Towson University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Towson University is a major public research university in Maryland known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university fosters a dynamic campus environment that encourages research, leadership, and professional development. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a premier choice for students seeking a top-tier degree.
Towson University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Towson University is inclusive by design. 82.8% 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Towson University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark February 1 for Towson University (Regular — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 175 days left — Regular💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 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.
Towson University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Towson University is 3.69. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.39 and 3.69? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.89–4.09.Towson University 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.:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate 82% (Niche/IPEDS, 2025-26: 19,767 applications); Early Action November 1 (hard cutoff for merit scholarship consideration - applications after November 1 may not be reviewed for merit aid); Regular Decision February 1; $50 application fee; test-optional (mid-50% SAT 1060?1220, ACT 20?25); Common App essay required (holistic review).
- College of Health Professions: OT entry-level OTD (separate application, 30 community service hours, essay, 3 references, ~30% acceptance per student reviews); OT MS (28 months, 71 units, two 480-hour Level II Fieldwork rotations - physical disabilities and psychosocial); SLP undergraduate major (3.0 GPA minimum for full program entry); SLP MS and PA Studies MS are graduate-only programs; Institute for Well-Being: on-campus Speech and Language Center + Hearing and Balance Center for clinical practicum.
- Towson, MD (~10 miles north of downtown Baltimore); Greater Baltimore/Washington corridor: NSA (Fort Meade, ~20 miles), Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, federal agencies in DC (~45 min); Maryland top 10 nationally for internship/job opportunities (Towson's own admissions data); Tiger Mentor Network for alumni industry connections.
- ~22,000+ students (17,037 undergrads); 110+ undergraduate programs; 19 NCAA Division I sports; 250+ clubs and organizations; 30+ consecutive years ranked among best regional public universities (US News); Golden ID program for Maryland residents 60+ (reduced tuition for audit or credit, space-available basis).
- 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 Towson University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Towson University'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.
Towson University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Towson 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 Towson University Without SAT or ACT?
Towson University Average SAT Score: 1166
Admitted students at Towson University average a 1166 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
A 1166 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Scored under 1050? A retake is worth it at Towson 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 | 565 | 510 | 620 |
| SAT Reading | 595 | 540 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1166 | 1050 | 1270 |
A score under 1050 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1270+ 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 1150
Can I get into Towson University with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Towson 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.
Towson University ACT Requirements
Towson University's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| ACT English | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 19 | 28 |
Can I get into Towson University with a 28 ACT?
At 28, you're in the top quarter of Towson University'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, Towson University 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 Towson University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Towson University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Towson University uses a non-binding Early Action deadline of November 1, and it is the hard cutoff for merit scholarship consideration. The admissions page states explicitly: applications complete after November 1 may not be considered for merit scholarships. Towson uses the Common App, which means the Common App personal essay is part of your application - it is read as part of a holistic review alongside academic rigor, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation. Submit it thoughtfully. The Regular Decision deadline is February 1. Test-optional (SAT/ACT considered if submitted; mid-50% SAT 1060?1220, ACT 20?25). With 19,767 applications reviewed for fall 2026 - and an 82% acceptance rate - the essay is the primary differentiated piece in a strong but not highly selective review process. Students who treat it as optional because the rate is relatively high routinely submit the weakest applications in their file.
Towson's College of Health Professions is one of the strongest academic units at the institution, but admission to Towson does not guarantee admission to the competitive health science programs. Occupational Therapy (OTD): entry-level doctoral program with its own separate application, requires 30 hours of community service, an essay, and three references; OT program acceptance rate is approximately 30% per Niche student reviewers. Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) undergraduate major: requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for full program entry. Physician Assistant Studies MS and SLP MS: graduate-only programs with competitive selection. Students who enroll at Towson intending to pursue OT or SLP without understanding the internal admission gates routinely discover mid-program that they have prerequisites to complete and a competitive application to write before they can advance into the professional curriculum.
Towson's campus is approximately 10 miles north of downtown Baltimore, and Maryland's position in the Beltway ecosystem - with NSA headquarters at Fort Meade (~20 miles), Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, the Port of Baltimore, and the federal government corridor through DC - creates an internship and employment market that is disproportionately large relative to the size of the university. Maryland consistently ranks in the national top 10 for internship and job opportunities for college students (Towson's own admissions data). The Tiger Mentor Network connects students with alumni in specific industries. Students in health sciences, education, business, communications, and cybersecurity/information technology - Towson's heaviest enrollment tracks - have direct pipeline access to the Baltimore-Washington employment corridor that students at comparable-size universities outside the mid-Atlantic cannot match geographically.
Towson's Institute for Well-Being houses both a Speech and Language Center and a Hearing and Balance Center - working clinical facilities where SLP and audiology students complete their in-house practicum hours alongside licensed clinicians. This is not a simulation lab or a teaching clinic with limited patient volume; it is an operational community-facing clinic that draws clients from across the Baltimore metro area. For undergraduates in the SLP major building toward a graduate program application, these campus-based clinical hours appear on your CV the same way externally sourced clinical hours do - and the faculty supervision is directly connected to the graduate program they'll eventually recommend you for. Use the Institute for Well-Being clinic as aggressively as your advisor allows.
Towson's yield rate is approximately 18?29% depending on the source - meaning a significant proportion of admitted students choose to enroll elsewhere. This is a common pattern at comprehensive public universities that serve as strong safety or target schools for students whose first choice is the University of Maryland?College Park, Johns Hopkins, or another Maryland institution. Before committing to Towson, ask yourself honestly whether it's your actual first choice or a backup you've defaulted to without making the comparison explicit. The financial aid picture is also worth examining carefully: Maryland state aid (MAAP, Howard P. Rawlings PG/EA grants) interacts with Towson's merit scholarships in ways that sometimes result in more competitive total packages than comparable-ranked private institutions. Run the net price calculator and compare full packages before you decide.
Towson University Profile
Is a Towson University Degree Worth It?
Whether Towson 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 $80,500, and graduates see a 2.71% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Towson University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $26,621/year at Towson University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $16,791.
At Towson University, 33.5% receive a Pell Grant and 43.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Towson University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Towson University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Towson University graduates report a median income of $64,390, about 59% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Towson University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Towson University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
| The College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 1166 | 24 |
| North Central College | Naperville, IL | 1165 | 25 |
| Quincy University | Quincy, IL | 1157 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Towson University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Towson University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Towson University Admissions
Towson University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $64,390/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Towson University is relatively affordable, around $26,621/year.
33.5% of Towson University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Towson University's acceptance rate is 82.8%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Towson University students is 3.69, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.39 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Towson University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.29 or below makes admission tougher at Towson University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Towson University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1166, and within the 1050–1270 range, keeps you competitive.
Towson University's deadline is February 1 (Regular).
Towson University charges an application fee of 45; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before November 15, 2026. That's Towson 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.
