Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Pittsburg, Kansas
88.2% Acceptance Rate
Pittsburg State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
88.2%Acceptance Rate
3.4Avg GPA
1090Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$22,426Annual Cost
$50,579Grad Salary
32.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
88.2%
Avg GPA
3.4
Avg SAT
1090
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1120
ACT Middle 50%
18–24
Avg Net Price
$18,889
Need-Based Aid
32.3% receive Pell
Pittsburg State University is a public university in Kansas known for its "technologically rich" learning environment and its commitment to regional economic development. Admissions prioritize academic consistency and the successful completion of core college-preparatory coursework. The university seeks students who exhibit a clear academic focus and who are ready to engage in hands-on laboratories and experiential research projects that define its engineering and technology programs.
When applying, students should ensure their transcripts reflect a steady upward trend in performance, particularly in quantitative areas. The university appreciates applicants who are involved in school or community organizations, as this indicates a readiness for their active campus community. Emphasizing a genuine interest in the school's applied learning mission can help an application stand out, as the admissions team favors students who are prepared to hit the ground running in their chosen professional paths.
Pittsburg State University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Pittsburg State University is inclusive by design. 88.2% 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. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 88.2% 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).
Pittsburg State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pittsburg State 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
⏳ 112 days left — Priority
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Pitt State 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.
Priority
December 1
Priority
August 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.
Pitt State GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Pitt State 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.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.60–3.80.Pitt State 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
3.40 – 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
- Freshman admission requires ACT 21+ OR HS GPA 2.25+ (2.0 for unaccredited/homeschooled with transferable credit); formal exception-petition pathway exists for students below both thresholds
- Plastics Engineering Technology: 50+ year history, described as a national model program, 100% graduate placement rate, recruiting employers include Nike IHM, Chevron-Phillips, BD Medical
- Automotive Technology: housed in the Kansas Technology Center (278,700 sq ft, ~$26M in equipment); 4-year track considered top 4 nationally; 2-year track is NATEF-accredited; direct recruiting pipeline to Ford, Toyota, GM, Nissan, Cummins, John Deere
- In-state tuition extended to residents of 32 states; Kelce College of Business is AACSB-accredited (top ~5% of business schools worldwide); Elementary Education requires a separate 2.8+ GPA gateway with a specific course and basic skills test beyond general admission
- 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 Pitt State
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Pittsburg State 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.
Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Pitt State. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Pitt State Without SAT or ACT?
Pitt State considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Pittsburg State University Average SAT Score: 1090
Admitted students at Pittsburg State University average a 1090 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1090 — Accessible
A 1090 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1120 SAT or 24 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Pittsburg State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1050? A retake is worth it at Pitt State. 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 | 1090 | 1050 | 1120 |
A score under 1050 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1120+ 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 1100
Can I get into Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in Pitt State'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.
Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) ACT Requirements
Pitt State's admitted students average an ACT of 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
An average of 21 leaves room above it for a competitive application.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 17 | 24 |
| ACT English | 20 | 16 | 23 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 18 | 24 |
Can I get into Pittsburg State University with a 24 ACT?
At 24, you're in the top quarter of Pitt State'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, Pitt State 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 Pitt State
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Pitt State takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
If Plastics Engineering Technology interests you, treat it as a nationally-recognized specialty, not a niche major - and say so explicitly
Pitt State's Plastics Engineering Technology program has run for over 50 years, is described by university leadership as a genuine national model, and reports a 100% graduate placement rate with employers like Nike IHM, Chevron-Phillips, and BD Medical recruiting directly from the program. In your application materials or major-specific outreach, name this specific track record (the 50-year history, the placement rate, the recruiting employers) rather than writing generically about "an interest in engineering" - admissions and program faculty read applications for genuine fit with a program most other Kansas high schoolers have never heard of, and specificity signals you actually researched it.
Use Pitt State's exception petition process if you narrowly miss the automatic admission bar
Freshman admission requires either a 21+ ACT composite or a 2.25+ high school GPA (2.0 for unaccredited/homeschooled with transferable college credit) - but Kansas institutions maintain a formal exception policy allowing a limited number of students who don't meet these standards to petition for admission directly to the Office of Admission. If you're marginally below both thresholds, don't assume automatic rejection: complete the petition (sent to you via email once you apply) rather than defaulting to a community college transfer plan, since Pitt State explicitly built this pathway for exactly your situation.
If Automotive Technology is your goal, know this specific program is considered one of the top four of its kind nationally - and lean on its employer pipeline
Pitt State's Automotive Technology department, housed in the Kansas Technology Center, is described by industry as one of the best academic programs in the nation, with the 4-year track considered one of the top four programs of its kind in the country, and graduates recruited directly by Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Nissan, Cummins, and John Deere among others. If this is your intended major, reference specific employer names and the NATEF-accredited 2-year / top-4-nationally 4-year distinction in outreach to program faculty - this level of specificity is exactly what separates a genuinely engaged applicant from one who picked "cars" as a generic interest.
Leverage the $26 million Kansas Technology Center and 32-state tuition reciprocity if you're an out-of-state applicant in a technical field
Pitt State extends in-state tuition to residents of 32 states (Alabama through Wisconsin, check the current list), which materially changes the cost calculus for out-of-state students who might otherwise rule out a Kansas public university. Combine this with the fact that technical programs run through the Kansas Technology Center - a 278,700-square-foot facility with roughly $26 million in donated/purchased industry equipment - to build a genuinely compelling cost-versus-facility-quality case if you're comparing Pitt State against a pricier private technical program elsewhere.
Expert Insight:
Because Pitt State's overall acceptance rate sits near 89% and test scores are recommended but not strictly required, applicants sometimes treat every major as equally low-friction. Certain professional programs are the exception: current students report that Elementary Education, for example, requires a 2.8+ GPA, passing a specific gateway course ("Explorations of Education") with a C or better, passing a basic skills test, and completing field experience evaluations before formal program admission - a genuinely multi-step gate students should plan for well before their sophomore year, not discover after being generally admitted to the university.
Pitt State Profile
Full Name
Pittsburg State University (Pitt State)
City
Pittsburg
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
66762
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Pitt State Degree Worth It?
Whether Pitt State 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 $50,200, and graduates see a 2.82% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Pitt State Cost?
Listed tuition runs $22,426/year at Pitt State. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $18,889.
At Pitt State, 32.3% receive a Pell Grant and 44.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Pitt State on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Pitt State Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Pitt State graduates report a median income of $50,579, about 25% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Pittsburg State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, 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 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pittsburg State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Pittsburg State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Pitt State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Pitt State Admissions
Pittsburg State University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $50,579/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Pittsburg State University is relatively affordable, around $22,426/year.
32.3% of Pittsburg State University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Pittsburg State University's acceptance rate is 88.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Pittsburg State University students is 3.4, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.1 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Pittsburg State University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3 or below makes admission tougher at Pittsburg State University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Pittsburg State University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1090, and within the 1050–1120 range, keeps you competitive.
Pittsburg State University's deadline is December 1 (Priority). Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
Pittsburg State University charges an application fee of 30; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Pittsburg State 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.