Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Manchester, New Hampshire
78.3% Acceptance Rate
Saint Anselm College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
78.3%Acceptance Rate
3.39Avg GPA
1183Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$65,067Annual Cost
$73,371Grad Salary
10.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
78.3%
Avg GPA
3.39
Avg SAT
1183
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1270
ACT Middle 50%
25–27
Need-Based Aid
10.5% receive Pell
Saint Anselm College is a private, Catholic liberal arts institution in New Hampshire known for its commitment to academic excellence, critical inquiry, and character development. With a strong focus on the liberal arts and a supportive campus community, the college fosters an environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth. Its emphasis on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a premier choice for students seeking a formative and values-based collegiate experience.
Saint Anselm College Acceptance Rate
Saint Anselm College runs an open-access admission policy. With a 78.3% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
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
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 78.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.39 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.94
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Saint Anselm College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Saint Anselm College is February 1 for Regular Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by March 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 177 days left — Regular Decision
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 15
Early Decision
December 1
Decision by: January 1
💡 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.
Saint Anselm College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Saint Anselm College is 3.39. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.09–3.39 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.59–3.79.Saint Anselm College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.39 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.99 – 3.18
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.98
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate is approximately 78% (consistent across US News, BigFuture, Niche, and other independent trackers); one outlier source cites 12%, which appears to be an error.
- Single required Common App supplemental essay: "Why are you interested in Saint Anselm College?" (75-250 words).
- $50 application fee is waived for students completing an official campus visit (in-person or virtual) before applying, and for first-generation domestic/international students.
- Regular Decision deadline is Feb 1; Early Decision (binding) requires application by Dec 1; Early Action (non-binding) deadline is Nov 15; self-reported test scores accepted with superscoring.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
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 Saint Anselm College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Saint Anselm College'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.
Saint Anselm College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Saint Anselm College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Saint Anselm College Without SAT or ACT?
Saint Anselm College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Saint Anselm College Average SAT Score: 1183
The average SAT score of admitted students at Saint Anselm College is 1183 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1183 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1270 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Saint Anselm College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1090, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Saint Anselm College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 575 | 530 | 620 |
| SAT Reading | 605 | 560 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1183 | 1090 | 1270 |
Below 1090, you're behind most admitted students; at 1270 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Saint Anselm College with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Saint Anselm College's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Saint Anselm College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Saint Anselm College is 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 25 | 28 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 25 | 27 |
Can I get into Saint Anselm College with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Saint Anselm College's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Saint Anselm College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Saint Anselm College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Saint Anselm College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Register for a visit before you apply - it waives the fee
Saint Anselm waives its $50 application fee for any student who completes an official campus visit (in-person OR virtual) before submitting their application, with the waiver confirmation sent within 24 hours of the visit's conclusion. This is a genuinely low-effort, no-downside step - a 30-minute virtual visit accomplishes the same fee waiver as an in-person tour.
Anchor the single required essay in one concrete thing, not general Catholic-college appeal
Saint Anselm requires just one short-answer supplement - "Why are you interested in Saint Anselm College?" (75?250 words) - which is a tight space that punishes breadth. Pick ONE specific anchor (the Registered Nurse major, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics given the state's first-in-the-nation primary, a named professor or research area) rather than trying to summarize general fit; in 250 words, specificity reads as genuine interest and vagueness reads as a template.
Submit test scores before Nov 15 if you want them considered for early rounds
Saint Anselm accepts self-reported scores (from the Common App or a PDF score report) and superscores both the SAT and ACT, but SAT/ACT test dates before November 15 are the cutoff for scores to be back in time for Early Action or Early Decision consideration. A student planning to apply early who is still testing in the fall should prioritize test dates that clear this deadline, not just any date before the application deadline itself.
Homeschooled applicants: prepare the specific two-letter package
Homeschool applicants need a letter from the primary person responsible for curriculum design (covering learning outcomes, academic goals, learning style, and how the student works through challenges), PLUS a separate letter from an instructor of at least one academic course - and if no external instructor exists, a letter from someone who can speak to non-academic capacities (coach, employer, volunteer coordinator) substitutes for the second letter. This is a defined checklist, not a generic "homeschool transcript" waiver.
Expert Insight:
Search results conflict sharply on Saint Anselm's acceptance rate - one secondary source states 12%, while multiple independent sources (US News, BigFuture, Niche, and the college's own admissions data aggregators) consistently report approximately 78%. The 12% figure appears to be an error and should not be used for list-building; verify directly with the college's admissions office if this number is decision-critical for a student.
Saint Anselm College Profile
Full Name
Saint Anselm College
City
Manchester
State
New Hampshire
ZIP Code
03102-1310
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Saint Anselm College Degree Worth It?
Whether Saint Anselm 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.
The average household income among admitted students is $81,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.42%.
How much does a degree from Saint Anselm College Cost?
The sticker price is $65,067/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
10.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 68.3% take federal loans at Saint Anselm College. File your FAFSA early and list Saint Anselm College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Saint Anselm College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $73,371. That's about 81% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Anselm College. 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 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Saint Anselm College. 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 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Anselm College. 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 Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Saint Anselm College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Anselm College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Saint Anselm College run about $73,371 a year.
At about $65,067 a year, Saint Anselm College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Saint Anselm College's Pell Grant rate of 10.5% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 78.3%, Saint Anselm College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Saint Anselm College average a 3.39 GPA.
Saint Anselm College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.09 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.99, Saint Anselm College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Saint Anselm College — aim above 1183, ideally within the 1090–1270 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Saint Anselm College is February 1 for Regular Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by March 15.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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