MU announces Early College Direct Admission program for CPS, 4 other Missouri school districts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools is among the five school districts in the state that is partnering with the University of Missouri for early college direct admission, MU announced in a Tuesday press release.

The program “guarantees admission to qualifying students” before their senior year of high school, the release says. Partner school districts include CPS, Farmington School District, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, Liberty Public Schools and North Kansas City Schools.

Students in early college programs in those districts can qualify for guaranteed admission if they have at least a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 12 college credit hours by the end of their junior year of high school, the release says.

Qualifying students will not have to submit a traditional application or pay an application fee and will be notified of their admission “no later than” Aug. 1 heading into their senior year, the release says.

The release also says students who complete an associate of arts degree before enrolling at MU “will have satisfied the university’s general education requirements, allowing them to move more quickly into coursework associated with their chosen major.” Other associate degrees will have their coursework evaluated toward “applicable Mizzou degree requirements,” according to the release.