Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
94.3% Acceptance Rate
Roosevelt University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
94.3%Acceptance Rate
3.13Avg GPA
1000Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$48,426Annual Cost
$48,712Grad Salary
46.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
94.3%
Avg GPA
3.13
Avg SAT
1000
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
820–1090
ACT Middle 50%
21–29
Need-Based Aid
46.4% receive Pell
Roosevelt University is a private, urban university in Chicago that is dedicated to social justice, academic excellence, and professional preparation. Admissions are holistic, evaluating students on their academic record, character, and their readiness to thrive in an environment that prioritizes mentorship. The university seeks individuals who are looking for a high-quality education that integrates professional skills with a solid foundation in social inquiry and civic responsibility.
Successful applicants often demonstrate significant involvement in extracurriculars that show leadership or potential for community contribution. Demonstrating a clear approach to one's future career plans and explaining how the university's unique, values-centered academic model will facilitate those goals is a strong way to impress the admissions committee. The university looks for students who will contribute to its diverse, supportive, and social-justice-oriented campus environment.
Roosevelt University Acceptance Rate
Roosevelt University runs an open-access admission policy. With a 94.3% 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 — 94.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.13 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.93 – 3.12
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.68
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Roosevelt University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Roosevelt University is December 1 for Spring applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 113 days left — Spring
Spring
December 1
Fall Priority
March 1
Fall Final
August 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 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.
Roosevelt University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Roosevelt University is 3.13. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.83–3.13 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 3.33–3.53.Roosevelt University 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
3.13 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.93 – 3.12
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.73 – 2.92
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.72
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Roosevelt's Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) requires a completely separate GetAcceptd artistic application (pre-screens, auditions, resumes) on top of the general Roosevelt University application - neither system alone results in a complete file.
- BFA Musical Theatre carries an earlier, track-specific December 15 deadline distinct from CCPA's broader final February 28 date for other programs.
- BA Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies is the one CCPA theatre degree that requires no audition or pre-screen at all - a meaningfully different admissions bar within the same college.
- CCPA is located in downtown Chicago steps from the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and scholarship offers are determined partly by faculty assessment at entrance auditions, not academic performance alone.
- 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 Roosevelt University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Roosevelt University'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.
Roosevelt University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Roosevelt University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Roosevelt University Without SAT or ACT?
Roosevelt University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Roosevelt University Average SAT Score: 1000
The average SAT score of admitted students at Roosevelt University is 1000 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1000 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1090 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Roosevelt University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 820, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Roosevelt University. 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 | 465 | 390 | 540 |
| SAT Reading | 490 | 430 | 550 |
| SAT Composite | 1000 | 820 | 1090 |
Below 820, you're behind most admitted students; at 1090 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 1000
Can I get into Roosevelt University with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of Roosevelt University'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.
Roosevelt University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Roosevelt University 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 | 25 | 20 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 21 | 29 |
Can I get into Roosevelt University with a 29 ACT?
A 29 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Roosevelt University'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 Roosevelt University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Roosevelt University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Roosevelt University's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Treat CCPA's Theatre Conservatory pre-screen and the general Roosevelt application as two entirely separate, sequential submissions - completing one doesn't satisfy the other
Roosevelt states plainly that "students who apply through GetAcceptd but do not complete Roosevelt University's online application can not be considered for admission" - the general university application and the artistic pre-screen/audition materials on GetAcceptd are both mandatory, submitted through different systems. Submit your Roosevelt University application first, then immediately move to the GetAcceptd Artistic Application for your specific conservatory, since neither system alone results in a complete file.
Apply to BFA Musical Theatre by December 15 specifically - this deadline is earlier and firmer than CCPA's general February application windows
While CCPA's broader final deadline runs to February 28th with some late acceptance possible, the BFA Musical Theatre program specifically requires submission by 11:59pm Central Time on December 15th - a notably earlier, track-specific cutoff. If Musical Theatre is your target, treat December 15 as your real deadline rather than assuming CCPA's later general dates apply to your specific BFA track.
Use the "also consider me for" cross-application option strategically - checking these boxes doesn't hurt your primary application
Roosevelt's Theatre Conservatory application explicitly lets BFA Acting or BFA Musical Theatre applicants request simultaneous consideration for related programs (BA Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies, BFA Musical Theatre: Dance Concentration, etc.) without submitting multiple separate GetAcceptd applications, and states plainly that "your responses to these questions will not affect your admission consideration for the program you initially applied to." Check these boxes if you have any interest in the related tracks, since it's a genuinely free, risk-free way to broaden your admission options within CCPA.
If your target program is BA Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies specifically, skip the audition and pre-screen entirely - general application is sufficient
Roosevelt states explicitly that "admission to this program alone does not require a pre-screen application or an audition," making BA Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies the one CCPA theatre track with a meaningfully lower application bar than BFA Acting, Musical Theatre, or Musical Theatre: Dance. If a flexible, non-conservatory-intensity theatre degree interests you, this track offers a genuinely different (and less demanding) admissions path within the same college.
Expert Insight:
Because Roosevelt's general undergraduate admission is broadly test-optional and holistic with no application fee, applicants sometimes underestimate how document-and-system-heavy the CCPA audition process actually is - BFA Acting and Musical Theatre applicants must submit fully memorized monologues filmed in specific framing (full-body or 3/4 medium-long shot from the knees up) with zero audio or video enhancement permitted, and a technical violation of these filming specifications could undermine an otherwise strong artistic submission regardless of talent.
Roosevelt University Profile
Full Name
Roosevelt University
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60605-1394
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Roosevelt University Degree Worth It?
Roosevelt University 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 $70,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.35%.
How much does a degree from Roosevelt University Cost?
The sticker price is $48,426/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
46.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 54.3% take federal loans at Roosevelt University. File your FAFSA early and list Roosevelt University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Roosevelt University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $48,712. That's about 20% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Roosevelt University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | Kapolei, HI | 973 | 18 |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 985 | 20 |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL | 984 | 20 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 966 | 17 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Roosevelt University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Roosevelt University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| 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 |
Degree Programs at Roosevelt University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Roosevelt University Admissions
Median earnings for Roosevelt University graduates sit around $48,712 a year.
Roosevelt University costs roughly $48,426 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 46.4% receive a Pell Grant at Roosevelt University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 94.3%, Roosevelt University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Roosevelt University average a 3.13 GPA.
Roosevelt University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.83 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.73, Roosevelt 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 Roosevelt University — aim above 1000, ideally within the 820–1090 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Roosevelt University is December 1 for Spring applicants.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 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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