Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Owensboro, Kentucky
34.6% Acceptance Rate
Brescia University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
34.6%Acceptance Rate
3.02Avg GPA
1055Avg SAT
$41,865Annual Cost
$45,500Grad Salary
42.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
34.6%
Avg GPA
3.02
Avg SAT
1055
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1015–1085
Need-Based Aid
42.8% receive Pell
Brescia University, founded in 1950 in Owensboro, Kentucky, is a private Catholic institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs rooted in Franciscan values. The 30-acre campus provides a personalized education with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Brescia is particularly known for its strong programs in social work, business, and teacher education. Campus facilities include the Moore Center for science and the newly renovated Campus Center. The university maintains its historic commitment to serving first-generation college students.
Brescia takes pride in its Franciscan tradition of service, hospitality, and respect for all persons. Campus life includes NAIA athletics and student organizations focused on community engagement. The university has expanded its online programs while maintaining its residential Catholic community. Recent initiatives include the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Brescia's combination of academic programs, faith-based values, and commitment to accessibility makes it a distinctive institution in western Kentucky.
Brescia University Acceptance Rate
Brescia University admits roughly 34.6% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Brescia University Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 34.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.02 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.82 – 3.01
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.57
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Brescia University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Brescia University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Brescia 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 (February 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.
Brescia University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Brescia University is 3.02. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.22–3.42.Brescia University 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.02 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.82 – 3.01
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.62 – 2.81
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.61
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No application fee; no essay required; test-optional; rolling admissions; no deadline; automatic merit scholarship consideration at application in five tiers ($6,000?$27,000/year); Ursuline Scholar top tier requires 3.7 GPA + ACT 30+; lowest tier requires 3.0 GPA + ACT 23.
- SACSCOC accredited; Ursuline Sisters?sponsored Catholic liberal arts; 477 FT + 83 PT undergrads; 13:1 student-faculty ratio; downtown Owensboro, KY (Ohio River); founded 1925.
- Graduate programs: MSW (CSWE-accredited since 2016), MBA, MA in Management; BUonline platform for online degree completion at undergraduate and graduate levels; articulation agreements with KCTCS, Owensboro Health, and University of Louisville School of Nursing.
- Acceptance rate approximately 35?54% (sources diverge: Niche/BigFuture 35%, CollegeConfidential/IPEDS cohort 54%); six-year graduation rate 47?54% (BigFuture 47%, Niche 54%); average GPA of admitted students ~3.37; average ACT 22; average net price approximately $10,731/year after aid.
- 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 Brescia University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Brescia University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Brescia University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Brescia 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 Brescia University Without SAT or ACT?
Brescia University neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Brescia University Average SAT Score: 1055
Admitted students at Brescia University average a 1055 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1055 — Accessible
A 1055 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1085 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Brescia University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1015? A retake is worth it at Brescia 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1055 | 1015 | 1085 |
A score under 1015 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1085+ 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 Brescia University with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in Brescia 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Brescia University
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Brescia University means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Apply Early - Automatic Scholarship Consideration Depends on Nothing but Your Transcript
Brescia charges no application fee, requires no essay, and operates on rolling admissions with no deadline. The moment you apply, you are automatically considered for five tiers of merit scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $27,000 annually - no separate scholarship application, no interview, no additional form. The tier you land in is determined by your GPA and ACT/SAT score at the time of application: the Ursuline Scholarship (the top tier) requires a 3.7 GPA and ACT 30+, while the entry threshold is a 3.0 GPA and ACT 23. Test scores are optional, but submitting them could move a student into a higher scholarship tier. Submit early and submit your scores if they help - every week of delay is a week without a financial aid decision in hand.
Use the Downtown Owensboro Location as a Professional Asset
Brescia's campus sits in downtown Owensboro within walking distance of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the RiverPark Center performing arts venue, the public library, and the Ohio River waterfront. Owensboro industries and professional organizations actively cooperate with Brescia in providing internships - the institution names business, education, psychology, social work, speech and hearing, and special education as primary off-campus learning fields. The campus's Owensboro Health articulation agreement creates a pathway for students interested in healthcare administration and allied health. Students who engage with the Owensboro professional community from freshman year - rather than treating campus life as self-contained - consistently leave with stronger regional professional networks than those who don't.
The MSW Program Is CSWE-Accredited and Stackable From Undergraduate
Brescia's Master of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - an accreditation required for licensure in most states - and has maintained that status since 2016. For students planning a social work career who are weighing Brescia as an undergraduate institution, the presence of an on-campus, CSWE-accredited MSW creates a potential accelerated pathway: undergraduate students who begin their professional relationships with MSW faculty early, and who maintain strong academic records, may be well-positioned for direct progression into the program after graduation. For students coming specifically for undergraduate social work, ask admissions about any 4+1 or accelerated pathways between the BSW and MSW programs.
BUonline Is Not a Fallback - It Is a Parallel Strategy
Brescia's BUonline platform delivers full undergraduate and graduate degree programs online, including options in business, education, and psychology. For students who are geographically close to Owensboro but need schedule flexibility - or who are considering Brescia for a graduate program from anywhere in the country - BUonline provides the same institutional quality and SACSCOC accreditation as the residential campus. The MSW program, for instance, is specifically designed to serve working students who cannot commute to campus regularly. If a student's circumstances will require flexibility before their four years are complete, confirm with admissions upfront whether their intended program has a BUonline equivalent rather than discovering mid-program that they need to switch formats.
Expert Insight:
Brescia's acceptance rate figures vary meaningfully across sources: Niche and BigFuture report 34?36%, while CollegeConfidential's IPEDS-sourced figure from the most recent complete cohort reports 54% (1,025 admitted of 1,894 applicants). The lower figures likely reflect a smaller, more recent applicant pool; the 54% figure is derived from the larger and more documented cohort. Regardless, the more meaningful number for a student making an enrollment decision is the graduation rate - approximately 47?54% (BigFuture/Niche), which places Brescia in the middle range for small Catholic colleges in the region. Ask admissions directly about major-specific completion rates before committing, particularly for programs that require licensure examinations.
Brescia University Profile
Full Name
Brescia University
City
Owensboro
State
Kentucky
ZIP Code
42301-3023
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Brescia University Degree Worth It?
Whether Brescia 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.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $50,400, and graduates see a 3.59% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Brescia University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $41,865/year at Brescia University; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Brescia University, 42.8% receive a Pell Grant and 56.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Brescia University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Brescia University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Brescia University graduates report a median income of $45,500, about 12% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Brescia University. 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 |
| 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 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 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 Brescia University. 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 |
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Brescia 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 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Brescia University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Brescia University Admissions
Brescia University graduates earn a lower median salary of $45,500/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Brescia University is moderate, around $41,865/year; many students supplement with aid.
42.8% of Brescia University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Brescia University's acceptance rate is 34.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Brescia University students is 3.02, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.72 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Brescia University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.62 or below makes admission tougher at Brescia University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Brescia University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1055, and within the 1015–1085 range, keeps you competitive.
Brescia University 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 February 1, 2026 — that's Brescia 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.
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