Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Niagara University, New York
85.3% Acceptance Rate
Niagara University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.3%Acceptance Rate
3.53Avg GPA
1155Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$50,174Annual Cost
$56,196Grad Salary
25.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.3%
Avg GPA
3.53
Avg SAT
1155
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1030–1240
ACT Middle 50%
23–27
Need-Based Aid
25.9% receive Pell
Niagara University is a private, Catholic, Vincentian institution in New York dedicated to academic excellence, service, and social justice. With a focus on professional preparation and liberal arts education, the university fosters a supportive environment that encourages students to become compassionate leaders in their professions.
Niagara University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Niagara University is inclusive by design. 85.3% 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. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.53 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.33 – 3.52
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.08
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Niagara University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark December 1 for Niagara University (Early Action — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 111 days left — Early Action
Early Action
December 1
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2027) 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.
Niagara University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Niagara University is 3.53. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.23 and 3.53? 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 3.73–3.93.Niagara University 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
3.53 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.33 – 3.52
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.13 – 3.32
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.12
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Niagara is a Catholic, Vincentian-mission university that explicitly states it welcomes applicants regardless of religious background - relevant context for essay framing at a mission-driven school.
- Application requires either a 250-word-minimum essay OR a graded paper - a distinctive alternative most peer institutions don't offer.
- Test-optional policy has explicit exceptions: Nursing and Biology majors, plus Trustees and Presidential Scholarship consideration, all require SAT/ACT scores regardless of the general policy.
- Niagara superscores subsections within each test type (SAT-to-SAT or ACT-to-ACT) but does not combine subsections across SAT and ACT.
- 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 Niagara University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Niagara 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.
Niagara University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Niagara 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 Niagara University Without SAT or ACT?
Niagara University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Niagara University Average SAT Score: 1155
Admitted students at Niagara University average a 1155 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1155 — Less Competitive
A 1155 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1240 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Niagara University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1030? A retake is worth it at Niagara University. 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 | 565 | 520 | 610 |
| SAT Reading | 570 | 510 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1155 | 1030 | 1240 |
A score under 1030 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1240+ 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 1150
Can I get into Niagara University with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Niagara University'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.
Niagara University ACT Requirements
Niagara University'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 | 20 | 28 |
| ACT English | 24 | 23 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 23 | 27 |
Can I get into Niagara University with a 27 ACT?
At 27, you're in the top quarter of Niagara University'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, and 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, Niagara University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Niagara University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Niagara University takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Submit a graded academic paper instead of a fresh essay if that plays to the student's strength
Niagara's application explicitly allows submitting either a 250-word-minimum essay or an already-graded paper from school - an unusual choice most peer schools don't offer. A student with a strong analytical research paper from an English or history class (ideally one that already received solid teacher feedback) can submit that directly rather than drafting something new, saving real time without any disadvantage in review.
Nursing and Biology applicants: submit test scores even though the general policy is test-optional
Niagara's test-optional policy has explicit carve-outs - SAT/ACT scores are required for Nursing and Biology majors specifically, regardless of the university-wide optional policy. A student applying to either program should not skip testing based on the general marketing; confirm the major-specific requirement directly, since an incomplete file here can stall review rather than simply being evaluated without a score.
Target the Trustees or Presidential Scholarship? You need a test score too
Even though general merit scholarship consideration doesn't require test scores at Niagara, the top two merit tiers - Trustees and Presidential Scholarships - specifically require SAT/ACT submission. A student who is a strong candidate for these top awards but was planning to go test-optional should reconsider, submitting whatever score they have (Niagara superscores within each test type) rather than defaulting out of eligibility for the largest merit dollars.
Homeschooled applicants: use the portfolio option strategically
Niagara explicitly welcomes homeschooled applicants and accepts a transcript or portfolio documenting secondary coursework alongside test scores, an essay/graded paper, and other curriculum information - homeschooling families should build this portfolio deliberately around Niagara's stated 16-academic-unit framework (English, math, history, foreign language, science) rather than submitting an unstructured record and hoping it translates.
Expert Insight:
Because Niagara's test-optional policy is prominently advertised university-wide, families of Nursing/Biology applicants or those chasing the top-tier Trustees/Presidential Scholarships sometimes opt out of testing entirely on the general messaging - not realizing these specific tracks quietly require scores, which stalls the application or caps it out of top merit consideration rather than simply proceeding without a score as expected.
Niagara University Profile
Full Name
Niagara University
City
Niagara University
State
New York
ZIP Code
14109
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Niagara University Degree Worth It?
At $50,174/year against a $56,196 median graduate salary, Niagara 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 $61,000, and graduates see a 3.71% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Niagara University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $50,174/year at Niagara University. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Niagara University, 25.9% receive a Pell Grant and 57.4% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Niagara University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Niagara University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Niagara University graduates report a median income of $56,196, about 38% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Niagara University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 1119 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Niagara University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Niagara University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Niagara University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Niagara University Admissions
Niagara University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $56,196/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Niagara University runs high, at roughly $50,174+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
25.9% of Niagara University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Niagara University's acceptance rate is 85.3%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Niagara University students is 3.53, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.23 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Niagara University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.13 or below makes admission tougher at Niagara University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Niagara University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1155, and within the 1030–1240 range, keeps you competitive.
Niagara University's deadline is December 1 (Early Action).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2027. That's Niagara 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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