Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Pasadena, California
10% Acceptance Rate
Pacific Oaks College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
10%Acceptance Rate
$52,485Grad Salary
55%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
10%
Selectivity
Extremely Competitive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
55% receive Pell
Pacific Oaks College is a private, non-profit institution in California that emphasizes social justice, community engagement, and progressive education. Known for its strong programs in human development, education, and social work, the college fosters a learning environment rooted in diversity and inclusivity. With its commitment to student-centered learning and real-world application, it provides a high-value educational path for individuals seeking to earn a degree that aligns with their professional ambitions and personal commitment to social impact.
Pacific Oaks College Acceptance Rate
Pacific Oaks College is one of the leading universities in the USA. It is extremely competitive to gain admission to. The acceptance rate of Pacific Oaks College is 10%. This means that only 10 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
Admissions Guidelines
- Elite Standards: Admitted students typically rank in the top 2–5% of their high school class.
- Curriculum Rigor: AP, IB, or Honors courses are essential to validate academic readiness.
- Character & Impact: Beyond grades, leadership, research, and unique 'spikes' in extracurriculars drive decisions.
Selectivity at a Glance
Extremely Competitive
Selectivity scale: Extremely Competitive — 10% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
At this level of selectivity, meeting average GPA and test scores is considered the 'baseline.' Because Pacific Oaks College values intellectual curiosity, your supplemental essays and personal recommendations are critical in distinguishing your application from thousands of other high-achieving candidates.
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 Pacific Oaks College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Pacific Oaks College's verified institutional data
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Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Pacific Oaks College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Pacific Oaks College Without SAT or ACT?
Pacific Oaks College considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Pacific Oaks College
Elite Strategy: The 'Spike' Approach
To be successful at a world-class institution like Pacific Oaks College, you must move beyond being 'well-rounded' and demonstrate that you are institutionally necessary.
Write the personal statement directly to the Quaker mission, not around it
Pacific Oaks explicitly evaluates "demonstrated commitment to the mission and values" in its 500-1,000 word personal statement, and its own admissions language points applicants back to its Mission and Vision statement (Quaker-rooted inclusion, social justice, cultural humility). A generic "why I want to study early childhood education" essay reads as off-target here - the essay needs to explicitly connect the applicant's experience to those named values, not just to the subject matter.
Prepare the second-tier essay and letter before it's requested, not after
Any applicant with a cumulative GPA below 2.0, fewer than three years of significant professional or life experience, or fewer than 24 transferable college credits is automatically required to submit an additional 500-750 word essay plus a letter of support from a non-relative. Since Pacific Oaks skews toward working adults and career-changers, this threshold catches a large share of real applicants - have both documents drafted proactively rather than scrambling once the file is flagged incomplete.
Start logging the 500 hours and the statistics course now, not at application time
For programs like the MA in Community Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy track, admission requires a verified 500 documented hours of paid or unpaid work with a diverse, vulnerable population (hospitals, mental health centers, advocacy programs, care facilities, etc.) plus a completed college-level statistics course with a C or better. These are hard prerequisites, not preferred qualifications - retroactively documenting volunteer hours with a supervisor letter is far harder than logging them as they happen, so start the hour count and the stats course well before the application cycle.
Treat Prior Learning Assessment and named scholarships as a second application track
Pacific Oaks converts real-world experience into college credit through its Prior Learning Assessment process, which is worth pursuing separately from the admissions essay. On the funding side, the Community Involvement Scholarship requires its own 800-1,000 word essay on community service commitment, and the Educator Scholarship is specific to School of Education students - both need to be treated as distinct writing tasks, not an afterthought to the main application.
Expert Insight:
Because Pacific Oaks' base personal statement (500-1,000 words) looks like a standard essay requirement, applicants close to the GPA/experience/credit thresholds often don't realize the additional essay and non-relative letter of support apply to them specifically, and the file sits incomplete without anyone flagging why - that gate is triggered silently by the numbers on the transcript, not by anything the applicant is told upfront.
Pacific Oaks College Profile
Full Name
Pacific Oaks College
City
Pasadena
State
California
ZIP Code
91103
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a Pacific Oaks College Degree Worth It?
Getting into Pacific Oaks College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Pacific Oaks College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Pacific Oaks College is $60,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 4.91%.
55% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 73.6 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Pacific Oaks College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Pacific Oaks College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Pacific Oaks College as your choice in the form.
How much does a Pacific Oaks College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $52,485. An average Pacific Oaks College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Pacific Oaks College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Professional Certificate Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Pacific Oaks College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Pacific Oaks College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a moderate salary, $52,485 annually, with some fluctuation based on the field.
55.0% of students at this university receive a Pell Grant — free money that does not need to be repaid. Your chances of need-based aid are strong. Submit your FAFSA as early as possible and list this institution as your choice to be considered for maximum aid.
The acceptance rate of Pacific Oaks College is 10% which is extremely low. Admission is highly competitive, and only the top candidates are accepted.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.