Friends University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Friends University, founded in 1898 in Wichita, Kansas, is a Quaker-affiliated institution offering distinctive programs in performing arts, business administration, and health sciences.
The 55-acre campus includes the historic Davis Administration Building, the state-of-the-art Riney Fine Arts Center, and the new Garvey Physical Sciences Center. The university's 'Transformational Education' model combines academic rigor with real-world experiential learning opportunities.
Friends University Acceptance Rate
At 55.6%, admission to Friends University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What Friends University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Friends University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Friends University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Friends 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.
💡 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.
Friends University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Friends 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.Friends 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:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Quaker heritage, non-denominational Christian identity; mission centers on integrating intellectual, spiritual, and professional life.
- Roughly 60% acceptance rate; NAIA athletics (Falcons).
- Branch campuses in Lenexa and Topeka, Kansas, in addition to the main Wichita campus.
- Recognized among small/medium-size colleges for volume of business degrees awarded.
- 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 Friends University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Friends University's verified institutional data
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.
Friends University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Friends University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Friends University Without SAT or ACT?
Friends University Average SAT Score: 1014
The average SAT score of admitted students at Friends University is 1014 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
If your score is below 915, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Friends 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 | 495 | 450 | 540 |
| SAT Reading | 508 | 465 | 550 |
| SAT Composite | 1014 | 915 | 1090 |
Below 915, 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 Friends University with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of Friends 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.
Friends University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Friends University is 20.
ACT Competitiveness
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 19 | 16 | 22 |
| ACT English | 19 | 15 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 17 | 22 |
Can I get into Friends University with a 22 ACT?
A 22 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Friends University's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several 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 (Science, especially, 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 Friends University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Friends University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Friends University isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Friends' Quaker-heritage mission centers on service to others. An essay or interview should reference one specific service experience, since that's the actual value being screened for.
Friends operates branch locations in Lenexa and Topeka in addition to the main Wichita campus. Confirm your intended major is taught at the campus you're picturing before assuming Wichita is automatic.
Friends is recognized among small/medium schools awarding the most business degrees and has NAIA football strength. Business-intending applicants and athletes should ask admissions directly how these two areas' scholarship dollars stack.
Friends competes in the NAIA, not the NCAA. Recruiting timelines and scholarship rules differ, so clarify these directly with coaches rather than assuming NCAA norms apply.
Applicants often picture the full Wichita main-campus experience - housing, traditional clubs - at every Friends location. Lenexa and Topeka sites don't offer that same experience, and assuming they do is a common, avoidable mismatch.
Friends University Profile
Is a Friends University Degree Worth It?
Whether Friends University 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.
The average household income among admitted students is $60,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.05%.
How much does a degree from Friends University Cost?
The sticker price is $44,401/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
33.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 50% take federal loans at Friends University — file your FAFSA early and list Friends University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Friends University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $52,113 — about 28% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Friends 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 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA | 998 | 19 |
| Life University | Marietta, GA | 994 | 17 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Friends University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Friends 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 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
Degree Programs at Friends University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Friends University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Friends University run about $52,113 a year.
Friends University costs roughly $44,401 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 33.7% receive a Pell Grant at Friends University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 55.6%, Friends University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Friends University average a 3.4 GPA.
Friends 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, Friends 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 Friends University — aim above 1014, ideally within the 915–1090 range admitted students typically fall in.
Friends University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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.
