Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Monmouth, Illinois
86.6% Acceptance Rate
Monmouth College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
86.6%Acceptance Rate
3.49Avg GPA
1128Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$55,529Annual Cost
$51,110Grad Salary
30.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
86.6%
Avg GPA
3.49
Avg SAT
1128
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1010–1230
ACT Middle 50%
20–27
Need-Based Aid
30.9% receive Pell
Monmouth College is a private, selective liberal arts college in Illinois known for its commitment to academic excellence, community, and character development. By fostering a supportive and rigorous environment, the college prepares students for lifelong learning and impactful leadership in their fields.
Monmouth College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Monmouth College is inclusive by design. 86.6% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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 — 86.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.49 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.29 – 3.48
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.04
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Monmouth College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Monmouth 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
Monmouth 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 (Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01) 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.
Monmouth College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Monmouth College is 3.49. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.19–3.49 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 3.69–3.89.Monmouth College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
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
3.49 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.29 – 3.48
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.09 – 3.28
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.08
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No relation to Monmouth University in New Jersey, despite the identical core name; Monmouth College is a small Presbyterian liberal arts college in Illinois
- Supplemental essay is optional, roughly 250 words, focused specifically on fit with the Monmouth College community; test-optional overall
- Birthplace of both Pi Beta Phi (1867) and Kappa Kappa Gamma (1870), known as "the Monmouth Duo"; electrical and mechanical engineering programs became ABET-accredited in 2025
- Member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest consortium, offering 70+ off-campus study programs in 50+ countries alongside its own Scotland program
- 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 Monmouth College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Monmouth College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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.
Monmouth College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Monmouth College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Monmouth College Without SAT or ACT?
Monmouth College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Monmouth College Average SAT Score: 1128
Admitted students at Monmouth College average a 1128 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1128 — Less Competitive
A 1128 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1230 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Monmouth College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1010? A retake is worth it at Monmouth College. 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 | 550 | 500 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 570 | 510 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1128 | 1010 | 1230 |
A score under 1010 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1230+ 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 1150
Can I get into Monmouth College with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Monmouth College'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.
Monmouth College ACT Requirements
Monmouth College's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| ACT English | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 20 | 27 |
Can I get into Monmouth College with a 27 ACT?
At 27, you're in the top quarter of Monmouth College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Monmouth College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Monmouth College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Monmouth College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Confirm you're researching Monmouth College (Illinois), not Monmouth University (New Jersey)
These are entirely unrelated schools sharing a name: Monmouth College is a small Presbyterian liberal arts college in Illinois with an optional ~250-word "why us" essay, while Monmouth University is a larger New Jersey school with a required essay, required recommendation letter, and separate December 1 deadlines for direct-entry nursing, occupational therapy, and physician assistant programs. Confirm the state and cross-check essay/deadline requirements against the correct school before drafting anything.
Use the optional essay to name something genuinely specific to Monmouth, IL
The ~250-word supplemental essay asks specifically why the Monmouth College community is the right fit, not just why college in general - since it's optional, most applicants skip it, so naming something concrete (the Scottish heritage and bagpipe band, the Pi Beta Phi/Kappa Kappa Gamma "Monmouth Duo" founding history, a specific ABET-accredited engineering program, or the Associated Colleges of the Midwest study-abroad consortium) signals real research over a generic liberal-arts pitch.
Reference the recent ABET accreditation date for engineering-track applicants
Monmouth's electrical and mechanical engineering programs only became ABET-accredited in 2025 - a very recent milestone. An engineering-track applicant should confirm current ABET status directly with the department, since programmatic accreditation affects professional licensure eligibility later, rather than assuming older information about the program still applies.
Treat the Greek-life and Scottish-heritage identity as concrete fit information
Monmouth is the birthplace of both Pi Beta Phi (1867) and Kappa Kappa Gamma (1870) - known on campus as "the Monmouth Duo" - with over 25% of students in six active Greek chapters, alongside a nationally-titled bagpipe and drum band reflecting the college's Scotch-Irish founding. A student weighing Greek life or Scottish heritage as a real search factor should treat this as verifiable fit information, not campus trivia.
Expert Insight:
Content about "Monmouth" college admissions found online should be checked for state and institution before use - essay prompts, application deadlines, and program-specific requirements for Monmouth University (NJ) are structurally different from and easily mistaken for Monmouth College (IL) given the identical core name.
Monmouth College Profile
Full Name
Monmouth College
City
Monmouth
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61462-1998
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Monmouth College Degree Worth It?
Whether Monmouth 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.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $66,100, and graduates see a 3.27% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Monmouth College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $55,529/year at Monmouth College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Monmouth College, 30.9% receive a Pell Grant and 72% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Monmouth College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Monmouth College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Monmouth College graduates report a median income of $51,110, about 26% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Monmouth 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 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 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 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| 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 Monmouth College. 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 Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Monmouth 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 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Monmouth College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Monmouth College Admissions
Monmouth College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $51,110/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Monmouth College runs high, at roughly $55,529+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
30.9% of Monmouth College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Monmouth College's acceptance rate is 86.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Monmouth College students is 3.49, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.19 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Monmouth College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.09 or below makes admission tougher at Monmouth College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Monmouth College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1128, and within the 1010–1230 range, keeps you competitive.
Monmouth College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01. That's Monmouth College's scholarship priority date.
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.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all Illinois Colleges
Average SAT Score of Illinois Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in Illinois
Bachelor Programs in Illinois
Test Optional Colleges in Illinois
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in Illinois