Does CLC make PSEO students take a placement test?

Usually not. Placement is GPA-based: 2.6 or higher places you into most MNTC courses including Composition I, and 2.8 plus a C- or better in Algebra II places you into college math. Students who miss those marks can substitute MCA, ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer scores.

Are there application deadlines for CLC PSEO?

CLC does not post hard application deadlines, but two state dates rule the calendar: notify your high school district by May 30 to start in fall or October 30 to start in spring, and submit a signed NOSR before registration each semester.

Do I submit paperwork every semester at CLC?

Yes, one form. Every PSEO student submits a completed, counselor-signed NOSR to admissions@clcmn.edu, or drops it at either campus Welcome Center, before registering each semester. The college application itself is one-time.

Can I do CLC PSEO online or do I have to come to campus?

Both work. Courses run at the Brainerd and Staples campuses and online, and PSEO covers tuition and required materials either way. Many students in outlying districts build hybrid schedules around their high school day.

Are there limits on which CLC courses PSEO covers?

A few. PSEO does not cover remedial courses below the 1000 level or courses whose extra fees exceed 175 dollars, and summer classes fall outside the program entirely. Sophomores are limited to one CTE course from the Grade 10 eligible list in their first semester.

Community & Technical College

Central Lakes College

Brainerd, Staples, Minnesota

Students in the Brainerd Lakes area do not have to wait for college. Central Lakes College runs PSEO from campuses in Brainerd and Staples plus a strong online schedule, covering tuition, fees, and required course materials for eligible high schoolers whether they enroll part-time or full-time. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors can all participate.

Start NOSR Application

GPA Requirements

Juniors (11th Grade)

3.0 GPA

Seniors (12th Grade)

2.5 GPA

Program Details

Accepts 10th GradersYes (CTE only)

CTE Courses AvailableYes

Term Systemsemester

About the PSEO program

CLC replaces the placement-test gauntlet with something friendlier: GPA-based course placement. A 2.6 high school GPA opens most Minnesota Transfer Curriculum coursework including ENGL 1410 Composition I, and a 2.8 plus a C- or better in Algebra II opens college-level math. Students below those lines can still place in using MCA, ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer scores, so nobody is boxed out by a single measure.

Admission requires a 3.0 GPA for sophomores and juniors or a 2.5 for seniors, and CLC stands out for having a formal appeal: students under the cutoff can submit a Concurrent Enrollment Admission Appeal with a letter of support from their high school. A signed NOSR form goes to the admissions office each semester before registration, so keep your counselor close throughout.

Why choose Central Lakes College for PSEO

GPA-based placement instead of mandatory testing

A 2.6 GPA places you into college-level reading and writing, including Composition I, and 2.8 with Algebra II opens college math. No high-stakes placement exam required unless you want to use test scores instead.

A real appeal process

Students below the GPA requirements can submit an admission appeal with a letter of support from their high school, a documented second chance most colleges do not offer at all.

Onboarding that actually prepares you

CLC requires new PSEO students to review six short video modules covering eligibility, admissions, placement, registration, and staying on track, plus optional virtual advising Q and A sessions, so you start knowing how college works.

Two campuses and online

Brainerd and Staples campuses cover a wide stretch of central Minnesota, and online sections fill the gaps for students in districts far from either.

Sophomore entry available

10th graders with a qualifying 8th grade MCA reading score can start with one CTE course from CLC's published Grade 10 eligible list, one of the clearer sophomore pathways in the region.

Programs & courses

ENGL 1410 Composition I
The gateway college writing course, open to PSEO students with a 2.6 GPA through CLC's GPA-based placement, and a near-universal transfer credit.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum courses
Sciences, social sciences, humanities, and communication courses that build the 40-credit MNTC core accepted across Minnesota public higher education.
College-level mathematics
Math coursework unlocked by a 2.8 GPA plus Algebra II, keeping STEM-bound students on pace for calculus sequences after graduation.
Grade 10 eligible CTE courses
A published list of career and technical courses that sophomores may choose their first course from under the state's 10th grade CTE rule.
Career and technical programs
As a comprehensive community and technical college, CLC lets juniors and seniors mix hands-on career coursework with transfer credits in the same schedule.

Campus & getting there

CLC's main campus sits on College Drive in Brainerd, the hub of the Brainerd Lakes region, with a second campus in Staples about 30 miles west on Highway 210 serving Todd and Wadena county students. Brainerd, Baxter, Pequot Lakes, Pillager, Little Falls, Staples-Motley, and Wadena-Deer Creek students are all within commuting range, and online sections mean the PSEO program reaches well beyond the drive-time map.

Will my credits transfer?

Central Lakes College is a Minnesota State college, so the general education courses here earn goal-area credit within the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, transferring throughout Minnesota State and to the University of Minnesota. Students planning ahead can follow AA and Transfer Pathway degree plans that CLC advisors help sequence, including registration sessions built specifically for those tracks. Technical course credits transfer into related programs rather than as general credit, so verify with the receiving school. Note that CLC advisors track college requirements, not high school graduation requirements, which stay with your school counselor.

Central Lakes College PSEO FAQ

Sophomores and juniors need a 3.0 cumulative GPA and seniors need a 2.5. Sophomores also need an 8th grade MCA reading score that meets or exceeds standards and start with one CTE course. If you are below the GPA line, you can submit a CE Admission Appeal with a letter of support from your high school.