Direct Admissions Minnesota

Program Description: 

Direct Admissions Minnesota proactively notifies seniors at participating Minnesota high schools of their eligibility for admission at multiple partner colleges and universities. Students are extended general admission to the schools on their list should they complete the application and maintain their eligibility. The program uses existing available K-12 data to review each student’s academic performance and aligns it to pre-established admissions criteria. Students receive a notification and survey in early fall indicating which colleges will admit them so they can reserve their spot. Direct Admissions seeks to increase college-going promotion and behavior by jump-starting the search process and removing self-selection bias. The program aims to reduce college-going anxiety through increasing knowledge and awareness of affordable options throughout the state while showing students that they have access to high quality certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees if they choose to further their education. 
 
Although students are extended admissions, they still need to submit applications to colleges and universities in order to attend. All participating colleges and universities have waived their application fees for direct admission applicants. Over 50 Minnesota colleges and universities participate from every higher education sector, including community colleges, technical colleges, tribal colleges, and public and private four-year institutions.  

Impact: 

Students participating in Direct Admissions Minnesota are more likely to enroll at a Minnesota college and are more likely to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Among 2024-2025 Direct Admissions respondents, 53 percent were found enrolled in a Minnesota college in the fall after high school graduation, as compared to 31 percent of non-responding 12^th grade students at a participating high school. Of that same cohort of respondents, 75 percent filed a FAFSA as compared to 53 percent of non-responding 12^th grade students at a participating high school. Since 2022, 19,551 students have been proactively admitted to Minnesota colleges and universities without having to first apply, a cumulative savings to students of over $1,169,750 on application fees and reducing disparities in educational attainment. 

Population Served: 

Seniors at participating high schools. Students of color and low-income students at participating schools were more likely to complete the FAFSA and enroll in college than these historically excluded populations at non-participating schools.

Key Steps for Implementation: 

• Direct Admissions Minnesota was established by the state legislature in 2021. 

• Implemented in Fall 2022, with 31 high schools participating. 

• Program given an additional $1.3 million in funding in 2023 legislative session. 

• Program expanded to include around 320 participating high schools with over 48,000 eligible seniors in 75 percent of the counties throughout the state. The program hopes to be in every public secondary and charter high school wanting to participate by 2030. 

Learn more here.