Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tougaloo, Mississippi
53.2% Acceptance Rate
Tougaloo College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
53.2%Acceptance Rate
2.8Avg GPA
940Avg SAT
$22,570Annual Cost
$34,724Grad Salary
61.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
53.2%
Avg GPA
2.8
Avg SAT
940
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
900–970
Need-Based Aid
61.8% receive Pell
Tougaloo College Tougaloo College, founded in 1869 in Mississippi, is a private historically black liberal arts college with a rich civil rights legacy. The 500-acre campus offers comprehensive programs with particular strengths in natural sciences, education, and the humanities. Tougaloo maintains a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and is known for its strong pre-medical program that produces high medical school acceptance rates. The campus features historic buildings like Woodworth Chapel and modern facilities including the Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center. Tougaloo's partnership with Brown University is one of the oldest exchange programs between an Ivy League and HBCU.
Tougaloo takes pride in its tradition of academic excellence and social justice activism. Campus life includes NCAA Division II athletics and student organizations focused on community engagement. The college has expanded its STEM offerings while maintaining strong programs in traditional disciplines. Recent initiatives include the Center for Social Justice and the Health Disparities Research Center. Tougaloo's combination of academic rigor, historical significance, and commitment to social change makes it a distinctive institution among HBCUs.
Tougaloo College Acceptance Rate
Tougaloo College takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 53.2% each year.
What Tougaloo College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 53.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.80 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.60 – 2.79
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.35
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Tougaloo College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Tougaloo 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
Tougaloo College 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 (March 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.
Tougaloo College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Tougaloo College is 2.8. 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 3.00–3.20.Tougaloo College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context, such as 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
2.80 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.60 – 2.79
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.40 – 2.59
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.39
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Brown-Tougaloo Partnership (est. 1964): includes student exchange, nine-week paid summer research, Bernstein Scholars program, and an Early Identification Program giving Tougaloo pre-med students a direct pathway to Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School - EIP has produced over 80 Brown MD graduates from Tougaloo.
- Acceptance rate approximately 53?60% (IPEDS-sourced); January 1 regular application deadline per Niche; $25 application fee; no supplemental essay required.
- Only private HBCU in Mississippi not under state control; campus served as a refuge and organizing hub during the Civil Rights Movement; six national register historic landmarks on campus.
- Six-year graduation rate 30?40% (sources vary by cohort); 71?83% first-year retention; median earnings 6 years post-enrollment approximately $25,777 - below national averages; students planning for graduate or professional school via the Brown pathway fare significantly better than aggregate outcomes suggest.
- 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 Tougaloo College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Tougaloo College'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.
Tougaloo College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Tougaloo College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Tougaloo College Without SAT or ACT?
Tougaloo College 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.
Tougaloo College Average SAT Score: 940
Admitted students at Tougaloo College average a 940 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 940 — Accessible
A 940 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (970 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Tougaloo College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 900? A retake is worth it at Tougaloo College. 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 | 940 | 900 | 970 |
A score under 900 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 970+ 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 950
Can I get into Tougaloo College with a 950 SAT?
At 950, your SAT is squarely in Tougaloo College'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 Tougaloo College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Tougaloo College is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Position Yourself for the Brown-Tougaloo Partnership Early
The Brown-Tougaloo Partnership - established in 1964 as the first exchange program between an HBCU and an Ivy League institution - is one of the most concrete academic differentiators in Tougaloo's portfolio. For pre-med students, the Early Identification Program at Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School offers fee waivers, MCAT waivers, application support, and direct recruiting on Tougaloo's campus. EIP candidates are typically identified by the end of sophomore year, which means your freshman year GPA and research engagement directly shape your eligibility. If medicine or public health is your goal, name this partnership explicitly in your application materials and connect it to your specific academic intentions.
Lean Into the Civil Rights Campus History - It's Not Marketing, It's Provenance
Tougaloo's Woodworth Chapel hosted Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tougaloo students and faculty conducted some of the first sit-ins in Jackson. The Mississippi State Legislature tried to revoke the school's charter in 1964 precisely because of the college's role in the movement. When you write about why Tougaloo, connect your own sense of social purpose to that specific history - not to a generic HBCU mission. Admission readers here notice when applicants have actually done the research. Citing the college's civil rights archives and what they represent signals a genuine level of engagement that generic "community and excellence" language does not.
Research the Honors Program Before You Apply
Tougaloo runs a structured Honors Program that provides a more rigorous academic track with enhanced mentorship and research access - including pathways to the nine-week paid Bernstein Scholars research program in partnership with Brown. Students who enter with strong GPAs and genuine research or academic interests are the natural fit. If you're coming in with a 3.5+ and serious STEM or social science ambitions, mention the Honors Program and the Bernstein connection explicitly in your application. Students who arrive knowing these pathways exist almost always engage with them more successfully than those who discover them sophomore year.
File FAFSA Early and Understand the Net Price Reality
Tougaloo's sticker tuition runs approximately $12,000/year - well below comparable private institutions - and the average net price after aid is around $15,663, meaning aid packages frequently add fees beyond tuition. About 41% of Tougaloo students receive Pell Grants, which signals a heavily need-based aid environment. File FAFSA as early as possible; Tougaloo's financial aid availability is closely tied to federal and state grant eligibility. Students who miss the early FAFSA window often find their aid package is thinner in their first year even if their need would have qualified them for more.
Expert Insight:
Tougaloo's six-year graduation rate runs between 30?40% depending on the cohort measured - among the lower figures nationally for private liberal arts colleges. The college's strong freshman retention rate (~71?83% across sources) suggests most students want to stay, but completion rates tell a different story. Before enrolling, students should ask directly about graduation planning, four-year degree maps, and what support services look like for students who are off-track after sophomore year. The Brown partnership and HBCU mission are genuine - but finish rates require a candid conversation.
Tougaloo College Profile
Full Name
Tougaloo College
City
Tougaloo
State
Mississippi
ZIP Code
39174
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Tougaloo College Degree Worth It?
Whether Tougaloo College 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 $44,800, and graduates see a 5.42% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Tougaloo College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $22,570/year at Tougaloo College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Tougaloo College, 61.8% receive a Pell Grant and 58% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Tougaloo College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Tougaloo College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Tougaloo College graduates report a median income of $34,724, somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Tougaloo College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, AR | 916 | 16 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | 913 | 17 |
| Trinity College of Florida | Trinity, FL | 905 | 19 |
| Wesleyan College | Macon, GA | 905 | NA |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | 910 | 17 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | 929 | 18 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort, KY | 910 | 17 |
| Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 910 | 16 |
| Maine College of Health Professions | Lewiston, ME | 910 | NA |
| Washington Adventist University | Takoma Park, MD | 920 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Tougaloo College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City, KS | 950 | 17 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Tougaloo College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
Degree Programs at Tougaloo College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Tougaloo College Admissions
Tougaloo College graduates earn a lower median salary of $34,724/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Tougaloo College is relatively affordable, around $22,570/year.
61.8% of Tougaloo College students receive a Pell Grant, which is need-based aid you don't repay. File your FAFSA early and list Tougaloo College as a choice for the best shot at maximum aid.
Tougaloo College's acceptance rate is 53.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Tougaloo College students is 2.8, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.5 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Tougaloo College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.4 or below makes admission tougher at Tougaloo College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Tougaloo College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 940, and within the 900–970 range, keeps you competitive.
Tougaloo College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Tougaloo College charges an application fee of 25; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before March 1, 2026. That's Tougaloo College'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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