Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Saint Bonaventure, New York
81.5% Acceptance Rate
St Bonaventure University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
81.5%Acceptance Rate
3.48Avg GPA
1181Avg SAT
27Avg ACT
$55,265Annual Cost
$57,214Grad Salary
22.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
81.5%
Avg GPA
3.48
Avg SAT
1181
Avg ACT
27
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1260
ACT Middle 50%
23–30
Need-Based Aid
22.7% receive Pell
St Bonaventure University is a private, Catholic, Franciscan institution in New York known for its commitment to academic excellence, values-based education, and service. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university provides a supportive campus community that encourages critical inquiry and personal growth. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a meaningful and reliable choice for students seeking to prepare for leadership in a variety of professional fields.
St Bonaventure University Acceptance Rate
St Bonaventure University (St. Bona) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 81.5% 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 — 81.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.48 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.28 – 3.47
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.03
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
St Bonaventure University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
St Bonaventure University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 115 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
St. Bona 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.
Early Action
December 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2027/02/01) 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.
St. Bona GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at St. Bona is 3.48. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.18–3.48 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 3.68–3.88.St. Bona 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.48 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.28 – 3.47
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.08 – 3.27
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.07
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- General freshman admission requires a 250-word writing sample/personal essay and at least one letter of recommendation; SBU is test-optional.
- The Franciscan Health Care Professions dual-admission/dual-degree track requires a separate, decision-focused essay, a resume with shadowing experience, and a recommendation specifically from a science teacher.
- Rolling admission with decisions typically issued within two to three weeks of a complete file.
- SBU partners with Jamestown Community College for discounted-tuition bachelor's completion; transfer students must complete THFS-101 (The Way of Francis and Clare) unless an equivalent Franciscan-institution course transfers.
- 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 St. Bona
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on St Bonaventure University'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.
St Bonaventure University (St. Bona) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if St. Bona is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into St. Bona Without SAT or ACT?
St. Bona considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
St Bonaventure University Average SAT Score: 1181
The average SAT score of admitted students at St Bonaventure University is 1181 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1181 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1260 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? St Bonaventure University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1050, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at St. Bona. 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 | 580 | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 575 | 520 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1181 | 1050 | 1260 |
Below 1050, you're behind most admitted students; at 1260 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 St Bonaventure University (St. Bona) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of St. Bona'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.
St Bonaventure University (St. Bona) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at St. Bona is 27.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 27 — 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 | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 23 | 30 |
Can I get into St Bonaventure University with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of St. Bona'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 St. Bona.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St. Bona
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
St. Bona takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
If targeting the Franciscan Health Care Professions dual-admission track, write your essay around your decision, not your r?sum?
SBU's dual-admission/dual-degree health professions pathway requires a focused personal essay specifically explaining your decision to pursue medicine - separate from the general 250-word freshman writing sample. Pair it with a resume documenting shadowing experience with health care providers, volunteer work, and any structured high school health-care programs, and make sure one of your two required letters of recommendation comes specifically from a science teacher - this is a stated requirement, not a suggestion, and a recommendation from a non-science teacher can weaken an otherwise strong application for this specific track.
Use the Jamestown Community College partnership if you're starting at a two-year school
SBU has a formal articulation agreement with Jamestown Community College that lets JCC graduates complete a bachelor's degree at SBU at a discounted tuition rate. If you're a JCC student (or considering starting there to save money before transferring), confirm your intended major aligns with this partnership before you finalize your JCC coursework, since credit alignment matters for the discount to apply cleanly.
Target Jandoli School of Journalism scholarships specifically if pursuing mass communication
SBU's journalism program has its own dedicated scholarship (the Jandoli Scholarship) separate from general merit aid - a signal of how central journalism is to SBU's institutional identity. Journalism-intending applicants should mention specific interests (broadcast, print, sports journalism) in their essay and reach out to the Jandoli School directly, since program-specific scholarships often aren't surfaced automatically through the general financial aid process.
If transferring in, budget time for the required Franciscan theology course
All transfer students at SBU must take THFS-101: The Way of Francis and Clare unless they can transfer an equivalent course from another Franciscan institution. A transfer student assuming their general theology or religion credit satisfies this requirement should confirm equivalency with the registrar before registration, since a near-miss course won't automatically substitute.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes submit the same generic personal essay across all their college applications, not realizing SBU's Franciscan Health Care Professions track requires a distinctly different, decision-focused essay from the general 250-word freshman writing sample. Reusing a generic "why I want to help people" essay in place of the specific decision-narrative this track requires is a common, avoidable way otherwise qualified pre-health applicants underperform in this competitive dual-degree pipeline.
St. Bona Profile
Full Name
St Bonaventure University (St. Bona)
City
Saint Bonaventure
State
New York
ZIP Code
14778-9800
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a St. Bona Degree Worth It?
Whether St. Bona 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 $64,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.49%.
How much does a degree from St. Bona Cost?
The sticker price is $55,265/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
22.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 92.1% take federal loans at St. Bona. File your FAFSA early and list St. Bona as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a St. Bona Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $57,214. That's about 41% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than St Bonaventure University. 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 St Bonaventure University. 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 St Bonaventure 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 |
| 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 St. Bona
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Bona Admissions
Median graduate earnings at St Bonaventure University run about $57,214 a year.
At about $55,265 a year, St Bonaventure University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
St Bonaventure University's Pell Grant rate of 22.7% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 81.5%, St Bonaventure University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at St Bonaventure University average a 3.48 GPA.
St Bonaventure University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.18 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.08, St Bonaventure University 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 St Bonaventure University — aim above 1181, ideally within the 1050–1260 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for St Bonaventure University is December 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority scholarship: 2027/02/01. 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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