Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Kansas City, Missouri
69.1% Acceptance Rate
Rockhurst University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
69.1%Acceptance Rate
3.62Avg GPA
1218Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$57,712Annual Cost
$67,102Grad Salary
19.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
69.1%
Avg GPA
3.62
Avg SAT
1218
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1116–1246
ACT Middle 50%
22–27
Need-Based Aid
19.3% receive Pell
Rockhurst University, established in 1910 in Kansas City, Missouri, is a private Jesuit university ranked #15 in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News. Known for its business, health sciences, and education programs, Rockhurst combines liberal arts with professional preparation. The 55-acre campus features facilities like the Greenlease School of Nursing and the newly renovated Sedgwick Hall.
Rockhurst's Jesuit tradition emphasizes leadership, service, and ethics, with programs like the Honors Program and the Center for Service Learning. The university's location in Kansas City provides internships at Fortune 500 companies (e.g., Cerner and H&R Block) and cultural institutions. Rockhurst also offers accelerated degree options, NCAA Division II athletics, and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio for personalized education.
Rockhurst University Acceptance Rate
Rockhurst University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 69.1% each year.
What Rockhurst 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 — 69.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.62 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.42 – 3.61
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.17
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Rockhurst University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Rockhurst 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
Rockhurst 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 (Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01) 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.
Rockhurst GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Rockhurst is 3.62. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.32 and 3.62? 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 3.82–4.02.Rockhurst 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.62 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.42 – 3.61
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.22 – 3.41
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.21
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate around 70%; rolling admissions.
- Personal essay recommended, not required, for general admission.
- OT program requires a separate 1,000-word essay on Jesuit values and the profession.
- Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences merged into Rockhurst in 2020.
- 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 Rockhurst
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Rockhurst University'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.
Rockhurst University (Rockhurst) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Rockhurst — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Rockhurst Without SAT or ACT?
Rockhurst considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Rockhurst University Average SAT Score: 1218
Admitted students at Rockhurst University average a 1218 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1218 — Slightly Competitive
A 1218 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1246 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Rockhurst University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1116? A retake is worth it at Rockhurst — 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 | 586 | 563 | 608 |
| SAT Reading | 596 | 553 | 638 |
| SAT Composite | 1218 | 1116 | 1246 |
A score under 1116 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1246+ 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 1200
Can I get into Rockhurst University (Rockhurst) with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Rockhurst'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.
Rockhurst University (Rockhurst) ACT Requirements
Rockhurst's admitted students average an ACT of 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 25 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 21 | 27 |
| ACT English | 24 | 21 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 27 |
Can I get into Rockhurst University with a 27 ACT?
At 27, you're in the top quarter of Rockhurst'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, 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, Rockhurst weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Rockhurst
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Rockhurst is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Treat the personal essay as optional but strategically useful
Rockhurst doesn't require a personal essay for general admission, but submitting a strong one still helps borderline applicants (median ACT is 22). If your GPA or scores sit near the middle 50%, write one anyway to round out the file.
Know the OT program has its own required essay
Applicants to the Occupational Therapy program must submit a separate 1,000-word essay tying personal experience to Jesuit core values and occupational therapy specifically. This is on top of the OTCAS personal statement, so don't assume one essay covers both.
Understand the 2020 nursing merger
Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences merged into Rockhurst in 2020 to form Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Rockhurst. If you're applying to nursing, research this specific division's admission requirements, since they differ from general liberal arts admission.
Name the Jesuit core values explicitly if pursuing health programs
Programs like OT explicitly ask applicants to connect Jesuit values (care for the whole person, service, social justice) to their intended profession. Generic "I want to help people" essays underperform here; name a specific value and tie it to a real experience.
Expert Insight:
Because general admission is test-optional and low-essay, applicants sometimes carry that same casual approach into health-science program applications, where OT, nursing, and other clinical tracks have their own separate, more demanding requirements.
Rockhurst Profile
Full Name
Rockhurst University (Rockhurst)
City
Kansas City
State
Missouri
ZIP Code
64110-2561
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Rockhurst Degree Worth It?
At $57,712/year against a $67,102 median graduate salary, Rockhurst 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 $68,700, and graduates see a 2.68% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Rockhurst Cost?
Listed tuition runs $57,712/year at Rockhurst; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Rockhurst, 19.3% receive a Pell Grant and 33.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Rockhurst on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Rockhurst Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Rockhurst graduates report a median income of $67,102, about 65% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Rockhurst University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1205 | 25 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Rockhurst University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Rockhurst 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 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Rockhurst
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Rockhurst Admissions
Rockhurst University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $67,102/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Rockhurst University runs high — roughly $57,712+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
19.3% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Rockhurst University skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Rockhurst University's acceptance rate is 69.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Rockhurst University students is 3.62, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.32 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Rockhurst University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.22 or below makes admission tougher at Rockhurst University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Rockhurst University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1218, and within the 1116–1246 range, keeps you competitive.
Rockhurst 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 Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01 — that's Rockhurst 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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