Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Saint Louis, Missouri
95% Acceptance Rate
Fontbonne University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
95%Acceptance Rate
3.3Avg GPA
$42,982Annual Cost
$48,825Grad Salary
48%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
95%
Avg GPA
3.3
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
48% receive Pell
Fontbonne University is a private, Catholic liberal arts university in Missouri that emphasizes values-based education, social justice, and professional preparation. Admissions are holistic, evaluating applicants on their academic record, personal character, and alignment with the university's mission of service and mentorship. The university seeks individuals who are looking for a high-quality education that integrates professional skills with a solid, values-oriented liberal arts foundation.
Prospective students should highlight their participation in extracurricular activities that foster leadership, community impact, or service, as these reflect the university's mission-focused culture. A strong personal statement that discusses how the student's values align with the university's commitment to service is highly encouraged. The admissions committee looks for students who will contribute to the campus culture and who show a genuine commitment to personal growth and academic excellence within a supportive, inclusive, and mission-centered environment.
Fontbonne University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Fontbonne University is inclusive by design: 95% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 95% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.85
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Fontbonne University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Fontbonne 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
Fontbonne 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.
Fontbonne University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Fontbonne University is 3.3. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.00–3.3 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.50–3.70.Fontbonne 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
3.30 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.90 – 3.09
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.89
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Fontbonne University closed permanently on August 15, 2025, after a Board of Trustees vote in March 2024 citing more than 15 years of enrollment decline (from roughly 2,075 students in 2012 to under 600 in its final term) and a shrinking endowment (about $12.6 million in FY2022).
- Washington University in St. Louis purchased Fontbonne's 16-acre Clayton campus; no public plans for the property have been announced.
- Saint Louis University is the designated custodian of all Fontbonne academic records and the primary teach-out partner, guaranteeing admission and tuition-matched pricing (through Spring 2026) for students in SLU-designated teach-out programs; other teach-out agreements exist with Quincy University, Culver-Stockton College, University of Olivet, and Buena Vista University.
- Degrees already conferred by Fontbonne remain valid since the university was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) through closure - closure does not retroactively invalidate earned degrees.
- 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 Fontbonne University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Fontbonne University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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.
Fontbonne University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Fontbonne 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 Fontbonne University Without SAT or ACT?
Fontbonne 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Fontbonne University
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Fontbonne University is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Do not apply to Fontbonne - it is closed
Fontbonne University ceased operations permanently on August 15, 2025, after a Board of Trustees vote in March 2024 citing more than 15 years of enrollment decline and a shrinking endowment; it stopped admitting new students starting Fall 2024 and graduated its final class in August 2025. There is no current application to complete and no admissions office reviewing new applicants - remove Fontbonne from any active application list.
Redirect toward the official teach-out partner network
If the context involves someone who was actually enrolled at Fontbonne before the closure (not a new applicant), Saint Louis University is the designated primary teach-out partner, with guaranteed admission for students in SLU-designated teach-out programs and a tuition-match guarantee (no more per term at SLU than their final Fontbonne term) for anyone transferring by Spring 2026. Additional teach-out agreements exist with Quincy University, Culver-Stockton College, University of Olivet, and Buena Vista University - confirm which specific agreement applies to the student's declared major before assuming automatic admission.
Request transcripts through SLU, not Fontbonne
Saint Louis University's Office of the University Registrar is now the permanent custodian of all Fontbonne academic records (as it was already for the earlier-closed Cardinal Newman College). Anyone needing a Fontbonne transcript - for a current application elsewhere, employment verification, or graduate school - should contact SLU's registrar directly rather than old Fontbonne contacts, which are no longer staffed for this purpose.
Point Catholic-mission-seeking St. Louis-area students toward comparable alternatives
For a student whose interest in Fontbonne was specifically its Catholic identity, small class sizes, and St. Louis location, reasonable comparable options in the same region and mission tradition include Saint Louis University itself (Jesuit) or other Catholic institutions in Missouri - this substitution should be made explicitly and researched fresh, since Fontbonne's specific programs, scholarships, and campus culture no longer exist to compare against.
Expert Insight:
Fontbonne University is permanently closed as of August 15, 2025 - it does not accept applications, has no active admissions office, and any scholarship, program, or admissions information still findable online (including outdated third-party college-search sites listing acceptance rates and application steps) reflects a school that no longer operates. Confirm this with anyone researching Fontbonne before building further content or advice around it.
Fontbonne University Profile
Full Name
Fontbonne University
City
Saint Louis
State
Missouri
ZIP Code
63105-3098
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Fontbonne University Degree Worth It?
At $42,982/year against a $48,825 median graduate salary, Fontbonne University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $60,900, and graduates see a 3.95% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Fontbonne University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $42,982/year at Fontbonne University; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Fontbonne University, 48% receive a Pell Grant and 64.6% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Fontbonne University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Fontbonne University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Fontbonne University graduates report a median income of $48,825, about 20% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Fontbonne University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Fontbonne University Admissions
Fontbonne University graduates earn a lower median salary of $48,825/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Fontbonne University is moderate, around $42,982/year; many students supplement with aid.
48.0% of Fontbonne University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Fontbonne University's acceptance rate is 95%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Fontbonne University students is 3.3, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Fontbonne University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.9 or below makes admission tougher at Fontbonne University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Fontbonne 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 Fontbonne 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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