Public Colleges and Universities College Placement
Oklahoma's colleges and universities work hard to ensure that
every student with the drive to earn a college degree has the
support to achieve that goal. To meet students where they are, our
institutions are reviewing each student's goals and capabilities
individually. While college admission tests like the ACT and SAT
are a valuable tool to see if you're ready for college, they are
one of many ways to determine if you're prepared for college-level
coursework. Colleges and universities now look at a variety of
factors to make decisions about admission and course placement,
such as high school GPA and course rigor. These measures, as well
as those described in detail below, are designed to evaluate
students as individuals, not test scores.
Purpose - Not Placement
Higher education institutions have developed a process to
determine a student's academic goals, career goals and overall
college readiness. Through this process, students can choose a
broad area of study or a more specific area, called a meta-major.
Choosing a meta-major allows a student to enroll in the right
courses, particularly in math, so the student can enter a program
of study in their first academic year.
Multiple Measures
Standardized tests like the ACT and SAT are no longer the primary
tool colleges and universities use to determine if a student is
ready for college-level coursework. Colleges and universities now
consider multiple criteria to make course placement decisions (math
and English). Those criteria may include high school GPA, high
school courses, class ranking and degree of study.
Remediation Reform
For students who may not be completely ready for college-level
coursework in math, English or reading, Oklahoma's higher education
institutions offer courses and additional services, called
co-requisite support or supplemental instruction, that allow
students to enroll in certain college-level courses while receiving
the support services they need to master the subject, such as
tutoring, online labs, and peer study groups.
Students should contact colleges or universities for specific
information about college admission measures and co-requisite
support or supplemental instruction options.
After you've been accepted to an Oklahoma state college or
university, your academic advisor will help you get a good start by
ensuring you enroll in the right courses for your skill or
knowledge level. Your ACT subject test scores in science, math,
reading and English will be reviewed. If you scored a 19 or better
on a subject test, you'll be placed in a credit-earning course for
that subject area.
If you scored below the required cut score for ACT/SAT, you may
undergo additional testing in a discipline or the college or
university may look at additional factors such as your high school
GPA to determine the appropriate course. If these measures show
you're ready for college-level work, you'll be placed in a
credit-earning course. If the test indicates you're not ready,
you'll be placed in a college course with additional support, such
as a co-requisite course.
It's important to note that institutions may require higher ACT
subject scores for admission and course placement (for general
education English, math and science courses). As with other aspects
of the college admission process, please consult with your college
advisor prior to enrollment at a particular college.
Math Pathways
It's more important than ever to identify a program of study early
in your college career to be able to determine the appropriate math
course for you. Historically, the college algebra-to-calculus
pathway has been the college math requirement for most students.
However, over the last decade, it has become clear that this
pathway doesn't reflect the types of skills many students will
actually need in their lives and careers.
In response, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
implemented a variety of math pathways to help students enroll in
math courses that align with their degree of study and the needs of
their future careers. The four math options are quantitative
reasoning, statistics, functions and modeling, and
pre-calculus/algebra for STEM. All four courses are designed for
first-time college students.
Oklahoma public community colleges and universities accept these
alternate math courses to fulfill students' math requirements.
Students should contact colleges or universities for specific
information about degree requirements and course
availability.
For more information about college admission measures,
co-requisite course support services, or college placement, contact
the admission office at the institution you plan to attend.
Private Colleges and Universities
Placement policies may differ for independent or private
institutions, which are not state supported and may operate as
nonprofits. Check with the institution you wish to attend for
additional information.
For Further Information
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
800.858.1840
studentinfo@osrhe.edu