Last Updated: Sunday July 26, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
Midwestern State University (MSU-Texas) — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Public Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Wichita Falls, Texas 87.4% Acceptance Rate

Midwestern State University (MSU-Texas) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 Wichita Falls, Texas 76308-2099 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 www.msutexas.edu/

Midwestern State University — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

87.4%Acceptance Rate
3.2Avg GPA
1005Avg SAT
$22,411Annual Cost
$55,747Grad Salary
40%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
87.4%
Avg GPA
3.2
Avg SAT
1005
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
965–1035
Avg Net Price
$11,882
Need-Based Aid
40% receive Pell

Midwestern State University is a public liberal arts institution in Texas known for its commitment to student-centered learning and regional impact. Admissions prioritize academic success and involvement. The university looks for students who will contribute to its diverse and collaborative campus culture and who are eager to participate in its small, personalized, and interdisciplinary academic programs.

Midwestern State University Acceptance Rate

Admission at Midwestern State University is inclusive by design: 87.4% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.

What to Expect

  • Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
  • Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.

Selectivity at a Glance

Inclusive
Midwestern State University Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 87.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.75
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).

Midwestern State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026

Midwestern State University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.

Key Admission Dates

🔄
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime

MSU-Texas reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.

$75Application Fee
February 1, 2026Scholarship Deadline
RollingAdmission Type

💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.

Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.

MSU-Texas GPA Requirement

The average GPA of admitted students at MSU-Texas is 3.2. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.

In the 2.90–3.2 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.

Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.40–3.60.

MSU-Texas GPA & Admission Outlook

Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.

Recommended Strategy: Leans on context — leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.

This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.80 – 2.99
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.79
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors

Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here

  • Automatic admission uses a specific decision grid, not a single GPA cutoff - e.g., a 2.75-2.99 GPA still qualifies for automatic admission if paired with 2+ IB/AP/Pre-AP/honors/dual-credit courses at a 2.00+ collegiate GPA, plus an ACT of 16+ or SAT of 880+.
  • ACT scores are described by multiple sources as genuinely test-blind at MSU (not considered even if submitted), a meaningfully different policy than standard test-optional; confirm current-cycle policy directly before investing in ACT testing specifically for this application.
  • Wilson School of Nursing BSN admission requires a 3.0 GPA across 10 specific prerequisite courses plus an 80+ composite HESI A2 score in both Math and English; MSU no longer operates its own testing center, requiring registration through the Wichita Falls Prometric Testing Center under the Nursing Department's specific ID.
  • MSU formally joined the Texas Tech University System in September 2021 as its fifth member institution - a relatively recent structural change worth researching for concrete cross-system student benefits.
  • Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
  • Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.

Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

Check Your Admission Chances at MSU-Texas

Admission Chance Predictor

Built from Midwestern State University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below

--%
Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.

Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.

Midwestern State University (MSU-Texas) Test Requirements

Scores aren't just a formality at MSU-Texas — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.

Can I Get Into MSU-Texas Without SAT or ACT?

MSU-Texas neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.

Midwestern State University Average SAT Score: 1005

Admitted students at Midwestern State University average a 1005 SAT (out of 1600).

SAT Competitiveness

Midwestern State University SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1005 — Accessible

A 1005 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.

Composite
1005
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1035 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Midwestern State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.

Scored under 965? A retake is worth it at MSU-Texas — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.

SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

SAT score percentiles for Midwestern State University
SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
SAT Math---
SAT Reading---
SAT Composite10059651035

A score under 965 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1035+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)

View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000

Can I get into Midwestern State University (MSU-Texas) with a 1050 SAT?

At 1050, your SAT is squarely in MSU-Texas's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for MSU-Texas

Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation

MSU-Texas is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.

Use MSU's Precise Automatic-Admission Grid to Calculate Your Exact Path - The 2.75-2.99 GPA Band Has a Specific, Narrow Escape Hatch Worth Understanding in Detail

MSU Texas doesn't use a single blanket GPA cutoff - it publishes a specific decision grid where, for example, a student with a 2.75-2.99 high school GPA can still be automatically admitted if they've completed at least two IB, AP/Pre-AP, honors, or dual-credit courses with a minimum 2.00 collegiate GPA in that coursework, combined with an ACT no lower than 16 or an SAT no lower than 880. This is a meaningfully generous path for a student whose overall GPA sits in that specific band but who has genuine rigor signals elsewhere on the transcript - if you're a junior or senior with a GPA hovering in the high-2s, deliberately enroll in at least two qualifying advanced courses (IB, AP/Pre-AP, honors, or dual credit) specifically to activate this pathway, and don't assume a sub-3.0 GPA locks you out of automatic admission consideration, since MSU's own stated criteria explicitly account for this exact scenario.

Know That MSU Is Structurally "Test-Blind" for ACT Specifically Even Though It's Marketed as Test-Optional - This Distinction Changes Whether Submitting an ACT Score Ever Helps You

Multiple independent admissions-data sources describe MSU's actual policy toward ACT scores as "not considered for admission, even if submitted" - meaning unlike a standard test-optional school where a strong score can still tip a borderline decision if you choose to submit it, MSU's ACT policy is described as genuinely test-blind, with the score excluded from admission review regardless of whether you send it. This is a subtler and more specific distinction than "test-optional" implies on its face. Before spending money and testing time on an ACT specifically to strengthen your MSU application, confirm the current-cycle policy directly with MSU admissions, since this test-blind characterization (versus a standard test-optional policy where submission can still help) meaningfully changes whether that specific investment of time and money pays off for this particular application.

Understand the Real Numbers Behind Wilson School of Nursing Admission - Roughly 70-80 Seats From a Pool of Around 300 Applicants, With a Specific 3.0 GPA Threshold Calculated Across Exactly 10 Named Prerequisite Courses

MSU's BSN admission requires a cumulative 3.0 GPA calculated specifically across 10 named prerequisite courses (not your overall college GPA broadly), plus a required HESI A2 assessment with a minimum composite score of 80 in both the Math and English sections specifically - and student-reported data suggests the program typically admits somewhere in the range of 70-80 students out of roughly 300 applicants per cycle, making this a genuinely competitive program layered on top of MSU's otherwise accessible general admission (~87-93% depending on the source and year). Because MSU no longer operates its own on-campus testing center or Prometric center for the HESI, you'll need to register through the Prometric Testing Center in Wichita Falls specifically (using the Nursing Department's registration ID) or test at another approved location - confirm current testing logistics directly with the Wilson School of Nursing office well before your application deadline, since testing-center availability and registration processes are exactly the kind of administrative detail that can create last-minute complications if left until close to a deadline.

Factor In MSU's 2021 Move Into the Texas Tech University System When Evaluating Long-Term Institutional Trajectory and Potential Cross-System Benefits

In September 2021, Midwestern State University formally joined the Texas Tech University System as its fifth member institution - a genuine structural and governance change from MSU's prior status as a standalone public university. This kind of system affiliation can carry real downstream implications worth researching directly with MSU admissions: potential cross-institution resource sharing, research collaboration opportunities, or system-level scholarship and transfer arrangements that wouldn't exist for a fully independent university. If you're comparing MSU against other standalone regional Texas universities, ask specifically what concrete student-facing benefits (not just administrative ones) have emerged from the Texas Tech System affiliation since 2021, since this is a relatively recent and still-evolving institutional relationship rather than a long-established one.

Expert Insight:

Nursing-track applicants sometimes treat MSU's overall high acceptance rate (commonly cited between 87-93% depending on source) as representative of how competitive the Wilson School of Nursing's BSN program actually is - but Niche's own student-sourced admissions commentary describes the nursing acceptance process as "not easy," citing roughly 70-80 admitted seats from an applicant pool of around 300, and explicitly advises applying to multiple nursing programs simultaneously given the program's real competitiveness; conflating MSU's general institutional accessibility with its nursing program's actual admission odds could lead a student to under-prepare for what is, in practice, a selective secondary gate.

MSU-Texas Profile

Full Name
Midwestern State University (MSU-Texas)
City
Wichita Falls
State
Texas
ZIP Code
76308-2099
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)

Is a MSU-Texas Degree Worth It?

At $22,411/year against a $55,747 median graduate salary, MSU-Texas is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.

Admitted students' families report a median household income around $57,700, and graduates see a 3.2% unemployment rate.

How much does a degree from MSU-Texas Cost?

Listed tuition runs $22,411/year at MSU-Texas; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $11,882.

At MSU-Texas, 40% receive a Pell Grant and 42.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming MSU-Texas on it improves your shot at both.

How much does a MSU-Texas Graduate earn?

Ten years out from enrollment, MSU-Texas graduates report a median income of $55,747, about 37% above the U.S. median graduate income.

$22,411Annual Cost
$11,882Net Price
40%Pell Grant
42.1%Federal Loan
$55,747Grad Salary (10yr)

Compare Similar Colleges

Less Competitive

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Midwestern State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.

SchoolLocationSATACT
Alabama State University Montgomery, AL 977 18
Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock, AR 980 20
University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT 985 NA
Delaware State University Dover, DE 984 24
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA 994 19
Clayton State University Morrow, GA 973 18
Columbus State University Columbus, GA 994 21
Life University Marietta, GA 994 17
University of Hawaii-West Oahu Kapolei, HI 973 18
Judson University Elgin, IL 985 20
Same Competitive

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Midwestern State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

SchoolLocationSATACT
University of West Alabama Livingston, AL 1015 20
Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO 1014 20
Colorado State University Pueblo Pueblo, CO 1005 22
Trinity Baptist College Jacksonville, FL 1007 20
College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, GA 1001 18
More Competitive

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Midwestern State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

SchoolLocationSATACT
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL 1055 21
Marion Military Institute Marion, AL 1043 20
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR 1049 21
Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR 1050 21
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR 1050 20

Degree Programs at MSU-Texas

Bachelor Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About MSU-Texas Admissions

Midwestern State University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $55,747/year, with some variation by field.

Tuition at Midwestern State University is relatively affordable, around $22,411/year.

40.0% of Midwestern State University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.

Midwestern State University's acceptance rate is 87.4%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.

The average GPA of admitted Midwestern State University students is 3.2, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.

There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.9 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Midwestern State University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.

A GPA of 2.8 or below makes admission tougher at Midwestern State University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.

Midwestern State University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1005, and within the 965–1035 range, keeps you competitive.

Midwestern State University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.

Midwestern State University charges an application fee of 75; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.

For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2026 — that's Midwestern State University's scholarship priority date.

Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.

The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.

SK

Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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