18 Online Frequently Asked Questions

Minnesota State University Moorhead is excited to announce a tuition update for the 18 Online Graduate Initiative. Starting in Summer 2025 and continuing through Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, students will pay only $100 per credit for all courses—no matter how many credits they take.

This change makes earning graduate credentials even more affordable while maintaining the program’s high quality and accessibility. For more information, contact Graduate Studies.

Please check the content areas for concurrent enrollment web page.

18 Online Application Deadlines

• Summer: June 1 (priority)
• Fall: August 15 (priority)
• Spring: January 5 (priority)

Steps to Apply

To receive admission for the 18 Online program you will need approval from the following:

• District Superintendent
• Lakes Country Service Cooperative - Please contact Jolene King.

You may begin your application before all documents are ready. GradCAS saves your progress, and you may return any time to continue updating your application.

1. Create your account in GradCAS
2. Select your program from the list and click “+” to add to your cart.
   • Graduate Non-Degree Seeking | 18 Online – Summer
   • Graduate Non-Degree Seeking | 18 Online – Fall
   • Graduate Non-Degree Seeking | 18 Online – Spring
3. Complete the three general application sections.
4. Complete the fourth, MSUM section (See Application Requirements below).
5. Make sure to upload your unofficial transcript BEFORE submitting your application. Once you submit, you can no longer amend or upload additional documents.
6. Pay the $38 application fee.

The Admission and Graduate Studies Offices will verify your documents and requirements.

18 Online Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. No specific undergraduate major is required.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or at least 3.25 for the last 30 semester credits.

18 Online Application Requirements

• GradCAS application
• A current resume.
• Unofficial transcripts are required from the institution where you completed your undergraduate degree.
  • If you attended MSUM or other Minnesota State system institutions, you can retrieve your unofficial transcripts from eServices. If you no longer have access to eServices, contact admissions@mnstate.edu to assist.
  • Upon admission, you must request official transcripts from your degree-conferring institutions and any other transcripts listing possible graduate transfer coursework. Official transcripts can be requested through Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse and sent directly to processing@mnstate.edu.
  • MSUM or MN system institution students do not need to request official transcripts. The admission team will do this on your behalf.

Students Who

• Hold a transcript from a foreign institution for post-secondary institutions outside the U.S, must request an official comprehensive course-by-course transcript evaluation from aNACES accredited evaluation firm
  • The transcript evaluation must certify your international degree is equivalent to a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• For students whose native language is not English, or who were not taught in English, an official score from either TOEFL (6678 MSUM code) or IELTS (Minnesota State University Moorhead) is required.
  • TOEFL scores-550 (paper-based) or 78-80 (online)
  • IELTS score of 6.5

For questions about the program or the application process please contact the Admissions Office at 218.477.2161 or email admissions@mnstate.edu.

Visit the GradCAS Applicant Help Center for detailed application instructions.

Questions about completing the application:
Call | GradCAS Customer Service at 857.304.2086
Email | support@gradcas.myliaison.com
Chat help for applicants is available.
(Google Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers)

Item #3 in the 18 Online Admission & Application requirements details how to submit your baccalaureate degree transcript.

You may register anytime after you have received the email from the MSUM Graduate Studies Office confirming your admission has been finalized.

18 Online Content Areas for Concurrent Enrollment

Note: Be sure to check the course Notes and Restrictions to make sure you are registering for an 18 Online course. To find this information, go to Course Search, search for the course you are interested in taking, click on the course title. Look for mention of 18 Online under the Notes or Restrictions headings.

Textbook Requirements

Textbooks are available at the MSUM campus bookstore and may also be purchased online through other vendors.

Textbook requirements for courses can be found online.

What is a course Waitlist?

Add to yourself to the course waitlist:

1. Log into eServices.
2. Go to Courses & Registration
3. Click Search for a Course
4. Find the semester and course you would like to enroll
5. When a class is full and has a waitlist option the "Waitlist Icon" will be black and the "Add" icon will be grayed out and not available.
6. Click on the "Waitlist" icon.
7. On the next screen, click on the "Submit" button.
8. You will then get a message that you have been added to the waitlist.
9. If a seat opens up eServices will notify the student in the #1 waitlist position that there is an available seat for them to register.
10. The student will have 24 hours after being notified to register for the course.
11. If the student does not register within the 24 hour time frame, the next student on the waitlist will be given the open seat.

If you would like further information about the registration process go to the MSUM Registrar’s Office.

Dropping or Withdrawing Course(s)

You may drop (or withdraw from) a course(s) via eServices. If a course is dropped during the first week, it will be removed from your record. Refund of Tuition & Fees

After the first five days of the semester, you can still withdraw from the course but it will appear on your transcript as a withdrawal. Withdrawing from a course(s) means that you are no longer in the course but the course counts as "attempted" and a grade of "W" is given.

If you have questions about withdrawing from an 18 Online course, please contact the MSU Moorhead Graduate Studies advisor.

Go to StarID Self Service and choose "What is my StarID".

1. Log into your MSUM email using your StarID and password. In the upper right corner, click on your name to open your profile. Your email address displays below your full name. The last portion will be: @go.mnstate.edu
   
   OR
     
2. Log into D2L Brightspace using your StarID and password.
   • If your course is open, click on the image or course name to enter the course.
     • From the Course Home page, click Communications + Classlist.
     • Search for your name on the list.
     • Your MSUM email address appears on the classlist. The last portion will be: @go.mnstate.edu
   • If your courses are closed (have not started), in the upper right corner click on your name and select Account Settings.
     • Click the Email tab.
     • Your MSUM campus email address will appear under the heading "Email Options" within the sentence "Send a copy of each outgoing message to ____." The last portion will be: @go.mnstate.edu

Make sure you are using your StarID and password when logging into MSUM email. Refer to the Email Information page for help with commonly asked questions. If you continue to have questions or issues, contact the IT Helpdesk.

It may take a day or so after registering for your 18 Online course before your record has been created in the D2L Brightspace system. You will be unable to log into D2L Brightspace before that occurs. Make sure you are using your StarID and password when logging into D2L Brightspace. If you continue to have questions or issues, contact the IT Helpdesk.

Contact your instructor.

The instructor's email address should appear on the course Classlist in D2L Brightspace. Open your course, click Communications + Classlist.

If your course has not opened on D2L Brightspace, find your instructor's name on the Course Schedule. Select the appropriate Semester and Subject. Be sure to select All Courses. Click [Search]. Go to the MSUM Directory to find your instructor's contact information.