Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Rochester, New York
67.8% Acceptance Rate
St. John Fisher University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
67.8%Acceptance Rate
3.53Avg GPA
1207Avg SAT
27Avg ACT
$52,514Annual Cost
$66,944Grad Salary
28.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
67.8%
Avg GPA
3.53
Avg SAT
1207
Avg ACT
27
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1120–1280
ACT Middle 50%
24–29
Need-Based Aid
28.2% receive Pell
St. John Fisher University, established in 1948, is Rochester's comprehensive Catholic university with renowned nursing and pharmacy programs. The 154-acre campus features the new Health Sciences Building. Fisher's 'Core Curriculum' emphasizes ethical reasoning.
St. John Fisher University Acceptance Rate
St. John Fisher University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 67.8% each year.
What Fisher 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 — 67.8% 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).
St. John Fisher University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for St. John Fisher University is November 1 for Early Decision applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 99 days left — Early Decision
Early Decision
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
December 1
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (Merit scholarships automatically considered; priority: 2025/12/01) 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.
Fisher GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Fisher 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.
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 3.73–3.93.Fisher 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
3.53 – 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
- Renamed from St. John Fisher College to St. John Fisher University in July 2022.
- Test-optional; ACT middle-50% range is roughly 23-28.
- Home to the Wegmans School of Pharmacy (Pharm.D., ACPE-accredited) with both on-campus and online pathways.
- ~2,700 undergraduates; Catholic tradition but open to all backgrounds; Early Decision deadline is December 1.
- 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 Fisher
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on St. John Fisher 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. John Fisher University (Fisher) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Fisher is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Fisher Without SAT or ACT?
Fisher considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
St. John Fisher University Average SAT Score: 1207
The average SAT score of admitted students at St. John Fisher University is 1207 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1207 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1280 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. Below average? St. John Fisher 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 1120, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Fisher. 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 | 600 | 560 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 560 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1207 | 1120 | 1280 |
Below 1120, you're behind most admitted students; at 1280 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. John Fisher University (Fisher) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Fisher'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. John Fisher University (Fisher) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Fisher 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 | 26 | 24 | 27 |
| ACT English | 26 | 22 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 24 | 29 |
Can I get into St. John Fisher University with a 29 ACT?
A 29 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Fisher's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several 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 (Science, especially, 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 Fisher.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Fisher
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Fisher is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Meet the 250-word personal statement minimum exactly
Fisher requires a personal statement, essay, or graded paper of at least 250 words - treat this as a floor, not a target, and use the space to connect your interests to a specific Fisher program (nursing, pharmacy, business) rather than writing generically about "a great college."
If pre-health, ask about the Pharmacy Early Assurance Program at the time you apply
PHEA lets incoming first-years pair pre-pharmacy coursework with any major and, after 2 years at a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 science GPA, matriculate into the Wegmans School of Pharmacy without a separate competitive application. You must select pre-pharmacy studies on your original application to be eligible - it can't be added later.
Highlight nursing-adjacent experience if relevant
Nursing (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Clinical Nursing) is Fisher's most identified strength. Volunteer, CNA, or clinical shadowing experience is worth naming specifically, since it signals fit with the university's strongest program cluster.
Decide your testing strategy around Fisher's test-optional policy
Fisher considers SAT/ACT but doesn't require them. If your ACT English/Reading is strong (Fisher's middle-50% ACT composite is 23-28), submitting can help; if not, lean on the personal statement and transcript instead.
Expert Insight:
Students who pick a "safe" general major but secretly want the Pharm.D. or an accelerated health-professions track often miss the PHEA eligibility window - it requires declaring pre-pharmacy intent at initial application, not after enrolling, so indecision at the application stage can cost you a guaranteed-pathway seat.
Fisher Profile
Full Name
St. John Fisher University (Fisher)
City
Rochester
State
New York
ZIP Code
14618-3597
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Fisher Degree Worth It?
At $52,514/year against a $66,944 median graduate salary, Fisher is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.46%.
How much does a degree from Fisher Cost?
The sticker price is $52,514/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
28.2% of students receive a Pell Grant and 67.9% take federal loans at Fisher — file your FAFSA early and list Fisher as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Fisher Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $66,944 — 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 St. John Fisher 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 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| 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 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as St. John Fisher University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than St. John Fisher 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 Fisher
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Fisher Admissions
Median graduate earnings at St. John Fisher University run about $66,944 a year.
At about $52,514 a year, St. John Fisher University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 28.2% receive a Pell Grant at St. John Fisher University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 67.8%, St. John Fisher University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at St. John Fisher University average a 3.53 GPA.
St. John Fisher University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.23 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.13, St. John Fisher 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. John Fisher University — aim above 1207, ideally within the 1120–1280 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for St. John Fisher University is November 1 for Early Decision applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit scholarships automatically considered; priority: 2025/12/01. 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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