Marymount Manhattan College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Marymount Manhattan College, established in 1936, is a private liberal arts college in NYC specializing in performing arts and communication. Its Manhattan campus puts students steps from Broadway theaters and media companies. MMC's 'Creative Campus Initiative' integrates arts across all disciplines.
Marymount Manhattan College Acceptance Rate
Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 78.9% 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Marymount Manhattan College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Marymount Manhattan College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
MMC 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 (Merit scholarships automatically considered; FAFSA priority: 2026/02/15) 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.
MMC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at MMC is 3.45. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.15–3.45 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 3.65–3.85.MMC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional; no application fee.
- BFA Acting requires a single 1945-present contemporary monologue under 2 minutes; auditions run Oct 1-Mar 15, first-come first-served.
- About 1,200 students audition annually for Theatre Arts; roughly 1 in 5 is admitted; 40-45 spots each in BFA Acting and BFA Musical Theatre.
- Film & Media Production and Creative Writing BFAs require separate portfolios, uploadable before other materials are complete.
- 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 MMC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Marymount Manhattan College's verified institutional data
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if MMC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into MMC Without SAT or ACT?
Marymount Manhattan College Average SAT Score: 1226
The average SAT score of admitted students at Marymount Manhattan College is 1226 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
If your score is below 1100, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at MMC. 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 | 520 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 625 | 580 | 670 |
| SAT Composite | 1226 | 1100 | 1300 |
Below 1100, you're behind most admitted students; at 1300 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 1250
Can I get into Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of MMC'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.
Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at MMC is 27.
ACT Competitiveness
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 | 25 | 23 | 26 |
| ACT English | 29 | 25 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 25 | 29 |
Can I get into Marymount Manhattan College with a 29 ACT?
A 29 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of MMC'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 MMC.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for MMC
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
MMC is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
The audition requires one contemporary (1945-present) monologue from a published full-length play or film script, under 2 minutes. A classical piece or a scene from an unpublished script doesn't meet the requirement.
In-person auditions must be booked through the MMC Portal; Acceptd is only for virtual auditions. Mixing the two up is a common, avoidable error that can cost a preferred slot.
MMC auditions roughly 1,200 students a year for Theatre Arts and admits about 1 in 5, with only 40-45 spots each in BFA Acting and BFA Musical Theatre. Have a backup BA Theatre Arts or non-conservatory plan in mind.
Transcripts, scores, and recommendations can come later - the portfolio can be uploaded as soon as the application is submitted, and Creative Writing portfolio submitters are automatically eligible for a $500 BFA Grant.
Applicants sometimes wait to schedule their audition until they feel "ready," not realizing on-campus auditions are first-come, first-served within the Oct 1-Mar 15 window. Waiting too long can mean losing the preferred in-person slot and being pushed into virtual-only.
MMC Profile
Is a MMC Degree Worth It?
Whether MMC 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 $77,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.34%.
How much does a degree from MMC Cost?
The sticker price is $63,837/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
28.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 69.2% take federal loans at MMC. File your FAFSA early and list MMC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a MMC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $49,131. That's about 21% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Marymount Manhattan College. 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 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 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 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1205 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Marymount Manhattan College. 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 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Marymount Manhattan College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
Degree Programs at MMC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About MMC Admissions
Median earnings for Marymount Manhattan College graduates sit around $49,131 a year.
At about $63,837 a year, Marymount Manhattan College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 28.4% receive a Pell Grant at Marymount Manhattan College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 78.9%, Marymount Manhattan College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Marymount Manhattan College average a 3.45 GPA.
Marymount Manhattan College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.15 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.05, Marymount Manhattan 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 Marymount Manhattan College — aim above 1226, ideally within the 1100–1300 range admitted students typically fall in.
Marymount Manhattan College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit scholarships automatically considered; FAFSA priority: 2026/02/15. 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.
