Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Saint Leo, Florida
72.1% Acceptance Rate
Saint Leo University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
72.1%Acceptance Rate
3.1Avg GPA
1085Avg SAT
$41,727Annual Cost
$48,364Grad Salary
36.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
72.1%
Avg GPA
3.1
Avg SAT
1085
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1045–1115
Need-Based Aid
36.8% receive Pell
Saint Leo University is a private, Catholic institution in Florida known for its commitment to academic excellence, values-based education, and accessibility. Offering a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its campus and online platforms, the university fosters a supportive and globally engaged community. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a reliable and meaningful choice for students aiming to prepare for leadership in a variety of professional fields.
Saint Leo University Acceptance Rate
At 72.1%, admission to Saint Leo University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What St. Leo University St Leo 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 — 72.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.10 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.65
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Saint Leo University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Saint Leo 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
St. Leo University St Leo 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.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
St. Leo University St Leo University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at St. Leo University St Leo University is 3.1. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.80–3.1 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 3.30–3.50.St. Leo University St Leo 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
3.10 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.90 – 3.09
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.70 – 2.89
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.69
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- General acceptance rate is roughly 72?80%; test-optional, with a holistic review that can include an optional essay and recommendation letter.
- Honors Program applications for the 2026/2027 cycle open November 7, 2025 and close May 1, 2026; admitted students are placed in either the Honors Scholars or Honors Fellows track based on previously completed credits.
- Catholic Promise Scholarship is a stackable $3,000/year award combinable with merit scholarships for up to $17,000/year total.
- Dare to Roar's Tuition Advantage Program can make a Saint Leo bachelor's degree nearly tuition-free for Florida residents from households with adjusted gross income under $50,000 who meet academic requirements.
- 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 St. Leo University St Leo University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Saint Leo University's verified institutional data
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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.
Saint Leo University (St. Leo University St Leo University) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if St. Leo University St Leo University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into St. Leo University St Leo University Without SAT or ACT?
St. Leo University St Leo University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Saint Leo University Average SAT Score: 1085
The average SAT score of admitted students at Saint Leo University is 1085 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1085 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1115 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Saint Leo 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 1045, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at St. Leo University St Leo 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1085 | 1045 | 1115 |
Below 1045, you're behind most admitted students; at 1115 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 1100
Can I get into Saint Leo University (St. Leo University St Leo University) with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of St. Leo University St Leo 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St. Leo University St Leo University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into St. Leo University St Leo University isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Apply for the Catholic Promise Scholarship if you graduated from a Catholic high school
This is a stackable $3,000/year award designed specifically to honor a family's commitment to Catholic education at both the high school and university level - and it combines with Saint Leo's merit scholarships ($10,000?$14,000/year), for a potential total of up to $17,000/year. This isn't automatically applied like merit aid; confirm with admissions that you're flagged for it based on your high school's Catholic affiliation.
Apply to the Honors Program early in its Nov 7?May 1 window, right after general admission
Honors admission is competitive and holistic - a 3.5 unweighted GPA is typical but not required, and space is limited. Applying immediately after general admission (rather than waiting closer to May 1) lets you coordinate housing and course registration before those separate deadlines pass. Once admitted, you must maintain a 3.25 GPA in Honors coursework and attend two Honors-approved community events per semester to remain in the program.
If you're a Florida resident with household AGI under $50,000, investigate the Tuition Advantage Program
Part of Saint Leo's Dare to Roar initiative, this program can make a bachelor's degree at University Campus virtually tuition-free for qualifying Florida residents who also meet academic requirements. Pair it with the associate-degree-first pathway (under $10,000/year total) and the Study Florida 50% tuition discount when transitioning into the bachelor's program for a structurally cheaper four-year path than applying directly as a bachelor's freshman.
For Criminal Justice, ground your application in Saint Leo's specific facilities and connections
The program features an on-campus crime scene house for hands-on training and documented connections to the FBI through specific faculty. Naming these concrete program features in your essay or interest statement - rather than generic "I want to help people" language - signals genuine fit and program-specific research that generic criminal justice applicants typically skip.
Expert Insight:
Because Saint Leo's general admission is lightly selective and test-optional, students often assume nothing here requires real strategy. In reality, its most valuable financial layers - the Catholic Promise Scholarship, the Honors Program's $1,000 incoming-scholar award, and the Tuition Advantage Program - are each opt-in, criteria-specific, and require active pursuit and verification; they are not automatically bundled into a standard admission offer.
St. Leo University St Leo University Profile
Full Name
Saint Leo University (St. Leo University St Leo University)
City
Saint Leo
State
Florida
ZIP Code
33574-6665
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a St. Leo University St Leo University Degree Worth It?
St. Leo University St Leo 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 $58,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.27%.
How much does a degree from St. Leo University St Leo University Cost?
The sticker price is $41,727/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
36.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 36.6% take federal loans at St. Leo University St Leo University. File your FAFSA early and list St. Leo University St Leo University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a St. Leo University St Leo University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $48,364. That's about 19% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Leo University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Saint Leo University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Leo University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at St. Leo University St Leo University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Leo University St Leo University Admissions
Median earnings for Saint Leo University graduates sit around $48,364 a year.
Saint Leo University costs roughly $41,727 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 36.8% receive a Pell Grant at Saint Leo University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 72.1%, Saint Leo University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Saint Leo University average a 3.1 GPA.
Saint Leo University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.8 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.7, Saint Leo 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 Saint Leo University — aim above 1085, ideally within the 1045–1115 range admitted students typically fall in.
Saint Leo University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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.