Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Frederick, Maryland
78.1% Acceptance Rate
Hood College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
78.1%Acceptance Rate
3.41Avg GPA
$59,174Annual Cost
$57,089Grad Salary
36.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
78.1%
Avg GPA
3.41
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
36.3% receive Pell
Hood College is a private, selective liberal arts institution in Maryland known for its commitment to academic excellence, personalized education, and professional preparation. With a supportive environment and a focus on critical inquiry, the college offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Its emphasis on helping students achieve their professional and academic goals through a well-rounded curriculum makes it a reliable and high-value choice.
Hood College Acceptance Rate
Hood College (Hood) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 78.1% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
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
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 78.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.96
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Hood College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Hood College 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
Hood 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.
Hood GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Hood is 3.41. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.11–3.41 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 3.61–3.81.Hood 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.01 – 3.20
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.00
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-blind policy - SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions at all.
- Founded 1893 as a women's college; became fully coeducational (including residential men) in 2003.
- New Sept. 2025 NSF-funded biotech training program partners with AstraZeneca, Kite, and Frederick National Laboratory.
- 50-acre campus roughly 50 miles from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
- 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 Hood
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Hood College's verified institutional data
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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
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Hood College (Hood) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Hood is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Hood Without SAT or ACT?
Hood 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Hood
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Hood isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Understand Hood Is Test-Blind, Not Just Test-Optional
Hood doesn't just make SAT/ACT optional - it operates test-blind, meaning scores aren't considered even if submitted. This shifts real weight onto GPA and course rigor; applicants should ensure their transcript context (course difficulty, upward grade trends) is clearly explained in any optional additional-information section, since there's no test score to offset a GPA that looks weaker out of context.
Target the New NSF-Funded Biotech Training Program If You're a Science-Track Junior
Hood's Innovative, Immersive Training Program in Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing launched in September 2025 with a $999,850 NSF grant, offering paid internships and specialized coursework for juniors, with some seats reserved for transfer students from Hagerstown and Frederick Community Colleges - biology/biotech-track applicants should ask admissions directly about this program's application timeline rather than assuming it's automatically available to all science majors.
Use the Frederick National Laboratory Connection as a Concrete Career Pathway
Hood's partnership with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research - the only U.S. national laboratory dedicated exclusively to biomedical research - provides real internships, research opportunities, and graduate hiring; pre-med, biology, and pre-vet applicants should name this specific partnership when discussing research interests in an interview or optional essay, since it's a genuinely differentiating resource, not generic "research opportunities" language.
Ask About NeighborHOOD Tuition Benefits If a Parent Works at FNL
Hood offers a NeighborHOOD tuition benefit specifically for Frederick National Laboratory employees and their dependent children - if a parent or guardian works at FNL, raise this directly with financial aid, since it's a narrow, institution-specific benefit unlikely to be surfaced without asking.
Expert Insight:
Because Hood markets itself heavily around proximity to DC/Baltimore and the I-270 tech corridor, some applicants assume every science-adjacent opportunity (like the new biotech training program) is open to all majors by default - but seats are limited (about 17/year) and partly reserved for community college transfers, so science-track applicants should confirm eligibility specifics rather than assuming automatic access.
Hood Profile
Full Name
Hood College (Hood)
City
Frederick
State
Maryland
ZIP Code
21701
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Hood Degree Worth It?
At $59,174/year against a $57,089 median graduate salary, Hood is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $78,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.53%.
How much does a degree from Hood Cost?
The sticker price is $59,174/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
36.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 63.7% take federal loans at Hood — file your FAFSA early and list Hood as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Hood Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $57,089 — about 41% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Hood
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Hood Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Hood College run about $57,089 a year.
At about $59,174 a year, Hood College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 36.3% receive a Pell Grant at Hood College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 78.1%, Hood College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Hood College average a 3.41 GPA.
Hood College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.11 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.01, Hood College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Hood College 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.
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