Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Edwardsville, Illinois
97.2% Acceptance Rate
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
97.2%Acceptance Rate
3.54Avg GPA
1063Avg SAT
23Avg ACT
$25,302Annual Cost
$56,346Grad Salary
31.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
97.2%
Avg GPA
3.54
Avg SAT
1063
Avg ACT
23
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
900–1160
ACT Middle 50%
20–26
Avg Net Price
$13,696
Need-Based Aid
31.6% receive Pell
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public, regional university that emphasizes professional preparation, undergraduate research, and community service. Admissions are selective, focusing on academic rigor and a student's demonstrated readiness for a comprehensive university experience. The university seeks students who are motivated by a sense of purpose and who are eager to participate in its wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Prospective students should highlight their academic consistency and their involvement in activities that foster teamwork or leadership. As the university is highly engaged with regional industry and professional fields, applicants who can connect their studies to real-world outcomes will stand out. The admissions team favors students who are not only academically prepared but also ambitious, self-directed, and ready to leverage the resources of a growing, research-active, and student-focused public university to build a strong professional career.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Acceptance Rate
Admission at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is inclusive by design: 97.2% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 97.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.09
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 14 for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Priority — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 112 days left — Priority
Priority
November 14
Regular (Spring)
December 11
Regular
May 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 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.
SIUE GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SIUE is 3.54. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.24 and 3.54? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.74–3.94.SIUE 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
3.54 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.14 – 3.33
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.13
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Pharmacy Conditional Entry Program (CEP) reserves a PharmD seat for select incoming freshmen who apply through the Meridian Scholars Program (indicating pharmacy/pre-pharmacy interest) and answer a dedicated School of Pharmacy essay; a parallel College CEP track exists for current SIUE students (2.75+ GPA in pre-pharmacy/science/math coursework)
- ~80 students admitted to the PharmD program each fall via 4 total pathways (traditional, high school CEP, college CEP, transfer); CEP ineligibility does not disqualify a student from the traditional competitive PharmCAS pathway
- General undergraduate admission has a ~97%+ acceptance rate, recommends but does not require SAT/ACT, and does not require a personal essay for general admission
- The School of Pharmacy is the only pharmacy program in downstate Illinois; PharmD is a full-time, 4-year, day-only program (no part-time option) requiring completion of pre-pharmacy curriculum with C or better in each course
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 SIUE
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at SIUE — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into SIUE Without SAT or ACT?
SIUE considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Average SAT Score: 1063
Admitted students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville average a 1063 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1063 — Accessible
A 1063 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1160 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Southern Illinois University Edwardsville allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 900? A retake is worth it at SIUE — 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 | 505 | 440 | 570 |
| SAT Reading | 525 | 460 | 590 |
| SAT Composite | 1063 | 900 | 1160 |
A score under 900 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1160+ 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 1050
Can I get into Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) with a 1150 SAT?
At 1150, your SAT is squarely in SIUE'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.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) ACT Requirements
SIUE's admitted students average an ACT of 23.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 23 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 23 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 | 23 | 20 | 26 |
Can I get into Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a 26 ACT?
At 26, you're in the top quarter of SIUE'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, 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, SIUE weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SIUE
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
SIUE's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
For pharmacy-bound students, apply through the Meridian Scholars Program from day one - it's the only door into the Conditional Entry Program
SIUE's Pharmacy Conditional Entry Program (CEP) - an early-assurance pathway reserving a PharmD seat - is only accessible to incoming freshmen who apply to the Meridian Scholars Program and specifically indicate pharmacy or pre-pharmacy as their intended study area, plus answer a dedicated School of Pharmacy essay question. A pre-pharmacy student should not treat the Meridian Scholars application as a generic honors-adjacent opportunity; it's the literal gateway to CEP consideration, and skipping or mishandling that specific essay question forecloses this pathway entirely.
Don't assume CEP rejection means pharmacy rejection - the traditional PharmCAS pathway remains fully open
SIUE's School of Pharmacy explicitly states that CEP is not the only admission route, and ineligibility for CEP doesn't imply a student isn't qualified for the program - roughly 80 students are admitted each fall via four total pathways (traditional, high school CEP, college CEP, and transfer), with the traditional path running through the standard, competitive PharmCAS application process. A student who isn't selected for the guaranteed-seat CEP track should pursue the regular PharmCAS application with equal seriousness rather than treating CEP as the only legitimate door into SIUE pharmacy.
For current SIUE students who didn't get CEP as freshmen, know a second-chance "College CEP" track exists with its own requirements
Beyond the freshman-entry CEP, SIUE offers a separate College Conditional Entry Program for current SIUE students already enrolled in the pre-pharmacy curriculum - requiring a 2.75+ GPA in pre-pharmacy coursework, science/math GPA, and the same PharmCAS application, interview, and writing assessment as the freshman track. A current SIUE student who missed CEP as an incoming freshman should ask their pre-pharmacy advisor specifically about this College CEP option rather than assuming the freshman-only door was their single opportunity.
Use SIUE's "least selective" general admission (97%+ acceptance) to your advantage by applying broadly, but verify GPA cutoffs in each pre-professional GPA category for pharmacy specifically
SIUE's general undergraduate admission is genuinely accessible (recommends but doesn't require SAT/ACT, no essay for general admission), but pharmacy CEP requires clearing a 2.75+ GPA independently in each of several specific categories (overall pre-pharmacy GPA, science GPA, math GPA) - a student should calculate each category separately rather than assuming a single combined GPA captures CEP eligibility.
Expert Insight:
SIUE's general admission ease (97%+ acceptance, no required essay or test scores) can lead pre-pharmacy families to underestimate how genuinely competitive the actual PharmD admission is - only about 80 students are admitted to the professional program each fall from a substantially larger applicant pool, and completing the pre-pharmacy curriculum requirements does not guarantee admission, per the School of Pharmacy's own published statement. A student should not assume strong general-admission performance at SIUE translates into automatic pharmacy program acceptance.
SIUE Profile
Full Name
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)
City
Edwardsville
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
62026-1259
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a SIUE Degree Worth It?
Whether SIUE 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 $60,000, and graduates see a 3.31% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from SIUE Cost?
Listed tuition runs $25,302/year at SIUE; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $13,696.
At SIUE, 31.6% receive a Pell Grant and 40.4% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming SIUE on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a SIUE Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, SIUE graduates report a median income of $56,346, about 39% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Point University | West Point, GA | 1059 | 19 |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | 1057 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at SIUE
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SIUE Admissions
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates earn a moderate median salary of $56,346/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is relatively affordable, around $25,302/year.
31.6% of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's acceptance rate is 97.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students is 3.54, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.24 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.14 or below makes admission tougher at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1063, and within the 900–1160 range, keeps you competitive.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's deadline is November 14 (Priority).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before November 15, 2026 — that's Southern Illinois University Edwardsville'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.
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