Admission Requirements

Applications for the student affairs in higher education (SAHE) graduate program are not being accepted for the 2025-26 academic year.

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year will be accepted beginning early September 2025.

Application deadlines

Mark your calendars for these important dates:

  • Priority consideration for graduate assistantships: February 1
  • Final application deadline: August 1

Student Affairs in Higher Education, MS

Program Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College admission requirements, the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) M.S. program requires the following:

  • A grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work.

Prospective students who intend to pursue full-time graduate study in the SAHE program are required to obtain a graduate assistantship. A grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, OR at least a 3.00 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic coursework is required.

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores of 550 on the paper-based or a comparable score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL are required for admission.

Required Application Materials

To apply to the Student Affairs in Higher Educatipn (SAHE) M.S. program, the following materials must be submitted via GradCAS:

  • Application to MSU's SAHE program, including application fee.
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education.
    • Missouri State University undergraduates do not need to request official transcripts.
  • Statement of purpose
    • Your written personal statement (minimum of 300 words) should describe your professional and/or personal goals, discuss how the degree will contribute to those goals, and indicate the experiences that have prepared you for graduate study in student affairs.
  • Resume or curriculum vita (CV)
  • Three letters of recommendation
    • These letters should be written by individuals familiar with your academic abilities and professional potential.

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. 

 

Apply on GradCAS

Apply to this program through a centralized application service: GradCAS. Review the sections above before you begin.

After you apply: Prepare for a graduate assistantship role

If you are going to pursue full-time graduate study in the SAHE program, you will need to:

  1. Complete a graduate assistantship application. View our list of available graduate assistantships.
  2. Register for Graduate Recruitment Weekend (GRW). You will need to upload your graduate assistantship application, résumé/CV, cover letter and contact information for a minimum of three references. If and when your references are contacted, they will discuss your undergraduate co-curricular involvement experiences and professional potential. (These references may be the same or different individuals who submitted letters of recommendation as part of your GradCAS application to the SAHE program.)