Minnesota high school students now have a streamlined route to pursuing a polytechnic education thanks to UW-Stout Polytechnic’s new Minnesota Guaranteed Admission program.
The clear pathway allows qualifying Minnesota first-year students to simply fill out an application and submit their high school transcripts for admission, with no additional steps needed. Coupled with the longstanding tuition reciprocity agreement – which allows Minnesotans attending UW-Stout Polytechnic to pay the same tuition they would at a public university in Minnesota – the Guaranteed Admission program makes UW-Stout Polytechnic an even more attractive option for students who want to do more with their college experience.
“We want to make sure that Minnesota students have access to a polytechnic education and are able to Do More on Day One,” said Director of Admissions Brian Weber, noting that UW-Stout Polytechnic is the only polytechnic university in either state. “Our Guaranteed Admissions program eliminates the guesswork of what students need to submit, making the application process easier and more transparent for prospective students and their families.”
The application process is free, and submitting ACT or SAT scores is optional. To qualify for Guaranteed Admission, Minnesota students must have a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher. In addition to tuition reciprocity, Minnesota students are eligible for a share of the more than $2 million in merit-based and foundation scholarships given to UW-Stout Polytechnic first-year and returning students annually.
Tony Trudeau, a counselor at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minn., who holds a M.S. school counseling degree from UW-Stout Polytechnic, said the Guaranteed Admission program will help open doors for Minnesota students.
“I often talk to students about college opportunities in Wisconsin, and I think knowing the choice exists in a streamlined fashion would make them strongly consider the option,” Trudeau said.
During his own time at UW-Stout Polytechnic, Trudeau said he benefitted from reciprocal tuition and the opportunities the campus offered to explore experiences outside his major as well as the university’s applied learning approach.
“I think what sets UW-Stout Polytechnic apart is the ability to be very hands-on with whatever degree program you choose,” he said. “The opportunities to actually experience what you would be doing in your chosen field helps you make decisions on your career path and be ready to work right after graduation. The small class sizes also give you the chance to dive deep into discussions and get live feedback.”
UW-Stout Polytechnic is already the choice for hundreds of first-year students from Minnesota each year who are seeking applied learning opportunities that propel them into careers in engineering, technology, design, management and much more. As a polytechnic institution, UW-Stout Polytechnic immerses students in an environment focused on applied learning, business and industry collaboration, and career-focused experiences.
Each year, those career experiences include nearly 1,000 co-ops and internships with top companies across the region and nation. Frequently, these experiences lead to full-time employment – even before graduation. In the past five years, UW-Stout Polytechnic graduates have gone to work for more than 125 employers on the Fortune 500, including many of Minnesota’s most successful companies, such as 3M, Best Buy, Xcel Energy, Target, Hormel Foods, Solventum, Fastenal, CHS Inc., C.H. Robinson and Land O’Lakes.
UW-Stout Polytechnic graduates can expect a near-perfect job placement rate and salaries higher than graduates of other regional institutions. According to the university’s annual First Destination Report, 99% of recent grads were employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation. And undergraduate degree recipients from 2024-25 reported an average annual starting salary of $59,000, a figure that’s been the highest among universities in western Wisconsin for the past six years of available data.
“At UW-Stout Polytechnic, we’ve got the right mix of academic programs to prepare graduates to pursue rewarding careers in Minnesota or wherever else their paths take them,” Weber said.
To learn more about the Guaranteed Admission program for Minnesota students, visit www.uwstout.edu/do-more-mn.
