Post-Secondary Enrollment Options for Iowa High School Students

Eligibility

The Postsecondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) allows 11th- and 12th-grade students in Iowa schools, as well as 9th- and 10th-grade students identified as gifted and talented by their Iowa school district, to enroll in college courses. Through the program, individual students may enroll in an eligible postsecondary course if a comparable course is not offered at their school.

Students should first discuss PSEO with a high school counselor to determine if it is an appropriate program. Eligibility criteria are dictated and defined by state law as well as institutional admission standards.

Want to take an online course? Please visit the Iowa State Online website to gain an understanding of online courses at Iowa State.

How to enroll as a PSEO student

General

• Complete the application for undergraduate non-degree students. You can find more information, including admission requirements, by visiting the Office of Admissions website.
• The Postsecondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) allows 11th- and 12th- grade students in Iowa schools, as well as 9th- and 10th- grade students identified as gifted and talented by their Iowa school district, to enroll in college courses. Through the program, individual students may enroll in an eligible postsecondary course if a comparable course is not offered at their school.
• Students should first discuss PSEO with a high school counselor to determine if it is an appropriate program. Eligibility criteria are dictated and defined by state law as well as institutional admission standards.
• Students should apply as soon as possible to allow time for the advising and registration process. Registration typically occurs in mid-July (for fall courses) and late November (for spring courses).
  • For new applicants, it is appropriate to begin the admission process up to three months prior to registration.

Enrollment process (for high school staff)

• Apply for admission to the Iowa State University (first-time PSEO students only).
• Complete the non-degree student application.
• Complete the PSEO form.
• Provide a copy of the student’s HS transcript.
• Deadlines provided below are firm deadlines to ensure that all students in our program are successfully registered for courses in a timely manner.
  • Friday, October 4, 2024: Admission forms and registration forms accepted for Spring 2025.
  • Late November: Registration for newly admitted and returning students begins for Spring 2025.
  • Friday, January 10, 2025: Last day for NEW and Returning PSEO students to submit application forms.
• PSEO Students can view course offerings online at the Schedule of Classes. Courses are usually posted in March (for fall semesters) and October (for spring semesters).
  • Math, computer science, and world language courses may require placement tests. ISU’s PSEO coordinator will reach out to students and high school staff if this step is required.

Registration

• Registration typically occurs in mid-July (for fall courses) and November (for spring courses). The ISU PSEO Coordinator will register all PSEO students in their courses.
• If a student decides to change their registration, approval from the high school contact must be obtained and the high school contact must initiate the change request via email to the ISU PSEO Coordinator.

New Students

• Prepare to become an ISU student.
  • Activate your NetId @iastate.edu email at asw.iastate.edu and check it regularly. Your ISU email is the official communication for all university business.
  • New Students can obtain their university student ID number from the ISU PSEO Coordinator once the Office of Admissions has processed the application.
  • ISU Card Office 0530 Beardshear Hall (ground floor).
    • Please be sure to have a valid state or federal-issued photo ID, along with your UID number. Your UID number is provided to you by the ISU PSEO Coordinator.

Tuition and Fees

• A PSEO student's school district pays for tuition for courses that have been approved by the school district and successfully completed.
• If a student drops, withdraws from, or fails a course, the student is responsible for reimbursing the school district.
• Course or Semester Withdraw: A student drops from course(s)
  • Tuition Adjustments
    • The process is the same for both postsecondary and non-postsecondary students. The schedule below applies to full-semester courses only.
    • For half or partial semester courses, please contact isupseo@iastate.edu 

• Registration in courses not approved by the student's school district will be billed at the full rate of tuition and fees for an undergraduate, nondegree seeking student.
  • If you decide to change your registration, please contact the PSEO Coordinator at isupseo@iastate.edu immediately.

Books

• The university loans required books or course materials (such as workbooks) to PSEO students for the semester. When possible, the university will provide digital materials rather than physical copies of textbooks. Students may choose to purchase optional materials, but must cover the cost themselves.
• Students must return physical copies of textbooks to: 10 Enrollment Services Center, 2433 Union Dr., Ames, IA 50011, by 2 p.m. on the last day of the semester.
• Students receive communication via their Iowa State email address about how to obtain their course materials near the start of the semester. Most materials are purchased by the university before the semester begins, but in some rare instances, a student may need to purchase a required course text after the beginning of the semester.
• Students will receive reminder instructions via their Iowa State email address about how to return materials near the end of the semester.
• Books not returned by the Friday of finals week will be billed to the student at 75% of the original cost.
• Questions about PSEO books and materials can be directed to isupseo@iastate.edu

Additional information

• PSEO courses may not be audited. If a student changes their registration to audit status, the course will no longer be eligible for the PSEO program and the full tuition and fees will be billed to the student for that course.
• Grade reports will be sent to your high school at the end of the university's semester.
• PSEO Academic Advising contact:
  • Dan Rice, Transfer Relations and Outreach Advisor, drice@iastate.edu
• Books, tuition, eligibility, or any other questions
  • Office of the Registrar, isupseo@iastate.edu

Iowa High School Students NOT under the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEOA)

• Required information:
  • Nondegree student application
  • Permission letter from a parent
  • Permission letter from high school
  • Iowa high school transcript (must be in the upper half of class.)
• Send required information to:

Admissions 
100 Enrollment Services Center 
2433 Union Drive 
Ames, IA 50011-2011