Missouri S&T has become one of only two public universities in the state to be designated as “highly selective” in their admissions criteria.

The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education approved Missouri S&T’s request to become highly selective during its board meeting today (Thursday, June 7) at Ozarks Technical College in Springfield. Missouri S&T now joins Truman State University in the highly selective admissions category.

Interim Chancellor Christopher G. Maples

“Many of the students who choose to attend Missouri S&T already qualify for automatic admission under the highly selective criteria,” says Dr. Christopher G. Maples, Missouri S&T’s interim chancellor. “This designation by the coordinating board makes it official.”

The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) classifies the state’s public colleges and universities in one of four categories: highly selective, selective, moderately selective or open enrollment. Under MDHE’s guidelines, students who achieve a score of 27 or better on the ACT or an equivalent score on the SAT are automatically admitted to highly selective institutions.

According to MHDE, highly selective institutions admit first-time, full-time degree-seeking students and transfer students who have a combined “percentile score” of 140 points or greater. The percentile score is determined by adding a students’ high school percentile rank and the percentile rank attained on the ACT or SAT. For example, a student in the 90th percentile of his or her high school graduating class and in the 60th percentile rank of the ACT would have a combined percentile score of 150, which would qualify that student for admission into a highly selective university.

“Missouri S&T is one of the premier STEM-focused universities in the nation, and the student body has impeccable academic credentials,” says David Steelman, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. “Missouri S&T students are receiving a great return on their investment at this institution, which is also benefiting the state of Missouri. We’re very proud of the work of the university and the accomplishments of Missouri S&T’s students and alumni.”

The new designation, combined with Missouri S&T’s reputation for providing an exceptional value for students, will make the university more attractive to highly qualified out-of-state and international students while reinforcing its reputation among Missouri students, Maples says.

“Missouri S&T’s reputation for providing an outstanding return on investment is unparalleled, and we have a longstanding tradition of providing access to bright, hard-working students who see an S&T degree as a great value,” Maples says.

He adds that the university will continue its commitment to providing access to students, including those who may not meet the automatic admission or combined percentile score criteria. MDHE allows institutions to admit up to 10 percent of first-time, full-time degree-seeking students whose percentile scores are 139 or less.

“Missouri S&T attracts some of the best and brightest in the state of Missouri as well as throughout the nation and world,” says UM System President Mun Choi. “Our faculty and staff have worked hard to build Missouri S&T into a university that produces graduates who are responsible for major achievements affecting people throughout Missouri and around the globe. This new designation demonstrates the excellence that Missouri S&T has already achieved.”

Missouri S&T pursued the designation after gaining the approval of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators. The curators voted unanimously to endorse S&T’s pursuit of the highly selective status at the board’s May 21 meeting. Missouri S&T is the only UM System campus at the highly selective level. The Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis campuses all are classified as selective institutions.

Missouri S&T’s designation as a highly selective public university takes effect immediately.