Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Indianapolis, Indiana
85.9% Acceptance Rate
Butler University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.9%Acceptance Rate
3.92Avg GPA
1282Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$64,503Annual Cost
$77,235Grad Salary
13.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.9%
Avg GPA
3.92
Avg SAT
1282
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1180–1360
ACT Middle 50%
26–31
Need-Based Aid
13.8% receive Pell
Butler University is a private, comprehensive university in Indiana known for its commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, and the liberal arts. With a supportive environment and strong focus on student success, the university prepares graduates for leadership and meaningful professional contributions.
Butler University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Butler University is inclusive by design. 85.9% 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 — 85.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.92 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.72 – 3.91
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.47
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Butler University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for Butler University (Early Action — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 84 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
💡 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.
Butler University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Butler University is 3.92. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.62 and 3.92, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 4.12–4.32.Butler University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: This tier demands elite, top-of-class academic standing.
Recommended Strategy: Pair the GPA with heavy Course Rigor, including AP, IB, or Honors, to back it up.
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
3.92 – 4.00
Academic Target
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.72 – 3.91
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.52 – 3.71
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.51
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Nursing is Butler's only binding Early Decision program, sharing the Nov. 1 deadline used for non-binding Early Action everywhere else at Butler.
- Early Action (Nov. 1) is required for full scholarship consideration and priority Honors Program review; Regular Decision runs to Feb. 1, with reduced admission and scholarship odds for applications filed after that.
- Pharmacy admission (Doctor of Pharmacy, Direct Pathway) requires a separate PharmCAS-style process including a proctored, standardized-prompt essay and interview, on top of general Butler admission.
- Founder's College offers a low-to-no-debt two-year associate pathway specifically for historically underserved Indianapolis-area students, with an option to continue to a Butler bachelor's degree.
- 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 Butler University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Butler University'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.
Butler University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Butler University. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Butler University Without SAT or ACT?
Butler University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Butler University Average SAT Score: 1282
Admitted students at Butler University average a 1282 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1282 — Slightly Competitive
A 1282 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1360 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Butler University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1180? A retake is worth it at Butler University. 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 | 635 | 590 | 680 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 590 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1282 | 1180 | 1360 |
A score under 1180 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1360+ 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 1300
Can I get into Butler University with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in Butler University'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.
Butler University ACT Requirements
Butler University's admitted students average an ACT of 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
An average of 29 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 25 | 29 |
| ACT English | 29 | 25 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 31 |
Can I get into Butler University with a 31 ACT?
At 31, you're in the top quarter of Butler University'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, Butler University 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 Butler University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Butler University isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Answer both halves of the 100-word supplement - major fit and Butler fit
Butler's supplemental essay is intentionally short (around 100 words), which means students can't hedge with generic enthusiasm - the prompt is really asking two specific questions simultaneously: what you love about your intended major, and why Butler specifically (not just "a college like it") is the right place to study it. Strong responses name concrete Butler-specific details - a professor, a signature course, a research opportunity, an alum in the field - rather than describing generic interest in the subject, since vague responses waste nearly all of the limited word count on content that could apply to any school.
Apply Early Action if Nursing, Honors, or full scholarship consideration matters to you
Butler's Early Action deadline (Nov. 1) is meaningfully more consequential than a typical non-binding early option: it's required for full scholarship consideration and priority Honors Program consideration, and - critically - Nursing is the only program at Butler using a binding Early Decision process with that same November 1 deadline. Students set on Nursing specifically need to understand this is binding, unlike every other Butler program, so committing to EA/ED without confirming which track applies to Nursing is a common and costly mistake.
Treat the Arts, Dance, Music, or Theatre supplement as a second, parallel application
Students majoring in Art, Arts Administration, Dance, Music, or Theatre through the Jordan College of the Arts must complete a distinct supplement beyond the Common App, plus an audition, portfolio review, or interview depending on discipline. Butler's Dance program in particular carries national recognition, so applicants should treat the audition/portfolio component with the same seriousness as the academic application - scheduling it early, since audition slots for competitive programs like Dance often fill well before the general admission deadline.
Explore Founder's College if cost is the primary barrier
Founder's College is a distinct two-year pathway at Butler specifically designed for historically underserved students from the Indianapolis area, allowing students to earn an associate's degree with little-to-no debt, with the option to continue on to a Butler bachelor's degree afterward. Indianapolis-area students for whom Butler's sticker price feels out of reach should ask admissions directly whether they qualify for Founder's College rather than assuming Butler is simply unaffordable - this pathway isn't heavily advertised alongside the main first-year application.
Expert Insight:
Because Butler's overall acceptance rate sits around 85%, families sometimes read the university as broadly non-competitive across every program - but Nursing's binding Early Decision structure and the Pharmacy program's separate PharmCAS application, proctored essay, and interview mean specific high-demand programs operate on a materially different (and more binding, or more application-heavy) track than general admission. Treating Butler as uniformly "easy" because of its headline acceptance rate is the most common way a Nursing or Pharmacy-track applicant gets caught off guard by a binding commitment or an extra application step they didn't know existed.
Butler University Profile
Full Name
Butler University
City
Indianapolis
State
Indiana
ZIP Code
46208
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Butler University Degree Worth It?
At $64,503/year against a $77,235 median graduate salary, Butler University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $72,000, and graduates see a 2.62% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Butler University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $64,503/year at Butler University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Butler University, 13.8% receive a Pell Grant and 42% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Butler University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Butler University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Butler University graduates report a median income of $77,235, about 90% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Butler University. 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 Butler University. 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 Butler University. 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 Butler University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Butler University Admissions
Butler University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $77,235/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Butler University runs high, at roughly $64,503+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
13.8% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. Butler University skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Butler University's acceptance rate is 85.9%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Butler University students is 3.92, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.62 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Butler University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.52 or below makes admission tougher at Butler University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Butler University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1282, and within the 1180–1360 range, keeps you competitive.
Butler University's deadline is November 1 (Early Action), with decisions out by December 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before November 1, 2026. That's Butler University'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.