Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Rock Island, Illinois
67.7% Acceptance Rate
Augustana College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
67.7%Acceptance Rate
3.3Avg GPA
1133Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$60,798Annual Cost
$62,971Grad Salary
21.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
67.7%
Avg GPA
3.3
Avg SAT
1133
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1010–1250
ACT Middle 50%
21–28
Need-Based Aid
21.9% receive Pell
Augustana College, established in 1860 in Rock Island, Illinois, is a top-ranked liberal arts college known for its Scandinavian heritage and strong sciences.
The 115-acre Mississippi River campus features the Hanson Hall of Science, the Gerber Center for Student Life, and the Thomas Tredway Library. The college's 'Augie Choice' provides funding for every student's experiential learning project.
Augustana College Acceptance Rate
Augustana College is moderately selective. 67.7% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Augustana College 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 — 67.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.85
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Augustana College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Augustana College is November 1 for Early Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 1.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 80 days left — Early Decision
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 1
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 20
Regular Decision
April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 2026) 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.
Augustana College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Augustana College is 3.3. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.00–3.3 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 3.50–3.70.Augustana College 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
3.30 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.90 – 3.09
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.89
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- ~63% acceptance rate; personal essay required (not optional); recommendation letters considered but not required
- Automatic merit tiers: Presidential $32K, Dean's $30K, Founders $28K, based on GPA/SAT/ACT bands on file at review
- "Augie Choice": $2,000 per student for research, internship, or study abroad - requires a specific plan to use
- "Augustana Possible": newer program meeting 100% of demonstrated need for qualifying students
- 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 Augustana College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Augustana College'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.
Augustana College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Augustana College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Augustana College Without SAT or ACT?
Augustana College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Augustana College Average SAT Score: 1133
The average SAT score of admitted students at Augustana College is 1133 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1133 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1250 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Augustana College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1010, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Augustana College. 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 | 570 | 510 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 560 | 500 | 620 |
| SAT Composite | 1133 | 1010 | 1250 |
Below 1010, you're behind most admitted students; at 1250 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 1150
Can I get into Augustana College with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Augustana College'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.
Augustana College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Augustana College is 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT English | 24 | 19 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 21 | 28 |
Can I get into Augustana College with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Augustana College'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 Augustana College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Augustana College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Augustana College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Know your merit tier before you apply, and hit it precisely
Augustana automatically considers every applicant for merit aid using clear bands: Presidential ($32K/year, needs ~3.8 GPA/1300+ SAT/28+ ACT/top 10%), Dean's ($30K, ~3.5 GPA/1200-1300 SAT), Founders ($28K, ~3.2 GPA/1130-1190 SAT). If you're a few points under a tier's SAT/ACT threshold, a single retake before submitting can shift your entire aid package up a full tier - there's no separate application, so the number on file at review time is what decides it.
Plan to actually use Augie Choice
Every student gets $2,000 through "Augie Choice" for research, an internship, or study abroad - but it isn't automatic in the sense of being handed to you; you have to apply it to a specific plan. Mention in your application or supplemental materials a concrete idea for how you'd use it, since advisors notice students who arrive with a plan already in mind.
Ask specifically about Augustana Possible if you have financial need
Augustana Possible is a newer program that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying newly enrolled students - distinct from the merit scholarships above and not automatically publicized. If your family's need is real, raise this directly with your admissions counselor rather than assuming FAFSA alone will surface it.
Submit the required essay with intention
Unlike many peer schools, Augustana does require a personal essay/statement - it isn't optional here. Use it to explain anything your GPA/test-band placement doesn't capture, especially if you're just under a merit tier and want to make the case for the next one up.
Expert Insight:
Because Augustana's merit scholarships are automatic based on GPA and test scores, applicants often submit without a second thought and miss that a marginal, retakeable test score sitting just below a tier line (e.g., 1190 vs. the 1200 Dean's cutoff) can cost thousands of dollars a year for four years - there's no appeal process after the fact, only the numbers on file at the time of review.
Augustana College Profile
Full Name
Augustana College
City
Rock Island
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61201-2296
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Augustana College Degree Worth It?
Whether Augustana College 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.
The average household income among admitted students is $77,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.9%.
How much does a degree from Augustana College Cost?
The sticker price is $60,798/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
21.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 58.4% take federal loans at Augustana College. File your FAFSA early and list Augustana College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Augustana College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $62,971. That's about 55% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Augustana College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, 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 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Augustana College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Brigham Young University-Idaho | Rexburg, ID | 1123 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Augustana College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Augustana College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Augustana College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Augustana College run about $62,971 a year.
At about $60,798 a year, Augustana College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Augustana College's Pell Grant rate of 21.9% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 67.7%, Augustana College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Augustana College average a 3.3 GPA.
Augustana College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.9, Augustana College 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 Augustana College — aim above 1133, ideally within the 1010–1250 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Augustana College is November 1 for Early Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 1.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 15, 2026. 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.
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