Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
81.4% Acceptance Rate
Loyola University Chicago — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
81.4%Acceptance Rate
3.71Avg GPA
1283Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$64,167Annual Cost
$71,530Grad Salary
23.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
81.4%
Avg GPA
3.71
Avg SAT
1283
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1160–1340
ACT Middle 50%
27–31
Need-Based Aid
23.2% receive Pell
Loyola University Chicago is a private, Catholic, Jesuit research university known for its commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and the development of the whole person. With a strong focus on the liberal arts and professional preparation, the university fosters an environment that encourages critical thinking, leadership, and social responsibility. Its emphasis on preparing students for lives of meaning and impact makes it a premier choice for a values-centered education.
Loyola University Chicago Acceptance Rate
Loyola University Chicago runs an open-access admission policy. With a 81.4% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 81.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.71 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.51 – 3.70
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.26
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Loyola University Chicago Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Loyola University Chicago is November 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 20.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 84 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 20
Spring Freshman
November 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 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.
Loyola University Chicago GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Loyola University Chicago is 3.71. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.41 and 3.71? 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 3.91–4.11.Loyola University Chicago GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.71 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.51 – 3.70
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.31 – 3.50
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.30
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- John Felice Rome Center (Loyola's own Italy campus, founded 1962) requires a 2.75+ GPA maintained through the prior semester; multiple outstanding incompletes are prohibited, and a single incomplete triggers a mandatory appeal process
- Honors Program admits both invited incoming freshmen and current students who've completed two or three semesters; requires 27 honors credit hours (9 courses) and a 3.33+ overall GPA to graduate with honors, with modified requirements/timelines for Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Social Work majors
- Honors Program offers no dedicated scholarships or financial aid of its own; the separate Ricci Scholars Study Abroad Program funds a junior-year research semester at the Rome Center, with proposals due as early as sophomore year
- General first-year admission requires a letter of recommendation; the personal essay is recommended but not strictly required, and test scores are test-optional but considered if submitted
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 Loyola University Chicago
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Loyola University Chicago'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.
Loyola University Chicago Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Loyola University Chicago is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Loyola University Chicago Without SAT or ACT?
Loyola University Chicago considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Loyola University Chicago Average SAT Score: 1283
The average SAT score of admitted students at Loyola University Chicago is 1283 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1283 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1340 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Loyola University Chicago allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1160, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Loyola University Chicago. 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 | 615 | 570 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 590 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1283 | 1160 | 1340 |
Below 1160, you're behind most admitted students; at 1340 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 1300
Can I get into Loyola University Chicago with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of Loyola University Chicago'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.
Loyola University Chicago ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Loyola University Chicago is 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 24 | 29 |
| ACT English | 30 | 26 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 27 | 31 |
Can I get into Loyola University Chicago with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Loyola University Chicago'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 Loyola University Chicago.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Loyola University Chicago
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Loyola University Chicago isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
If a semester abroad matters, build a GPA buffer well before the John Felice Rome Center application - incompletes can derail it entirely
Loyola's signature John Felice Rome Center (its own Italy campus, founded 1962) requires a 2.75+ cumulative GPA maintained through the semester immediately before studying abroad, and explicitly prohibits attending with multiple outstanding incomplete grades - a single pending incomplete from the prior semester triggers a mandatory appeal to the Associate Dean's office. A student planning to study at the Rome Center should resolve any incomplete coursework a full semester ahead of departure rather than assuming it will sort itself out, since the appeal process adds real uncertainty to an otherwise-planned semester.
Apply to the Honors Program as a current student if you didn't get the invitation as an incoming freshman - it's not a one-time-only door
Unlike Honors programs that only admit incoming freshmen, Loyola's Honors Program explicitly allows current students who've completed two or three semesters to apply for admission alongside the invitation-based incoming-freshman track. A student who wasn't invited into Honors upon admission, but who performs strongly in their first year, should actively apply rather than assuming Honors membership was a single missed opportunity at matriculation.
If pursuing Education, Engineering, Nursing, or Social Work within Honors, know the program structure is modified specifically for these majors
Loyola's Honors Program (27 credit hours / 9 courses, 3.33+ GPA to graduate with honors) explicitly carves out modified requirements for Education, Nursing, and Social Work majors, including permission to complete the HONR 301 Capstone in the second semester of junior year rather than the standard timeline - a structural accommodation for these professionally-licensed, sequence-heavy majors. A student in one of these fields should request the modified Honors curriculum plan directly from the Honors office rather than following the generic Honors timeline meant for liberal arts majors.
Don't expect Honors-specific financial aid - pursue the Ricci Scholars Program or general scholarships separately
Loyola's Honors Program explicitly states it does not currently offer its own scholarships or financial aid; instead, Honors students seeking funding should pursue separate opportunities like the Ricci Scholars Study Abroad Program (which funds a junior year of research at the Rome Center, with research proposals due as early as sophomore year) or the university's general scholarship pool. A student assuming Honors membership itself unlocks dedicated funding should pursue these other named, separate opportunities proactively instead.
Expert Insight:
A common misunderstanding is treating Loyola's relatively high overall acceptance rate (cited in the 77-82% range across sources) as evidence that every distinctive Loyola opportunity - Honors, the Rome Center, named merit scholarships like Gannon Scholars - carries similarly low barriers. Each of these runs its own separate, more selective application and GPA-maintenance requirements layered on top of general admission, and a strong general applicant shouldn't assume any of these are automatic.
Loyola University Chicago Profile
Full Name
Loyola University Chicago
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60660
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Loyola University Chicago Degree Worth It?
Whether Loyola University Chicago 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 $76,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.23%.
How much does a degree from Loyola University Chicago Cost?
The sticker price is $64,167/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
23.2% of students receive a Pell Grant and 47.9% take federal loans at Loyola University Chicago. File your FAFSA early and list Loyola University Chicago as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Loyola University Chicago Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $71,530. That's about 76% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Loyola University Chicago. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| 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 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1254 | 27 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 1237 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Loyola University Chicago. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Loyola University Chicago. 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 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Loyola University Chicago
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Loyola University Chicago Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Loyola University Chicago run about $71,530 a year.
At about $64,167 a year, Loyola University Chicago's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Loyola University Chicago's Pell Grant rate of 23.2% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 81.4%, Loyola University Chicago's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Loyola University Chicago average a 3.71 GPA.
Loyola University Chicago doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.41 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.31, Loyola University Chicago 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 Loyola University Chicago — aim above 1283, ideally within the 1160–1340 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Loyola University Chicago is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 20.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 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.
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