Lewis University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Lewis University, founded in 1932, is Illinois' Catholic university with strengths in aviation and nursing. The Romeoville campus features the new Science Center. Lewis' 'General Education' curriculum develops global perspectives.
Lewis University Acceptance Rate
Lewis University is moderately selective. 72.7% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Lewis 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Lewis University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Lewis University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Lewis College 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.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 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.
Lewis College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Lewis College is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
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 3.80–4.00.Lewis College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Lasallian Scholarship Program requires application and admission by January 1 as a hard priority deadline
- Operates its own airport with partnerships at O'Hare and Midway, central to its aviation program
- Offers 5-year accelerated BS-to-MS pathways in select fields like Aviation and Transportation and Business Analytics
- Core curriculum requires coursework in professional skills and Catholic/Lasallian tradition for all students, regardless of major
- 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 Lewis College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Lewis University's verified institutional data
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.
Lewis University (Lewis College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Lewis College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Lewis College Without SAT or ACT?
Lewis University Average SAT Score: 1117
The average SAT score of admitted students at Lewis University is 1117 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
If your score is below 990, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Lewis 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 | 555 | 500 | 610 |
| SAT Reading | 550 | 490 | 610 |
| SAT Composite | 1117 | 990 | 1220 |
Below 990, you're behind most admitted students; at 1220 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 Lewis University (Lewis College) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of Lewis 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.
Lewis University (Lewis College) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Lewis College is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT English | 23 | 21 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 22 | 26 |
Can I get into Lewis University with a 26 ACT?
A 26 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Lewis 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 Lewis College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Lewis College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Lewis College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
This is a hard priority deadline separate from general rolling admission - don't wait for a later general deadline if this scholarship matters to you.
Lewis operates its own airport with partnerships at O'Hare and Midway - a concrete, hands-on feature worth naming directly, not just a stated major on a list.
Programs like Aviation and Transportation or Business Analytics let you earn both degrees faster, but generally require opting in early rather than transitioning later.
The core curriculum explicitly requires coursework in professional skills and Catholic/Lasallian tradition for every student - this is an academic requirement, not just campus culture.
Students eyeing the 5-year BS-to-MS accelerated programs sometimes assume they can join partway through their undergraduate years - confirm the specific enrollment window with admissions, since these pathways often require earlier commitment than a standard major declaration.
Lewis College Profile
Is a Lewis College Degree Worth It?
Lewis College 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 $79,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.29%.
How much does a degree from Lewis College Cost?
The sticker price is $45,843/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
30.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 46.5% take federal loans at Lewis College. File your FAFSA early and list Lewis College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Lewis College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $66,099. That's about 63% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Lewis University. 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 |
| 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 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Lewis University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Lewis University. 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 |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Lewis College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Lewis College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Lewis University run about $66,099 a year.
Lewis University costs roughly $45,843 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 30.9% receive a Pell Grant at Lewis University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 72.7%, Lewis University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Lewis University average a 3.6 GPA.
Lewis University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.2, Lewis 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 Lewis University — aim above 1117, ideally within the 990–1220 range admitted students typically fall in.
Lewis University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 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.
