


Plymouth State University is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, or NECHE. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation that may apply to an individual professional program.
That distinction matters for students in fields such as nursing and teacher education, where program approval and state licensing rules can affect eligibility for professional practice. Applicants should check the current status of the specific program and the requirements of the state where they hope to work. Institutional accreditation is also relevant to federal student-aid eligibility, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course in transfer.
First-year applicants to Plymouth State generally submit an application and secondary-school academic records showing high school completion or an accepted equivalent. Academic preparation and GPA are part of the review; the university is not an open-admission institution.
Reported admissions requirements indicate that SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor recommended, while recommendations may be considered but are not required. Applicants educated in a language other than English may need to document English proficiency. Requirements can differ for international, graduate, and professionally oriented programs, so those applicants should use the instructions for their specific pathway rather than assuming that first-year rules apply.
In the reported first-year admissions cycle, Plymouth State admitted about 88% of applicants. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's likelihood of admission. Students should confirm the current application timeline and any program-specific materials before submitting.
The reported standard application fee is $50. An application fee pays for processing an application; it is separate from any enrollment deposit or later university charges.
Applicants who need a fee waiver should check the waiver options in the application method they plan to use before submitting payment. Eligibility and procedures may differ by applicant category or admissions initiative, and a fee already paid may not be refundable. Graduate and other specialized applicants should check the fee attached to their particular application.
Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC are reported as options through cooperating host institutions, rather than as ROTC units operated directly by Plymouth State on its campus. Participation therefore requires more planning than simply adding an on-campus class.
Interested students should establish which host program currently accepts Plymouth State participants, where instruction and training take place, and whether travel fits their academic schedule. ROTC scholarships have separate selection rules, and accepting certain benefits or progressing into an officer-training contract can involve a military service obligation. Students should get those terms from the relevant ROTC program before committing.
Plymouth State accepts transfer applications and generally considers college credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the application of previous courses toward a particular degree are separate decisions.
Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from colleges they attended; high school records may also be requested depending on their educational history and the admissions pathway. Reported policies indicate that the university considers several other forms of prior learning, including CLEP, DSST, and credit recommended by the American Council on Education. The number of credits accepted does not necessarily equal the number that satisfies major or general-education requirements.
Before enrolling, transfer students should request an official credit evaluation and a degree plan identifying remaining requirements. This is especially important for sequential majors, licensure programs, and students hoping to finish within a particular number of semesters. Entry terms and deadlines should be confirmed for the intended program.
Plymouth State students may explore study abroad as part of their degree planning, including short-term and longer-term opportunities when available. The crucial question is not only where a program operates, but how its courses will count toward graduation.
Students should seek academic approval before paying a program deposit or arranging travel, particularly if they need a course to meet a major, general-education, or licensure requirement. Programs organized by the university can have different credit and billing arrangements from approved outside-provider programs. Financial aid, scholarships, housing commitments, and the sequence of required courses can also affect whether a particular term abroad is practical.
14% of admitted students enrolled (826 of 6,021)
Application fee
$50Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoHigh school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Neither required nor recommendedSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Neither required nor recommendedTOEFL (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
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy 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, Winter, Spring, SummerData 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.