Community & Technical College

Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Luverne, Marshall, Pipestone, Worthington, Minnesota

Southwest Minnesota is big, and Minnesota West Community and Technical College is built to cover it. With campuses and centers in Worthington, Marshall, Jackson, Pipestone, Canby, Granite Falls, and Luverne — plus online courses — Minnesota West PSEO puts free college classes within reach of students in dozens of rural districts that are hours from any other college option.

GPA Requirements

Juniors (11th Grade)

2.6 GPA
ORTop 33% Class
OR≥ 250 Accuplacer Reading
OR≥ 24 ACT Composite

+1 more options

Seniors (12th Grade)

2.6 GPA
ORTop 50% Class Rank
OR≥ 250 Accuplacer Reading
OR≥ 21 ACT Composite

+1 more options

Program Details

Accepts 10th GradersYes (CTE only)
CTE Courses AvailableYes
Term Systemsemester

About the PSEO program

Southwest Minnesota is big, and Minnesota West Community and Technical College is built to cover it. With campuses and centers in Worthington, Marshall, Jackson, Pipestone, Canby, Granite Falls, and Luverne — plus online courses — Minnesota West PSEO puts free college classes within reach of students in dozens of rural districts that are hours from any other college option.

The eligibility bar is one of the friendlier ones in the state. Juniors and seniors qualify with a 2.6 GPA, and there are several alternate routes through class rank, Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT scores. That matters if your GPA took a hit early in high school: at Minnesota West, a decent test score can still get you into dual enrollment.

One detail worth knowing before you apply: Minnesota West distinguishes between contracted and non-contracted students. If your public school has a contract with the college, you complete Minnesota West's own PSEO Student Registration Form; non-contracted public, private, charter, and homeschool students use the state NOSR form instead. Ask your counselor which bucket you fall in so your paperwork lands right the first time.

Why choose Minnesota West Community and Technical College for PSEO

Seven locations across southwest Minnesota

Campuses in Worthington, Marshall, Jackson, Pipestone, Canby, Granite Falls, and Luverne mean most students in the region have a site within a reasonable drive.

An accessible 2.6 GPA requirement

Both juniors and seniors qualify at 2.6, lower than the 3.0 junior threshold at many Minnesota two-year colleges, with test-score and class-rank alternatives on top.

Career and technical courses count

As a combined community and technical college, Minnesota West offers CTE coursework through PSEO, opening hands-on career paths alongside transfer classes.

Online options for far-flung districts

Online courses let students in small rural schools participate in PSEO even when the nearest campus is not practical for a daily commute.

Programs & courses

  • Liberal arts transfer courses

    English, math, science, and social science courses that fulfill Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goal areas and move with you to any public college in the state.

  • Career and technical education

    Minnesota West's technical side gives PSEO students access to hands-on career fields, and CTE is the one PSEO route open to eligible 10th graders.

  • Online general education

    A slate of online courses serves students across the college's large southwest Minnesota footprint who cannot reach a campus every day.

  • Associate degree coursework

    Students who start PSEO as juniors can stack credits toward an associate degree while completing high school requirements.

Campus & getting there

Minnesota West's service area stretches across the farm country of southwest Minnesota, with its main campuses in Worthington, Marshall, Jackson, Pipestone, Canby, and Granite Falls and a center in Luverne. For most students the practical question is which site is closest — and for many, the answer is the online catalog, since the college offers remote coursework alongside in-person classes. Transcripts showing class rank and size can be sent electronically to the admissions office, which keeps the application manageable for students applying from a distance.

Will my credits transfer?

Coursework at Minnesota West follows the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC), the 40-credit general education package accepted at every Minnesota State college and university and at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota State Transfer Pathways let students who complete specific associate degrees enter a partner university with junior standing. Technical credits transfer differently — they map best to related programs at other technical colleges — so if you are planning a bachelor's degree, lean toward MNTC courses and confirm choices with an advisor.

Minnesota West Community and Technical College PSEO FAQ

Juniors qualify with a 2.6 GPA, a top 33 percent class rank, a 250 Accuplacer Reading score, a 24 ACT composite, or a 560 SAT Reading score. Seniors qualify with a 2.6 GPA, top 50 percent rank, a 250 Accuplacer Reading, a 21 ACT, or a 500 SAT Reading. Sophomores can access CTE courses with a Reading MCA score of 850 or higher.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026May 30, 2026
Spring 2027TBD

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See if you meet the requirements for Minnesota West Community and Technical College.

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Important Dates

Fall NotificationMay 30
Spring NotificationOctober 30