Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
85.8% Acceptance Rate
Saint Xavier University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.8%Acceptance Rate
3.4Avg GPA
1035Avg SAT
$42,237Annual Cost
$58,656Grad Salary
56%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.8%
Avg GPA
3.4
Avg SAT
1035
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
995–1065
Need-Based Aid
56% receive Pell
Saint Xavier University is a private, Catholic, liberal arts institution in Illinois known for its commitment to academic excellence and service. With a student-centered approach, the university provides a supportive environment that prepares graduates for leadership roles in a variety of professional fields.
Saint Xavier University Acceptance Rate
Saint Xavier University (St Xavier University) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 85.8% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.95
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Saint Xavier University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Saint Xavier University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 127 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
St Xavier University 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.
Early Action
December 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.
St Xavier University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at St Xavier University is 3.4. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.10–3.4 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 3.60–3.80.St Xavier University 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.00 – 3.19
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.99
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No essay, no letters of recommendation, no application fee, and test-optional admission for general first-year applicants; rolling admission with a December 1 priority deadline for scholarships.
- Nursing transfer applicants need an ATI TEAS score valid within one year (max two attempts), plus prior college biology and chemistry coursework, on top of the program-specific essay.
- Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution; founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy as a women's college - one of Chicago's oldest institutions of higher education, still actively operating for 2026?27 despite broader headlines about small Catholic college closures nationally.
- Ranked #6 Best Value School in the Midwest and #2 Best Online Graduate Nursing Program by U.S. News (2025); 100% of nursing graduates report working full-time or enrolled in graduate school after graduation.
- 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 St Xavier University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Saint Xavier University's verified institutional data
--%
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.
Saint Xavier University (St Xavier University) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if St Xavier University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into St Xavier University Without SAT or ACT?
St Xavier University neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Saint Xavier University Average SAT Score: 1035
The average SAT score of admitted students at Saint Xavier University is 1035 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1035 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1065 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Saint Xavier 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 995, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at St Xavier 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1035 | 995 | 1065 |
Below 995, you're behind most admitted students; at 1065 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 1050
Can I get into Saint Xavier University (St Xavier University) with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of St Xavier 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St Xavier University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into St Xavier University isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Know that "no essay required" does not apply to Nursing
General first-year admission at SXU requires no essay, no letters of recommendation, and no application fee - but Nursing applicants must submit a dedicated essay on why they want to be a nurse specifically at SXU, plus a signed Nursing Essential Abilities and Behaviors Form. Don't assume the university's essay-free reputation extends to the nursing program; it doesn't.
Deposit before May 1 regardless of how strong your nursing application is
Nursing seats are capacity-limited and awarded first-come, first-served based on when a tuition deposit is submitted - not purely on application strength. Admitted nursing students who deposit after May 1 are placed on a waitlist even if their academic profile was competitive. Apply and deposit early in senior year specifically to avoid this timing risk.
Hit the December 1 priority deadline for expedited decisions and scholarship priority
SXU runs rolling admission, but applying by December 1 gets applicants an expedited decision and priority consideration for scholarships - a real advantage inside an otherwise open-ended rolling timeline that students often don't realize exists.
Understand that general admission does not admit you to the Music Department
Music majors and minors must separately audition, with guidelines specific to instrument and major, even after being generally admitted to SXU. Students remain "Music Major Candidates" for four semesters before formal department application and acceptance - general admission is only the first of several required steps for this program.
Expert Insight:
Because general admission is essay-free and rolling, students applying to Nursing or Music sometimes submit only the general application and assume they're finished - missing the program-specific essay, TEAS exam score, Essential Abilities form, or audition entirely. These are separate submissions that are not automatically triggered by simply declaring the major on the general application.
St Xavier University Profile
Full Name
Saint Xavier University (St Xavier University)
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60655
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a St Xavier University Degree Worth It?
St Xavier 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 $69,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.11%.
How much does a degree from St Xavier University Cost?
The sticker price is $42,237/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
56% of students receive a Pell Grant and 86.6% take federal loans at St Xavier University — file your FAFSA early and list St Xavier University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a St Xavier University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $58,656 — about 44% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Xavier University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Saint Xavier University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 1037 | 21 |
| Valdosta State University | Valdosta, GA | 1037 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Xavier University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, 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 |
Degree Programs at St Xavier University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About St Xavier University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Saint Xavier University run about $58,656 a year.
Saint Xavier University costs roughly $42,237 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
With 56.0% of Saint Xavier University students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong — an early FAFSA filing naming Saint Xavier University is the key move.
At 85.8%, Saint Xavier University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Saint Xavier University average a 3.4 GPA.
Saint Xavier University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.1 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3, Saint Xavier 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 Saint Xavier University — aim above 1035, ideally within the 995–1065 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Saint Xavier University is December 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
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.
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