Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
58.9% Acceptance Rate
Williams Baptist University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
58.9%Acceptance Rate
3.2Avg GPA
1018Avg SAT
19Avg ACT
$32,222Annual Cost
$38,484Grad Salary
47.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
58.9%
Avg GPA
3.2
Avg SAT
1018
Avg ACT
19
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
920–1058
ACT Middle 50%
16–22
Need-Based Aid
47.2% receive Pell
Williams Baptist University, established in 1941 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, is a Christ-centered liberal arts institution known for its ministry, business, and education programs. The university emphasizes servant leadership through its distinctive Leadership College program.
The 200-acre campus includes modern science labs, a commercial-grade recording studio for worship studies, and championship athletic facilities. Its rural setting fosters close community relationships and outdoor learning opportunities.
Williams Baptist University Acceptance Rate
Williams Baptist University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 58.9% each year.
What Williams Baptist University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 58.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.75
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Williams Baptist University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Williams Baptist University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Williams Baptist University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (2026/06/01 (Arkansas Academic Challenge/state scholarship deadline)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Williams Baptist University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Williams Baptist University is 3.2. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.90–3.2 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.40–3.60.Williams Baptist University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.20 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.00 – 3.19
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.80 – 2.99
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.79
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- WBU sets distinct "Unconditional" (ACT 20+/SAT 1030+/CLT 66+, 2.6+ GPA) and "Conditional" (ACT 17-19/SAT 920-1020, 2.25+ GPA) admission tiers rather than a single cutoff.
- WBU accepts the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a full alternative to ACT/SAT - a distinctly classical/faith-oriented exam favored by many homeschooled applicants.
- Arkansas residents receiving the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship must submit ACT scores; the award is stackable with most WBU institutional aid and can total up to $14,000 over four years, with an added Challenge PLUS benefit for lower-SAI students.
- Weekly chapel attendance is a standard part of student life, and the Williams Works program allows students to work toward offsetting or eliminating tuition costs.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Williams Baptist University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Williams Baptist University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Williams Baptist University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Williams Baptist University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Williams Baptist University Without SAT or ACT?
Williams Baptist University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Williams Baptist University Average SAT Score: 1018
The average SAT score of admitted students at Williams Baptist University is 1018 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1018 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1058 SAT or 22 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Williams Baptist University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 920, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Williams Baptist University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 489 | 460 | 518 |
| SAT Reading | 500 | 460 | 540 |
| SAT Composite | 1018 | 920 | 1058 |
Below 920, you're behind most admitted students; at 1058 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into Williams Baptist University with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of Williams Baptist University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Williams Baptist University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Williams Baptist University is 19.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 19 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 18 | 15 | 21 |
| ACT English | 19 | 15 | 23 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 16 | 22 |
Can I get into Williams Baptist University with a 22 ACT?
A 22 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Williams Baptist University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Williams Baptist University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Williams Baptist University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Williams Baptist University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Aim for the "Unconditional Acceptance" thresholds, or know exactly which conditional tier you fall into
WBU sets specific unconditional-admission bars (roughly an ACT superscore of 20+ or SAT of 1030+, or CLT of 66+, combined with at least a 2.6 GPA) versus a lower conditional tier (ACT 17-19/SAT 920-1020, GPA 2.25+). A borderline student should ask admissions directly which specific tier their current scores and GPA place them in, since conditional admission likely carries different registration or support requirements than unconditional admission, and knowing which tier you're in changes how urgent a retest is.
Consider the CLT if you're homeschooled or test better on classical-text-based exams
WBU accepts the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a full alternative to the ACT/SAT - a distinctly faith-based, classical-literature-oriented exam that many homeschooled and classically-educated students score better on than the ACT/SAT. If you've never taken a standardized test or have struggled with ACT/SAT format, ask whether a CLT score might better reflect your preparation, especially since WBU explicitly lists CLT alongside ACT/SAT in its official admission requirements rather than treating it as a fringe option.
Stack the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship with WBU's own aid - but confirm your ACT/SAT is submitted
Arkansas resident applicants who receive the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship must specifically submit ACT scores as a condition of the award, and the scholarship is stackable with most WBU institutional scholarships - worth up to $14,000 over four years, plus an additional Challenge PLUS award (~$500/semester for three years) for students with a Student Aid Index of 7,999 or lower. An Arkansas-resident applicant should submit ACT scores even if otherwise test-optional-eligible, specifically to preserve this stackable state scholarship, and should check their SAI eligibility for Challenge PLUS as a separate add-on.
Plan around weekly chapel and Williams Works if faith-integration and tuition costs both matter to you
WBU requires weekly chapel attendance as part of student life, and offers the Williams Works program, which lets students work to offset or eliminate tuition costs while completing their degree. A prospective student weighing cost and campus culture should ask specifically how Williams Works hours are structured around a full course load and how weekly chapel fits into the weekly schedule, since both are standard, non-optional parts of the WBU experience rather than optional add-ons.
Expert Insight:
Because different sources cite meaningfully different acceptance rates and GPA/test thresholds for WBU (ranging from roughly 64% to over 83%, and GPA minimums cited anywhere from 2.0 to 2.6 depending on unconditional vs. conditional vs. general admission), don't rely on a single aggregator's number - confirm current-cycle unconditional vs. conditional thresholds directly with WBU admissions, since which tier you land in can affect financial aid stacking eligibility, not just the admission decision itself.
Williams Baptist University Profile
Full Name
Williams Baptist University
City
Walnut Ridge
State
Arkansas
ZIP Code
72476
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Williams Baptist University Degree Worth It?
Williams Baptist University offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $42,500, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.38%.
How much does a degree from Williams Baptist University Cost?
The sticker price is $32,222/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
47.2% of students receive a Pell Grant and 47.3% take federal loans at Williams Baptist University. File your FAFSA early and list Williams Baptist University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Williams Baptist University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $38,484. That's somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Williams Baptist University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Williams Baptist University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Williams Baptist University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Williams Baptist University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Williams Baptist University Admissions
Median earnings for Williams Baptist University graduates sit around $38,484 a year.
Williams Baptist University costs roughly $32,222 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 47.2% receive a Pell Grant at Williams Baptist University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 58.9%, Williams Baptist University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Williams Baptist University average a 3.2 GPA.
Williams Baptist University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.9 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.8, Williams Baptist University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Williams Baptist University — aim above 1018, ideally within the 920–1058 range admitted students typically fall in.
Williams Baptist University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is 2026/06/01 (Arkansas Academic Challenge/state scholarship deadline). Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all Arkansas Colleges
Average SAT Score of Arkansas Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in Arkansas
Bachelor Programs in Arkansas
Test Optional Colleges in Arkansas
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in Arkansas