Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Young Harris, Georgia
64% Acceptance Rate
Young Harris College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
64%Acceptance Rate
3.15Avg GPA
1045Avg SAT
$45,389Annual Cost
$47,195Grad Salary
21.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
64%
Avg GPA
3.15
Avg SAT
1045
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%
1005–1075
Need-Based Aid
21.1% receive Pell
Young Harris College is a private, liberal arts institution in Georgia affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Known for its scenic campus and focus on student-centered learning, the college offers a supportive environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth. With a commitment to small class sizes and personalized instruction, it provides a well-rounded and meaningful educational path for students aiming to build a strong foundation for their future professional or academic endeavors.
Young Harris College Acceptance Rate
At 64%, admission to Young Harris College is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What YHC Young Harris 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 — 64% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.15 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.95 – 3.14
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.70
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Young Harris College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Young Harris College 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
YHC Young Harris 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.
YHC Young Harris GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at YHC Young Harris is 3.15. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.85–3.15 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.35–3.55.YHC Young Harris GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context — leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.15 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.95 – 3.14
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.75 – 2.94
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.74
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate: ~63% (2024-25); rolling admissions, decisions issued within 3?5 business days of a complete file; no hard deadline but early applications secure housing and course options.
- No SAT/ACT, essay, or recommendation letters required for freshman admission - only an official high school transcript and GPA.
- Merit scholarships ($17,000?$21,000/year, four tiers) are auto-awarded on GPA at application; tuition includes required textbooks, lowering effective net cost.
- Signature programs include Outdoor Leadership (B.S.) and Environmental Education and Leadership - both tied to the Appalachian geography of the campus and to USFS partnerships; Fine Arts scholarships are available for students majoring in Art, Music, Musical Theatre, or Theatre Performance with a separate portfolio/audition process.
- 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 YHC Young Harris
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Young Harris College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Young Harris College (YHC Young Harris) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at YHC Young Harris — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into YHC Young Harris Without SAT or ACT?
YHC Young Harris neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Young Harris College Average SAT Score: 1045
Admitted students at Young Harris College average a 1045 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1045 — Accessible
A 1045 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1075 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Young Harris College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1005? A retake is worth it at YHC Young Harris — 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1045 | 1005 | 1075 |
A score under 1005 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1075+ 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 1050
Can I get into Young Harris College (YHC Young Harris) with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in YHC Young Harris'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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for YHC Young Harris
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into YHC Young Harris isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Apply Early and Let the Mountains Sell Themselves
YHC uses rolling admissions with no hard deadline, but early applicants get priority access to course selection and on-campus housing - both of which fill fast on a 750-person residential campus. Submit in fall of senior year rather than waiting, and follow up with your admissions counselor by name; the 11:1 student-faculty ratio extends to admissions staff, who actually read files personally and respond within 3?5 business days of a complete file.
The Application Is GPA-Only - So Make That Transcript Talk
YHC requires only your high school transcript for freshman admission - no SAT/ACT, no essay, no recommendation letters are required. That means there is no supplemental material to compensate for a weak GPA. If a student's transcript shows an upward trend, counsel them to write a brief optional note to admissions explaining the arc, since there is no formal essay prompt to do that work. Academic momentum matters more here than a single test score ever could.
Target the Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education Pipeline
YHC offers one of the few standalone bachelor's degrees in Outdoor Leadership in Georgia, alongside an Environmental Education and Leadership program that incorporates the Hemlock Project, a YHC Beekeeping Institute, and partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Students aiming for outdoor education, conservation, or park service careers should name these programs explicitly in any optional correspondence - admissions offices at niche programs pay attention when applicants demonstrate they know the specific curriculum, not just the campus vibes.
Leverage the Merit Scholarship Structure Before You Apply
YHC automatically considers every freshman for one of four merit scholarship tiers ranging from $17,000?$21,000 per year, based solely on GPA submitted with the application - no separate scholarship application required. Students near a GPA threshold should ask their counselor whether an additional semester of strong grades before applying could move them to a higher tier. Tuition also includes required textbooks, which meaningfully reduces the real net cost below the sticker price.
Expert Insight:
The biggest failure pattern at YHC is students who choose it for the mountain setting without connecting to any academic program or campus organization - the social scene is explicitly described by students as quiet, particularly on weekends, and a small residential campus with 800 undergrads offers almost no anonymity. Students who don't plug into athletics, Greek life, the performing arts, or an outdoor program within the first semester routinely feel isolated and leave before sophomore year. Low yield (25%) signals this is a school many choose but not all commit to - make sure the student has a specific reason to be there beyond aesthetics.
YHC Young Harris Profile
Full Name
Young Harris College (YHC Young Harris)
City
Young Harris
State
Georgia
ZIP Code
30582
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a YHC Young Harris Degree Worth It?
Whether YHC Young Harris is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $65,600, and graduates see a 2.32% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from YHC Young Harris Cost?
Listed tuition runs $45,389/year at YHC Young Harris; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At YHC Young Harris, 21.1% receive a Pell Grant and 32.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming YHC Young Harris on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a YHC Young Harris Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, YHC Young Harris graduates report a median income of $47,195, about 16% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Young Harris College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| 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 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA | 998 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Young Harris College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Young Harris College. 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 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
Degree Programs at YHC Young Harris
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About YHC Young Harris Admissions
Young Harris College graduates earn a lower median salary of $47,195/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Young Harris College is moderate, around $45,389/year; many students supplement with aid.
21.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Young Harris College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Young Harris College's acceptance rate is 64%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Young Harris College students is 3.15, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.85 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Young Harris College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.75 or below makes admission tougher at Young Harris College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Young Harris College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1045, and within the 1005–1075 range, keeps you competitive.
Young Harris College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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.