Community & Technical College

Riverland Community College

Albert Lea, Austin, Owatonna, Minnesota

Getting to class is often the hidden obstacle in dual enrollment, and Riverland Community College actually addresses it: the college's PSEO section includes a transportation assistance page for students who need help getting to and from campus. For high schoolers around Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna without a reliable ride, that support can be the difference between doing PSEO and skipping it.

GPA Requirements

Juniors (11th Grade)

2.5 GPA
ORTop 33% Class
OR≥ 1042 10th Grade Reading MCA
OR≥ 242 Accuplacer Reading

+2 more options

Seniors (12th Grade)

2.5 GPA
ORTop 50% Class Rank
OR≥ 1030 10th Grade Reading MCA
OR≥ 230 Accuplacer Reading

+2 more options

Program Details

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

About the PSEO program

Getting to class is often the hidden obstacle in dual enrollment, and Riverland Community College actually addresses it: the college's PSEO section includes a transportation assistance page for students who need help getting to and from campus. For high schoolers around Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna without a reliable ride, that support can be the difference between doing PSEO and skipping it.

Riverland spreads across three southern Minnesota campuses — Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna — with online sections extending its reach along the I-90 and I-35 corridors. Eligibility is among the most flexible in the state: a 2.5 GPA qualifies both juniors and seniors, and if your GPA falls short there are alternate routes through class rank, MCA reading scores, Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT.

The college maintains separate checklists for new and returning PSEO students, which keeps the paperwork sequence clear each term. Between the low GPA bar, the multi-campus footprint, and the transportation help, Riverland PSEO is built for students who might otherwise assume free college classes are out of reach.

Why choose Riverland Community College for PSEO

Transportation assistance for getting to campus

Riverland publishes dedicated transportation support for PSEO students — a barrier-remover almost no other Minnesota college addresses head-on.

The most forgiving eligibility menu around

A 2.5 GPA works for juniors and seniors, and five different test-score or rank alternatives mean one rough semester does not lock you out.

Three campuses across southern Minnesota

Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna each host a campus, so students along both interstate corridors have a nearby option.

Clear checklists for every step

Separate new-student and returning-student checklists lay out exactly which forms and dates apply to you each term.

Programs & courses

  • Transfer general education

    Courses across composition, mathematics, lab sciences, and the social sciences, all aligned to MNTC gen-ed requirements at Minnesota public universities.

  • Career and technical education

    Riverland's technical programs give hands-on options to PSEO students, including the CTE coursework open to qualifying sophomores.

  • Online course sections

    Remote classes serve students spread across the college's wide three-city service area and beyond.

  • Associate degree progress

    Juniors who commit to full-time PSEO can bank most or all of an associate degree by high school graduation with advisor planning.

Campus & getting there

Riverland's three campuses line up along southern Minnesota's main highways: Austin and Albert Lea sit about 20 miles apart on I-90, while Owatonna is up I-35 toward the metro. Students from those cities and the rural districts between them — Blooming Prairie, Hayfield, Glenville, NRHEG, and others — attend whichever campus is nearest, with online sections covering scheduling gaps. Riverland's transportation assistance program is worth asking about early if the drive itself is your obstacle; the college treats getting students to campus as part of its job.

Will my credits transfer?

Courses at Riverland follow the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, so general education credits are accepted throughout the Minnesota State system and at the U of M. Transfer Pathway associate degrees carry guaranteed junior standing at Minnesota State universities — a common route for Riverland students continuing to Mankato or Winona. Technical credits apply toward Riverland's own credentials and related programs at other colleges, so match your course mix to whether your target is a bachelor's degree or a career credential.

Riverland Community College PSEO FAQ

Juniors qualify with a 2.5 GPA, a top 33 percent class rank, a 1042 on the 10th grade Reading MCA, a 242 Accuplacer Reading, a 16 ACT Reading, or a 410 SAT Reading score. Seniors qualify with a 2.5 GPA, top 50 percent rank, a 1030 MCA, 230 Accuplacer, 14 ACT Reading, or 380 SAT Reading. Sophomores need an 850 Reading MCA or a 250 Accuplacer Reading for CTE courses.

Application Deadlines

Fall 2026August 3, 2026
Spring 2027TBD

Check Your Eligibility

See if you meet the requirements for Riverland Community College.

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Important Dates

Fall NotificationMay 30
Spring NotificationOctober 30