Notes:

  • Pre-High School units: Courses taken prior to high school will be accepted for admission provided the course earns Carnegie credit and the content is the same as the high school course
  • Substitutions: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Academic or Career and Technical Duel Credit (DC) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses may be substituted for each requirement in the College Preparatory Curriculum
  • Course Acceptance: A course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement.

The Required and Recommended College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) are approved by the IHL Board of Trustees and maintained by the IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs.


You must have the following items on file in the Office of Admissions in order for your application to be processed:

  1. Application for Admissions (online)
  2. ACT/SAT Scores
  3. Appropriate final Transcripts (High School or College)
  4. Immunization Records (MMR) Click for more information