Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is the world's largest aviation/aerospace university with direct airport access.
The 185-acre campus features air traffic control labs, spaceflight simulation centers, and the new John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Acceptance Rate
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is moderately selective. 66.3% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach 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.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is 3.88. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.58 and 3.88, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 4.08–4.28.Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective. This GPA sits within the typical admitted band.
Recommended Strategy: A top-5th-percentile SAT/ACT score makes the strongest case here.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach uses a holistic review process where personal fit and character metrics can offset minor GPA variances.
- Yield protection strategies are common here; displaying clear, active interest reduces your risk of being waitlisted.
- Generous institutional aid pools are closely tied to early submission windows and exceptional counselor evaluations.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
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 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Without SAT or ACT?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Average SAT Score: 1256
Admitted students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach average a 1256 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
A 1256 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Scored under 1140? A retake is worth it at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 625 | 570 | 680 |
| SAT Reading | 620 | 570 | 670 |
| SAT Composite | 1256 | 1140 | 1350 |
A score under 1140 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1350+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach) with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach) ACT Requirements
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach's admitted students average an ACT of 27.
ACT Competitiveness
An average of 27 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 23 | 28 |
| ACT English | 26 | 22 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 24 | 30 |
Can I get into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach with a 30 ACT?
At 30, you're in the top quarter of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Per ERAU's own application page, the Daytona Beach campus does not require an essay, letters of recommendation, or even SAT/ACT scores (optional but encouraged) for general undergraduate admission - only official transcripts and proof of English proficiency for non-native speakers. Redirect any "extra" application energy toward program-specific requirements (flight training documentation, FAA medical certification for aspiring pilots) rather than essay polish.
Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach is home to one of the world's largest collegiate flight programs, but flight training is billed separately from tuition and represents a major additional cost that catches some families off guard. Walk pilot-track families through the full estimated flight-training budget - not just tuition - before they commit, since this is a structural cost reality specific to aviation-focused institutions like ERAU.
ERAU operates genuinely distinct residential campuses - Daytona Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast with Division II athletics and a state-of-the-art research park, versus Prescott in the Arizona mountains with a smaller, more close-knit community - and applicants choose one explicitly when applying. Help students think through climate, campus size, and program emphasis differences rather than treating "Embry-Riddle" as a single undifferentiated choice.
ERAU hosts the largest Air Force ROTC detachment in the United States, a concrete and verifiable structural advantage for students aiming toward military aviation careers, distinct from generic "great for future pilots" framing. Encourage students with this goal to specifically research ROTC scholarship and commissioning details alongside general admission, since the two processes run on separate but coordinated timelines.
Don't let a strong SAT/ACT score (1350+ SAT or 30+ ACT, which nearly guarantees admission per third-party estimates) create false confidence that the rest of the application doesn't matter for competitive, capacity-limited programs like flight training slots - general admission and flight-program seat availability are not the same gate, and the latter can fill independently of overall university acceptance.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Profile
Is a Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Degree Worth It?
At $59,972/year against a $84,131 median graduate salary, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $66,700, and graduates see a 3.2% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Cost?
Listed tuition runs $59,972/year at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, 15.1% receive a Pell Grant and 30.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach graduates report a median income of $84,131, about 107% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL | 1211 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Admissions
Graduates of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach earn a high median salary of $84,131/year, varying by field.
Tuition at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach runs high, at roughly $59,972+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
15.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach's acceptance rate is 66.3%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach students is 3.88, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.58 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.48 or below makes admission tougher at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1256, and within the 1140–1350 range, keeps you competitive.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach charges an application fee of 50; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
