Please email all documents to admissions@dctc.edu. The college is open, but with limited staff.
Fall 2021 Deadline has been extended to August 1st 2021.
For the 2021-2022 school year, 11th and 12th grade applicants can meet qualifications for PSEO with a 2.8 cumulative high school G.P.A.
10th grade applicants can meet qualifications with either an 7th or 8th grade MCA score of Meets Standard or a Next Gen Accuplacer Reading assessment score of 250.
You can connect virtually with the PSEO Admissions Representative by emailing Kerry.Lurken@dctc.edu.
Register today for a Virtual PSEO Information Session to learn about Post Secondary Enrollment Options at DCTC. Dates include June 17, July 15, September 16, October 21. Now accepting applications for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
Register Now!
DCTC offers programs that allow you to earn college credits for free while you are still in high school. As a qualifying high school student, you will be able to seamlessly transfer the credits you earn to nearly any college or university in Minnesota, as well as many others nationwide.
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program for motivated high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to talk classes at a college or university while in high school. In the PSEO program, high school students who meet qualifications will take class on campus at a college or online. These classes will earn them dual credit at the high school and the college. This program covers the cost of tuition, fees and books. There may be addition equipment fees depending on the classes a student registers for.
PSEO students can take one class through college or they can take all their courses through college. They can use PSEO as a way to explore what college will be like, try different technical classes to help decide on a future career, or complete a full AAS, AS degree. PSEO is designed for the student to take charge of the education and future. At DCTC PSEO students will work closely with their advisor to ensure their educational goals are being met, that they are successful in their classes, and to navigate the next steps after PSEO.
PSEO is at no cost to the high school student. All classes, textbooks, and fees will be covered. There may be instances with certain programs where students are expected to purchase non-consumable tools which they will keep at the end of the semester. These tools and their cost are the responsibility of the student and are not covered in the PSEO program.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Education's website for more information about PSEO.
PSEO students are eligible to take any general education course which they meet the prerequisites. Visit https://www.dctc.edu/mntc for the list of general education courses offered at DCTC.
General education courses will be the courses most likely to be accepted for high school requirements. We encourage students to talk regularly with their high school to ensure that they are staying on track for high school graduation requirements. We have a PSEO Advising Form to help students track what classes they need to take.
PSEO students are welcome to take Technical Courses however additional application requirements apply. DCTC has many program which require students to complete the entire program as a full time student in the order listed on the program data sheet. These programs are considered high demand programs and come with additional application requirements. Acceptance into PSEO does not guarantee acceptance into a high demand program. Completing the high demand program application will place PSEO students on a waitlist. If the traditional student waitlist is exhausted and a space is available, that spot will be offered to an interested PSEO student who has completed this process.
For programs which are not high demand, as long as a student meets the prerequisites they are welcome to try that technical course/program.
Due to state law, there are a few programs which PSEO students are unable to participate as a PSEO student. We encourage students interested in these program to complete the generals while they are in high school. These program prohibited for PSEO students are: Brewing and Beer Steward Technology, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, and Veterinary Technician.
The PSEO program does not provide transportation to DCTC. Students will need to be able to travel to and from the college, or they will only be able to participate in online classes. DCTC is along the Metro bus route 420. Please visit their website for more information about the bus schedule.
View Upcoming PSEO Informational Sessions
Unable to make a PSEO informational session? Call ahead before any Tuesday Campus Visit, and schedule time to meet with the PSEO Advisor after the visit, 651-423-8000. Please note calling a week in advance is advised to ensure that the advisor will be available after the visit.
Schedule an appointment with the PSEO advisor by emailing advising@dctc.edu. Please note that certain times of the year the PSEO advisor will have limited availability to meet.
Fall Semester Priority Deadline: June 1
Fall Semester Deadline: July 1
Spring Semester Deadline: December 1
All application materials must be received by the deadline. Documents received after the deadline will not be considered.
Fall Priority Deadline is set to allow students the best possible schedule for classes in the fall. Students with applications completed after the priority deadline may experience issues with lack of available courses.
Students interested in a technical program must complete the additional steps to be considered for that program. Acceptance to PSEO does not guarantee acceptance to a program. Please see the Course and Programs available to PSEO students section for a complete list of program requiring these additional steps:
* All steps must be complete and received by the Admissions Department at DCTC by the deadline for the semester applied for. No late applications will be accepted. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all materials are received on time.
The Post Secondary Enrollment Options program, also known as PSEO, was created in 1985 as a means to "promote rigorous educational pursuits and provide a wider variety of options for students." Through PSEO, high school students receive both high school and college/university credit for college or university courses that are completed. Through PSEO, students may take courses on a college or university campus or, where available, at their high school. PSEO courses offered in high school are commonly called concurrent enrollment courses.
Students currently enrolled in high school, who meet the Minnesota Residency Guidelines, meet the qualifications, and have at least one open class period can participate in PSEO. Please review the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Reference Guide found on Minnesota Department of Education’s website for more specific information.
Yes, all college level courses with space availability are available for PSEO student. Certain limitations are based on program eligibility.
The PSEO program covers all course tuition, fees, and required textbooks. Supplies that the student keeps at the end of the semester will be purchased by the student. Books and materials that are not returned by the due date at the end of the semester will be charged to the students account and their transcript will not be released until the balance has been paid.
No, the PSEO program is only an option during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters). Students interested in enrolling in summer courses can speak with the Admissions Office about summer courses, you will need to reapply to the university before enrolling in summer courses. Students will be responsible for tuition, fees, and textbooks for summer courses.
All students in the PSEO program will be expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 ("C") or better and maintain a course completion rate of 67% or higher. If a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better and 67% completion rate is not maintained, students will be dropped from the PSEO program.
That is a risk for students in this program. If a class required for high school graduation is not successfully completed, the student might not be able to graduate with their high school class. In addition, there will be a permanent college or university transcript on which the grade is recorded.
New PSEO students are required to attend new PSEO student orientation and will register for PSEO classes at orientation.
Returning PSEO students do not need to attend PSEO orientation again and will register on their own starting on the date of open enrollment.
All first-time PSEO students must attend a special PSEO orientation session. Information about the orientation session will be emailed to the PSEO student upon acceptance to the PSEO program. Students must be accepted to the PSEO program to attend orientation.
All courses taken in the PSEO program will appear on the Dakota County Technical College transcript. Courses that are part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum are widely transferable among state colleges and universities for general education credit. The receiving institution determines how coursework counts towards completion of the student’s degree. If you are interested in transferring to another college or university please work with the PSEO advisor to assist you to transfer your courses to the receiving college.
Dakota County Technical College encourages PSEO students to limit their credit load their first semester to 12 credits and PSEO students need permission from the PSEO advisor at Dakota County Technical College if they wish to take more than 18 credits in one semester.
PSEO students are responsible for their own travel to and from Dakota County Technical College. There is not a public transportation option to DCTC. There is a travel reimbursement option for students who meet the income guidelines.
Yes, PSEO students are still able to participate in high school activates as long as they do not interfere with the students class time. In addition, high schools must let PSEO students use technology on the high school to assist with college homework. PSEO students are also eligible to participate in college events at DCTC.
Accommodations are available with the appropriate documentation, however the K12 IEP is not valid in the Post-Secondary setting. PSEO students are expected to seek out the Accessibility Services to set up accommodations before classes start. Choosing not to reach out to Accessibility Services prior to classes starting will result in a delay of or denial of accommodations. You can contact Accessibility Services at 651-423-8469.
FERPA states that "If a student is attending a postsecondary institution –at any age- the rights under FERPA have transferred to the student." PSEO students who wish for their parents or guardians to have access to college records should complete the Authorization to Release Data. Students much select what type of information they wish to grant authorization to.
Yes. PSEO students are unable to register for:
PSEO students are able to enroll in MOST programs offered at DCTC if there is space available on the date of open enrollment. Each program will have their own specific requirements that a PSEO student must meet to qualify for. There are certain exceptions and limits to PSEO students in programs. The programs that have required summer courses: a PSEO student must pay out of pocket for those courses, including tuition, fees, books and supplies. Please contact the PSEO Advisor for more specific information pertaining to the program of interest.
Yes. All DCTC credits are accredited and transferable.
PSEO students have until the 5th day of the semester to make any changes to their schedule. Courses registered for after the 5th day of the semester will not be covered by the PSEO program. It is not required that a PSEO student meets with the PSEO advisor before they make a change to their schedule but it is encouraged.
After the 5th day of the semester if a PSEO student chooses to drop a course it will be considered a withdrawal and their transcript will reflect the withdrawn course.
College courses are more academically challenging, and the primary responsibility for learning is yours. You should plan to spend two to three hours of study for every hour spend in class. If you also work and/or participate in after-school activities, consider whether PSEO will be a good fit. Keep in mind, you will be taking classes with students who have already completed high school.
PSEO students are expected to:
