Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Boston, Massachusetts
84.7% Acceptance Rate
Suffolk University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
84.7%Acceptance Rate
3.33Avg GPA
1197Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$62,822Annual Cost
$67,506Grad Salary
27.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
84.7%
Avg GPA
3.33
Avg SAT
1197
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1280
ACT Middle 50%
24–32
Need-Based Aid
27.4% receive Pell
Suffolk University is a private, research-oriented university in the heart of Boston. Known for its emphasis on experiential learning and its proximity to the city's legal, business, and cultural hubs, the university provides students with unique opportunities to engage with real-world challenges and develop leadership skills in a professional environment.
Suffolk University Acceptance Rate
Suffolk University maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 84.7%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 84.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.88
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Suffolk University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Suffolk University is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 120 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: April 1
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 15
💡 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.
Suffolk University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Suffolk University is 3.33. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A's and B's is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.53-3.73 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.03 and 3.33, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score.
Suffolk University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Admissions at Suffolk University utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.33, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.93 – 3.12
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.92
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Test-optional for domestic freshman applicants, but homeschooled applicants are a specific exception and must submit standardized test scores.
- Freshman essay is capped at 650 words, prompting applicants to share what admissions "should know apart from courses, grades, and test scores" - Suffolk states this essay is weighted more heavily for test-optional applicants specifically.
- Deadlines: Early Action (non-binding) November 15, Regular Decision (Priority) February 15, rolling admission accepted afterward.
- Suffolk University Law School sits on the same Boston campus, enabling a 3+3 Bachelor's/JD pathway (6 years total) - students must declare interest to the CAS Academic Dean's Office as early as freshman year and meet a 3.5/3.5 GPA bar plus a competitive LSAT score by junior year.
- The Rigor Metric: At Suffolk University, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Suffolk University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Suffolk University'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
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Suffolk University Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Suffolk University Without SAT or ACT?
Suffolk University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
Suffolk University Average SAT Score: 1197
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Suffolk University is 1197 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1197 — Less Competitive
This score makes it less competitive for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1197 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1280 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Suffolk University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1090, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Suffolk University. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 575 | 530 | 620 |
| SAT Reading | 610 | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1197 | 1090 | 1280 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1090 then you are below most of the admitted students at Suffolk University and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1280 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Suffolk University with a 1300 SAT?
With a 1300 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Suffolk University are good but the admission staff at Suffolk University tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Suffolk University ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at Suffolk University is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This score makes Suffolk University Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do well to score 28 on the ACT.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 24 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 24 | 32 |
Can I get into Suffolk University with a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at Suffolk University — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at Suffolk University use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.
One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that Suffolk University — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether Suffolk University uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.
Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 32 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Suffolk University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Suffolk University is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Make the 650-word essay carry real weight, especially if you go test-optional
Suffolk's freshman essay prompt asks directly: "what do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?" - capped at 650 words, framed explicitly as a limit rather than a target. Because Suffolk is genuinely test-optional for domestic applicants (no supplemental component replaces test scores if you omit them), the university states plainly that in the absence of a score, it will more carefully examine curriculum rigor, coursework performance, and - by name - "your Suffolk-specific essay." That means a generic, recycled Common App essay with no direct engagement with Suffolk carries real risk for test-optional applicants specifically, since it's doing more evidentiary work than it would at a school where test scores anchor the file. Write toward Suffolk's downtown Boston identity and specific academic opportunities rather than submitting an essay that could describe your fit at any mid-sized private university.
Declare interest in the 3+3 Bachelor's/JD pathway as early as freshman year if law is the goal
Suffolk University Law School sits on the same downtown Boston campus, and its 3+3 Bachelor's/JD Program lets qualifying undergraduates finish both a bachelor's degree and a JD in six years instead of the customary seven - but the process explicitly requires declaring interest to the College of Arts & Sciences Academic Dean's Office as early as the start of freshman year, not waiting until junior year to inquire. Candidates need to earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 GPA within their major, take the LSAT before applying, and score at or above the median LSAT of the prior year's entering Law School class - a genuinely competitive bar, not a formality. Because credit earned through CLEP exams does not count toward the minimum undergraduate credit requirement for this track, students planning around AP or CLEP credit to accelerate graduation should map that out carefully against 3+3 eligibility rules well before junior year. For a student with law school ambitions, Suffolk's structural advantage - an in-house law school with a direct accelerated pipeline - is arguably its single most distinctive feature relative to other Boston-area universities.
Homeschooled applicants: know you cannot apply test-optional here
While Suffolk extends test-optional status to domestic freshman applicants broadly, it carves out an explicit exception for homeschooled students, who are required to submit standardized test results and cannot apply test-optional regardless of the strength of their transcript. Homeschooled applicants also need to submit a transcript covering all 9th?12th grade coursework with an assessment of performance (letter grade, percentage, or narrative), and may be asked for supplementary documentation describing curriculum or texts used. If a homeschooled student and family are building an application strategy around skipping standardized testing, that plan needs to be corrected early - Suffolk is unambiguous that this population is treated differently from traditionally-schooled test-optional applicants.
Use the Boston location and deadline structure strategically
Suffolk's freshman deadlines run Early Action (non-binding) on November 15 and Regular Decision (Priority) on February 15, with rolling admission accepted afterward - giving applicants real flexibility on timing without the binding commitment of Early Decision elsewhere. Beyond timing, Suffolk's downtown Boston campus is a genuine structural differentiator worth naming specifically in your application rather than treating as generic "urban campus" flavor: the university markets direct access to Boston's legal, financial, and government sectors as central to its academic and co-op identity, particularly relevant to Sawyer Business School and pre-law applicants. Students should connect their stated interests (business, government, law, communications) explicitly to Boston-specific opportunities in their essay and activities list, since a Suffolk admissions reader is evaluating fit with that urban, professionally-embedded model specifically.
Expert Insight:
A common misstep at Suffolk is applicants - particularly test-optional ones - treating the required essay as a generic formality when Suffolk's own stated evaluation process makes clear that a missing test score shifts more evaluative weight onto the essay and curriculum rigor; submitting a recycled, school-agnostic personal statement under those conditions is a real liability rather than a neutral choice.
Suffolk University Profile
Full Name
Suffolk University
City
Boston
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
02108-3901
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Suffolk University Degree Worth It?
Getting into Suffolk University can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Suffolk University offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Suffolk University is $76,200 and the graduate unemployment rate is 2.81%.
How much does a degree from Suffolk University Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Suffolk University is $62,822. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Suffolk University is much less than this.
27.4% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 56 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Suffolk University and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Suffolk University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Suffolk University as your choice in the form.
How much does a Suffolk University Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $67,506. An average Suffolk University graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Suffolk 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 Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Suffolk University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Suffolk University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
Degree Programs at Suffolk University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Suffolk University Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a moderate salary, $67,506 annually, with some fluctuation based on the field.
The tuition fee at this university is quite high, approximately $62,822 or more per year, so it is important to consider additional funding options.
27.4% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of Suffolk University is 84.7% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.33. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.03, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.03, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 2.93 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.33, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to Suffolk University is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1197 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 1090–1280.
The application deadline for Suffolk University is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit your FAFSA before this date for maximum aid consideration.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.
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