Graceland University-Lamoni — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Graceland University-Lamoni is a private, liberal arts institution in Iowa with a rich history of community and inclusivity. Emphasizing intellectual and personal development, the university fosters a values-based environment where students are encouraged to engage with diverse perspectives, pursue leadership opportunities, and prepare for meaningful service in their chosen professions.
Graceland University-Lamoni Acceptance Rate
Admission at Graceland University-Lamoni is inclusive by design: 83.2% 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Graceland University-Lamoni Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Graceland University-Lamoni follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Graceland University-Lamoni 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 (Scholarship priority: 2027/02/01) 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.
Graceland University-Lamoni GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Graceland University-Lamoni is 3.22. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.92–3.22 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 3.42–3.62.Graceland University-Lamoni GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context — leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- The undergraduate BSN requires four semesters of general education at Lamoni, Iowa, then relocation to the Independence, Missouri campus for the final four semesters (or an accelerated seven-semester track).
- Nursing requires a separate application to the School of Nursing during sophomore year, with specific prerequisite grade requirements and notably higher competition due to clinical placement limits.
- All four-year students complete a built-in second major in Transformational Leadership alongside their primary field of study.
- An Alternative Procedure for Acceptance exists for applicants who don't meet standard admission indicators, using case-by-case additional information.
- 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 Graceland University-Lamoni
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Graceland University-Lamoni's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Graceland University-Lamoni Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Graceland University-Lamoni — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Graceland University-Lamoni Without SAT or ACT?
Graceland University-Lamoni Average SAT Score: 1000
Admitted students at Graceland University-Lamoni average a 1000 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
A 1000 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Scored under 960? A retake is worth it at Graceland University-Lamoni — 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1000 | 960 | 1030 |
A score under 960 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1030+ 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 1000
Can I get into Graceland University-Lamoni with a 1050 SAT?
At 1050, your SAT is squarely in Graceland University-Lamoni'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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Graceland University-Lamoni
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Graceland University-Lamoni is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Graceland's undergraduate BSN structure has students complete four semesters of general education on the Lamoni, Iowa campus, then physically transfer to the Independence, Missouri campus to complete the final four semesters of nursing-specific coursework - or pursue an accelerated seven-semester track. If nursing is your goal, plan your housing, transportation, and life logistics around this mid-program relocation from day one, rather than assuming you'll stay at Lamoni for all four years.
Beyond initial admission to Graceland, nursing requires a separate application to the School of Nursing during your sophomore year, contingent on completing prerequisite courses with specific grade requirements. Competition for nursing spots is meaningfully higher than for other majors due to clinical placement limits, so treat this sophomore-year application as a distinct, competitive gate - not a formality following general admission.
Graceland requires all four-year students to complete a second major in Transformational Leadership alongside their primary field of study - a genuinely universal co-major structure, not an elective add-on. Factor this into your four-year course planning from the start, since it's baked into every degree program regardless of your primary major.
Graceland's Lamoni campus offers an Alternative Procedure for Acceptance for applicants who don't meet standard indicators, gathering additional case-by-case information to assess readiness that standard criteria might not capture. If your academic record is borderline, ask your admissions advisor directly about this pathway rather than assuming standard denial criteria are final.
Applicants to Graceland's nursing program sometimes plan their entire four years around the Lamoni campus, not realizing the second half of the BSN happens at a physically separate campus in a different state. This is a real, structural commitment - students should plan housing and finances for two distinct campus locations, not just one, well before their sophomore-year School of Nursing application.
Graceland University-Lamoni Profile
Is a Graceland University-Lamoni Degree Worth It?
Whether Graceland University-Lamoni 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 $56,100, and graduates see a 3.48% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Graceland University-Lamoni Cost?
Listed tuition runs $46,850/year at Graceland University-Lamoni; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Graceland University-Lamoni, 45.2% receive a Pell Grant and 73.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Graceland University-Lamoni on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Graceland University-Lamoni Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Graceland University-Lamoni graduates report a median income of $47,361, about 17% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Graceland University-Lamoni. 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 Graceland University-Lamoni. 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 Graceland University-Lamoni. 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 Graceland University-Lamoni
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Graceland University-Lamoni Admissions
Graceland University-Lamoni graduates earn a lower median salary of $47,361/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Graceland University-Lamoni is moderate, around $46,850/year; many students supplement with aid.
45.2% of Graceland University-Lamoni students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Graceland University-Lamoni's acceptance rate is 83.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Graceland University-Lamoni students is 3.22, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.92 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Graceland University-Lamoni. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.82 or below makes admission tougher at Graceland University-Lamoni, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Graceland University-Lamoni weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1000, and within the 960–1030 range, keeps you competitive.
Graceland University-Lamoni 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 Scholarship priority: 2027/02/01 — that's Graceland University-Lamoni'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.
