
MidAmerica Nazarene University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or specialized accreditation for a particular professional program.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and is often considered when another college reviews transfer credit. It does not guarantee that another institution will accept a course. Students pursuing nursing, teaching, counseling, or another regulated profession should separately verify their exact program's current accreditation or state approval and the licensing rules where they intend to work.
First-year applicants to MidAmerica Nazarene University generally need to complete an undergraduate application and document high school completion or an accepted equivalent. The university is not an open-admission institution: in the reported entering class, it admitted 866 of 1,099 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 79%.
Reported admissions criteria require a secondary-school GPA. Class rank, recommendations, and SAT or ACT scores may be considered but are not required under the reported criteria. Applicants should not interpret the test-score figures for enrolled students as minimum scores: many students enroll without submitting an SAT score, and a score distribution describes a prior class rather than an admissions cutoff.
International applicants should review the English-proficiency instructions for their applicant category; the reported requirements identify TOEFL as required. Some majors, particularly those leading to professional credentials, may have a second admission process after university admission. Applicants should distinguish any program deadline from the general undergraduate application timeline.
Applicants should check the fee shown in MidAmerica Nazarene University's current application instructions before submitting. A charge associated with an application is different from a tuition payment, enrollment deposit, or later orientation expense.
Anyone who needs a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the request procedure before submitting a form that requests payment. First-year, transfer, international, graduate, and program-specific applications may use different procedures, so a charge or waiver described for one applicant group should not be assumed to apply to another.
Students considering an officer-training pathway should verify ROTC access with MidAmerica Nazarene University and the relevant ROTC host before making an enrollment decision. An ROTC program available elsewhere in the Kansas City area does not, by itself, establish that an MNU student can cross-enroll or receive credit.
Ask specifically whether Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC participation is permitted for MNU students; where required classes and training take place; and how the schedule fits a degree plan. ROTC scholarships have separate selection rules, and accepting certain benefits can create a military service obligation. Those terms should be confirmed with the branch administering the program.
MidAmerica Nazarene University accepts transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally considers credit from other accredited institutions. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of individual courses toward a particular degree are separate decisions.
Applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from each college attended and, when requested for their circumstances, evidence of high school completion. MNU reports accepting Advanced Placement credit and certain examinations or evaluated learning, including CLEP subject examinations and ACE credit recommendations. The applicability of any credit depends on the university's evaluation and the requirements of the chosen program.
Before enrolling, a transfer student should request a course-by-course evaluation showing which credits meet major, general-education, and elective requirements. This is especially important for nursing or teacher preparation, where prerequisite sequences and professional requirements can affect time to completion. Applicants should also verify any minimum credits that must be completed through MNU to earn its degree.
Students interested in international study should distinguish an academic study-abroad program from a service or mission trip. MidAmerica Nazarene University's religious affiliation and global-service activities do not mean every international experience carries degree credit.
Before committing to a semester program, short-term course, or partner opportunity, students should obtain approval for the destination and course credits from the appropriate academic office. They should also check the total travel cost, passport and visa requirements, insurance, and whether their particular grants or scholarships can be used. Nursing, education, and other tightly sequenced majors may need to plan further ahead to avoid delaying required courses or placements.
26% of admitted students enrolled (229 of 866)
Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
906Median composite ACT score
20Percent of students submitting ACT scores
62%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
8%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
Considered but not requiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Neither required nor recommendedRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
NoOff-campus study
NoStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.