Jun 26, 2025  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Admissions



Our Commitment

MNU Admissions Offices are committed to providing accurate and current information to prospective students regarding the University’s Christian mission, majors, programs, costs and admissions process. The Admissions Offices are committed to quality customer service and providing information to prospective students in an efficient, caring, timely and confidential manner.

Traditional Undergraduate

Most of the undergraduate programs at MidAmerica Nazarene University are offered in a primarily in-person format with courses primarily offered during daytime hours. These programs are referred to as “traditional” undergraduate programs. Students cannot be enrolled in a Professional Programs  and a traditional undergraduate program simultaneously. Students who are considering switching between a professional or a traditional undergraduate program should contact their advisor or their admissions counselor to discuss the process. 

Admission Procedures

MidAmerica Nazarene University values moral character and personal integrity in addition to intellectual ability and academic achievement, and seeks students who also value these characteristics and who are in harmony with the University’s mission as a distinctively Christian liberal arts institution of the Church of the Nazarene.

MidAmerica is selective in its admission, with enrollment being contingent on the student’s ability to meet the academic standards and moral principles of the University. Prospective students who do not meet these standards and principles will be denied admission. In order to be considered for admission, the prospective student must submit an Application for Admission and supporting documentation before the first day of class (see academic calendar). Applicants for admission should be aware of the desirability of applying early since priority is given to early applicants in such matters as campus housing, scholarships, certain loans and grants.

Applicants are reminded that admission to the University does not assure the student of housing, financial aid, or other necessary arrangements incidental to attending the University.

Applicants who have attended previous colleges or universities are required to list all institutions, including any coursework attempted through high school dual-enrollment. Failure to list all institutions attended will delay the processing of your application. Official determinations regarding the transferability of prior course work are completed by the Registrar’s Office.

Requirements for Admission

Successful candidates for admission must have graduated from an accredited high school having completed at least 15 units of study. While the University does not require specific subjects for entrance, it does recommend the following optimum preparation:

  Math 3 units
  English 4 units
  Science 3 units
  Social Studies 3 units
  Foreign Language 1 units

In addition, students are advised to participate in a college preparatory curriculum. First-time freshman students entering MidAmerica Nazarene University are encouraged to take the ACT or SAT examination. The examination should, whenever possible, be taken during the student’s junior or senior year of high school. High school students expecting to enroll at MidAmerica should ask their principal or counselor about taking the ACT or SAT examination. MNU’s ACT code number is 1445. MNU’s SAT code number is 6437.

Freshmen Students

Regular Admission: Regular Admissions decisions are made and communicated to students once an application is received along with supporting documents deemed necessary to make a decision. Admission may be granted to traditional freshman students who have submitted all required materials, meet the GPA requirement (minimum grade point average of 2.5 (or above) on a 4.0 scale (six-semester high school transcript required for regular admission decision)). Students who have a minimum GPA of 2.3, can also be admitted with a minimum ACT composite score of 18 (or SAT equivalent).

Freshmen are still encouraged to submit ACT or SAT scores regardless of high school GPA, as those scores will be utilized in placement for freshman composition and algebra courses. In some cases, strong test scores can also increase academic scholarships. Contact the admissions office to learn more.

Students who fail to meet the conditions for regular admission may be admitted through the Pioneer Success Program with the approval of the Admissions Committee after submitting additional documentation. Additional documentation includes a written essay and contact information for a reference. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant in order to determine the applicant’s readiness for study at the collegiate level.

Students offered admission through the Pioneer Success Program will be required to complete the requirements of the program by the end of their first semester enrolled at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Pioneer Success Program students may enroll in a maximum course load of 14 semester hours for their first semester with a combination of major, General Education, and supplemental courses. The successful completion of these requirements and earning a semester GPA of a 2.5 or higher will allow students to graduate from the program.

Pioneer Success Program acceptance status may be removed by retaking the ACT or SAT test and score at levels which meet requirements for regular admission.

The Pioneer Success Program includes the following types of required activities for students:

  1. Monthly meetings with an assigned personal Academic Success Center (ASC) Student Success Coach;
  2. Development of an individualized student success plan (SSP);
  3. Placement in supplemental education courses for writing and math;
  4. Access to tutoring services for all subject areas;
  5. Access to the Director of Career Development and services related to career success; and
  6. Pass Freshman Seminar and attend additional mentoring meetings with instructor.

Specifics of the required activities are laid out in the contract signed upon admission through the Pioneer Success Program.

Transfer Students

Students from institutional accredited colleges and universities are welcome to apply as transfer students. Transfer students are defined as students who have attempted one or more semester hours of credit after high school. Any student transferring to MidAmerica Nazarene University with less than 24 credit hours will be required to take Freshman Seminar.

Transfer students who have a GPA of 2.00 or better are accepted in good standing. In addition to the completed Application for Admission, students must submit transcripts from all colleges attended. Students not meeting these requirements for admission may be considered for acceptance through the Admissions Committee to the Pioneer Success Program (see explanation of the program under “Freshmen” above).

Residency requirements apply to all transfer students. Transfer credit policy should be reviewed carefully to determine what coursework will be considered for transfer.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

A student may be accepted as a non-degree seeking student under the following conditions:

  1. The student makes application;
  2. The student declares in writing that he/she does not wish to work toward a degree at MNU, does not wish to be considered as either a student in good standing or a student accepted provisionally;
  3. Only wishes to take one or more courses for personal enrichment apart from any degree program; and
  4. The student may register for courses on a space-available basis after priority registration concludes.

Early College Admission

Early admission of high school senior and second semester junior students is possible. Early College students must complete the Early College application for admission to MNU and meet all of the following conditions:

  1. They are a junior or senior in high school.
  2. They have a cumulative 3.0 or better GPA based on a 4.0 scale.
  3. They are 16 years old.
  4. They take no more than twelve (12) hours per semester.

Early College students will still need to apply for regular admission should they choose to pursue their degree at MNU after high school. The student may register for Early College courses at the conclusion of Priority Registration.

Application Process

Freshman Students

Applying for Admission - Prior to enrollment, a student must complete the admissions process by submitting all of the following:

  1. Complete the Application for Admission.
  2. If applicable, submit results of the ACT or SAT. MNU’s ACT code is 1445 and SAT is 6437.
  3. *Submit official high school transcripts to MNU.
    An official transcript is signed by a designated school official and stamped/sealed with an authorized school embossed seal or stamp. Acceptance can be administered with a minimum 6th semester, official high school transcript.
  4. Complete the FAFSA and add the MNU school code: 007032. Those choosing to not submit a FAFSA should notify their Admissions Counselor.

After Acceptance - The following are required in order for the admissions process to be considered complete:

  1. Enrollment Deposit - The $100 enrollment deposit is a pre-payment on the student’s account balance that signifies a commitment to enrollment. The deposit is required before housing arrangements can be made or class schedules built. The enrollment deposit is refundable if the Office of Admissions is notified before August 1 for the fall semester or January 1 for the spring semester. After these dates the deposit is non-refundable.
  2. Housing Form and Deposit - All students are required to submit a housing form after the enrollment deposit is submitted. Student’s living on campus are required to submit a $100 housing deposit. This deposit will be refunded within 30 days after a student withdraws or graduates provided there are no fines or damage to the room or furniture. If the student owes a balance on their student account, the deposit will be applied to the balance.
  3. Official, final transcripts with graduation date from your high school (first-year students only).
  4. Meningitis immunization or signed waiver. MNU requires students to have the meningitis immunization or sign a waiver stating he/she is choosing not to be immunized. In the event, the student contracts meningitis, he/she waives his/her claim against the University as a result of the failure to receive the vaccination.

Transfer Students

Applying for Admission - Prior to enrollment, a student must complete the admission process by submitting all of the following:

  1. Complete the free Application for Admission.
  2. *Submit an official high school transcript (if the student has completed less than 12 college credit hours).
  3. **Submit official transcripts from ALL colleges previously attended.
    An official transcript is signed by a designated school official and stamped/ sealed with an authorized school embossed seal or stamp, or sent electronically through an authenticated software.
  4. Complete the FAFSA and add the MNU school code: 007032. Those choosing to not submit a FAFSA should notify their Admissions Counselor.

After Acceptance - The following are required in order for the admissions process to be considered complete:

  1. Enrollment Deposit - The $100 enrollment deposit is a pre-payment on the student’s account balance that signifies a commitment to enrollment. The deposit is required before housing arrangements can be made or class schedules built. The enrollment deposit is refundable if the Office of Admissions is notified before August 1 for the fall semester or January 1 for the spring semester. After these dates the deposit is non-refundable.
  2. Housing Form and Deposit - All students are required to submit a housing form after the enrollment deposit is submitted. Student’s living on campus are required to submit a $100 housing deposit. This deposit will be refunded within 30 days after a student withdraws or graduates provided there are no fines or damage to the room or furniture. If the student owes a balance on their student account, the deposit will be applied to the balance.
  3. Meningitis immunization or signed waiver.

*Deadline for Submitting High School Transcripts

  1. Final official high school transcripts are due by the first day of the term.
  2. Failure to submit transcripts by the last day of finalization will result in removal of enrollment from all coursework for the semester.

**Deadline for Submitting College Transcripts

  1. Final official college/university transcripts are due no later than the last day to enroll in classes for the term of matriculation.
  2. If transcripts are not provided by the deadline, a registration hold will be placed on the student’s records and they will not be allowed to register for a second semester until the transcripts have been submitted.
  3. Official redacted college transcripts are acceptable, but redacted coursework will not be taken into consideration for admission, placement, or meeting graduation requirements.

Professional Undergraduate & Graduate Studies

Within the College of Professional and Graduate Studies, some programs are offered in a format which has been designed to be more convenient for working adults unable to attend traditional daytime courses or for motivated adults who are seeking an accelerated timeline for degree completion. 
 
These programs, which have historically been called “professional programs”, are listed HERE  and include undergraduate degrees in Business, Education, and Nursing as well as graduate degrees in Business, Counseling, Education, and Nursing. Additionally, MNU offers accelerated certificate programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate levels.
 
Students cannot be enrolled in a professional undergraduate program and a traditional undergraduate program simultaneously. Students who are considering switching between a professional or a traditional undergraduate program should contact their advisor or admissions counselor to discuss the process. 
 
Students enrolled in accelerated undergraduate or graduate programs are typically not eligible for campus housing or participation in traditional undergraduate affinity groups.
 
For more information on any of these programs prospective students may contact the Office of Professional and Graduate Admissions at 913-971-3800 or by email at pgadmissions@mnu.edu.

Admission Requirements

MidAmerica Nazarene University places a high value on moral character and personal integrity as well as intellectual ability and academic achievement. The university seeks to partner with students who also value these characteristics and who support the University’s mission to serve as a distinctively Christian liberal arts oriented institution of the Church of the Nazarene.

Admission requirements vary by program and are outlined in detail under each degree program’s section within this catalog. Applicants may also contact the Office of Professional and Graduate Admissions regarding specific admission requirements.

MidAmerica is selective in its admission, with enrollment being contingent on the student’s ability to meet the admission requirements and guiding principles of the university. Prospective students who do not meet these standards may be denied admission.

A few accelerated programs at MNU are considered to be competitively selective meaning prospective students may need to complete an interview process or have their application files reviewed by a selection committee in addition to meeting the basic admission requirements for the program. Applicants seeking enrollment in a competitive program who meet admission requirements are not guaranteed admission into the program, only that their application will be reviewed by the selection committee.

Admission Procedures

To be considered for admission, the prospective student must:

1. Complete and submit an official online application form indicating the student’s desired program of interest.

2. Request official transcripts from each college or university attended to be sent to the Office of Professional Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions.

Prospective professional undergraduate students who have less than 24 hours of transferable college credits will need to provide an official high school transcript or official documentation demonstrating the equivalency of high school completion. In addition, students with fewer than 24 hours of transferable college credit may need to demonstrate proficiency on a university placement test or provide ACT scores with a minimum score of 17 (or the SAT equivalent).

When requesting official testing scores, please be aware that MNU’s ACT code number is 1445 and MNU’s SAT code number is 6437.

Students who have more than 24 hours of transferable college credit are not required to verify high school graduation, a passing score on the GED, or to provide ACT scores unless ACT scores are being used as means to prove proficiency in Math or English.

3. Complete any additional program specific admissions requirements such as information meetings, admission essays, letters of reference, interviews, etc. These items are detailed under each degree program’s section within this catalog. 

Once an application is completed and admissibility requirements have been met, then the admissions office will be able to offer either Provisional or Conditional acceptance to the desired program. For programs considered competitive in nature, the admissions office will not determine admissibility but will forward completed files to the appropriate program selection committee for review and an admissions decision.

If an applicant is offered a position in a competitive degree program, the admissions office will alert the applicant and provide a formal letter of acceptance along with acceptance documents which will need to be completed within a set timeframe. Applicants to competitive programs who are not offered a position in the cohort will be notified in a timely manner. 

4. If applicants desire to pursue federal financial aid, they should complete the FAFSA and ask that your Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) be shared with MNU. Our institutional number is 007032.

Conditional Admission

Applicants who do not meet standard admissibility requirements for their program of interest may be eligible for conditional admission. Conditional admission availability and requirements vary by program and are offered at the discretion of the Department Chair or School Associate Dean. If conditional admission is granted, students may be transitioned to a non-conditional status upon satisfying the criteria which resulted in the original conditional status.

For conditional admission due to GPA, students will need show completion of acceptable academic work at MidAmerica Nazarene University with a grade point average of 3.0 for the first twelve (12) hours of undergraduate study or the first six (6) hours of graduate study.

Non-Degree Seeking Single Course Registration

To register for accelerated courses as an undergraduate non-degree seeking student who desired to complete a single course, prospective students will need to complete the free online application, complete a Short-Term Course Registration form which will be provided by the Office of Professional and Graduate Admissions, and complete a Short-Term Enrollment Promissory note which includes pricing information for tuition and fees. Single course registrations must be paid in full prior to enrollment.

Readmission Process for All Students

Readmission applies to any student who has completed at least one (1) hour of credit at MNU and has missed one (1) semester or more, has not been enrolled for one (1) semester, or has formally withdrawn from the institution. There is no fee for readmission.

If a student applied to MNU and was accepted or never attended class, he/she must reactivate his/her application through their respective Office of Admissions.

The readmission process begins by utilizing the special readmission form provided on the “Apply” page of www.mnu.edu. Re-admit students will need to provide official non-MNU transcripts if not previously provided.

For students reapplying to a Traditional Program, upon submission of the re-admit application (which includes any official non-MNU transcripts), admissions will verify eligibility with various departments and help complete the readmission process. Student-athletes having left MNU due to academic ineligibility may have additional requirements to meet for readmission. These policies are found in the Student-Athlete Handbook posted online. Any student readmitted with a history of academic probation concerns is required to meet with Student Success personnel in the Academic Success Center to create a student success plan.

For students reapplying to a Professional or Graduate Degree Program, upon submission of the re-admit application (which includes any official non-MNU transcripts), the Registrar’s office will verify eligibility for re-admission. Once the Registrar’s Office has cleared a student for re-admission into a Professional or Graduate program, the student will be contacted by an Academic Advisor to complete the re-admission process.