Midwestern State University admits approximately 87.4% of applicants, meaning roughly 7 in 8 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places the university in the Open Access category, with admission rates above 75%. The peer median admission rate of 84.6% shows Midwestern State University is slightly more accessible than typical institutions of its type, admitting about 2.8 percentage points more applicants than peer institutions. This level of accessibility means that most academically prepared students who apply can expect admission, making MSU a viable option for students seeking solid post-graduation outcomes without highly competitive admission requirements. The university's open admission policy supports its mission to serve diverse student populations, including 40.0% Pell-eligible and 38.2% first-generation students. Students should view Midwestern State University as an accessible option that provides strong value and career preparation, particularly for those interested in health professions, business, and technical fields. This admission rate allows students to focus on program fit and career goals rather than admission competitiveness when building their college lists.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Midwestern State University enrolls 40.0% Pell-eligible students and 38.2% first-generation students, indicating strong commitment to serving students from diverse economic and educational backgrounds. These shares are substantially higher than at more selective institutions, reflecting the university's accessibility mission and effectiveness in supporting students who are first in their families to attend college. The university also enrolls 34.5% transfer students, demonstrating openness to students beginning their higher education journey at community colleges or other institutions. This composition suggests admission policies that prioritize educational opportunity and recognize diverse pathways to higher education success. Students from lower-income families should note that 2 in 5 enrolled students share their economic background, creating a supportive peer environment for navigating college financing and career preparation. First-generation students will find nearly 4 in 10 classmates also pioneering higher education in their families, suggesting strong institutional support systems and understanding of the unique challenges they face.
Given Midwestern State University's 87.4% acceptance rate, most academically prepared students should expect admission. However, students seeking alternatives might consider geographic proximity, program specialties, or cost factors.
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63.0% of Midwestern State University freshmen return for sophomore year, and 41.3% graduate within six years. While these rates fall below peer medians of 73.2% for retention and 49.3% for completion, they reflect the challenges many open-access institutions face in supporting diverse student populations with varying levels of academic preparation. Notably, Pell-eligible students graduate at 52.6%, creating an 11.3 percentage point advantage over the overall completion rate. This positive Pell gap indicates strong institutional support for lower-income students, who often face additional financial and social barriers to degree completion. The higher success rate among Pell students suggests effective financial aid, academic support, and mentoring programs that help economically disadvantaged students persist and graduate. Students who gain admission should expect to find support systems designed to help them navigate college successfully, particularly if they come from lower-income backgrounds. Prospective students should consider the university's demonstrated effectiveness in supporting first-generation and Pell-eligible students when evaluating institutional fit.
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