Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Raleigh, North Carolina
74.7% Acceptance Rate
Meredith College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
74.7%Acceptance Rate
3.52Avg GPA
1224Avg SAT
27Avg ACT
$55,557Annual Cost
$51,539Grad Salary
32.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
74.7%
Avg GPA
3.52
Avg SAT
1224
Avg ACT
27
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1110–1260
ACT Middle 50%
23–30
Need-Based Aid
32.8% receive Pell
Meredith College, established in 1891, is North Carolina's leading women's college with strong arts and sciences programs. The Raleigh campus features the new Communication Building. Meredith's 'StrongPoints' program develops each student's strengths.
Meredith College Acceptance Rate
Meredith College is moderately selective — 74.7% of applicants are admitted — with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Meredith 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 — 74.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.52 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.32 – 3.51
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.07
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Meredith College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Meredith College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of October 30 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 95 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Meredith 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
October 30
Decision by: November 10
Regular Decision (Priority 1)
December 1
Decision by: December 19
Regular Decision (Priority 2)
February 2
Decision by: February 16
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 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.
Meredith GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Meredith is 3.52. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.22 and 3.52? 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 3.72–3.92.Meredith 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
3.52 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.32 – 3.51
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.12 – 3.31
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.11
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Private women's liberal arts college in Raleigh; admissions interview is required, not optional.
- Test-optional; essay and recommendation letter optional; superscores SAT/ACT if submitted.
- Overall acceptance rate reported in the 70-75% range; average enrolled GPA around 3.56.
- StrongPoints personal coaching/advising program is unique to Meredith.
- 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 Meredith
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Meredith 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.
Meredith College (Meredith) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Meredith is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Meredith Without SAT or ACT?
Meredith considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Meredith College Average SAT Score: 1224
The average SAT score of admitted students at Meredith College is 1224 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1224 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1260 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Meredith 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 1110, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Meredith. 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 | 565 | 520 | 610 |
| SAT Reading | 620 | 590 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1224 | 1110 | 1260 |
Below 1110, 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 Meredith College (Meredith) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Meredith'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.
Meredith College (Meredith) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Meredith 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 | 23 | 20 | 26 |
| ACT English | 27 | 22 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 23 | 30 |
Can I get into Meredith College with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Meredith'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 Meredith.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Meredith
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Meredith takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Treat the admissions interview as required
Unlike most peer schools, Meredith requires an interview with an admissions officer - it's not a bonus step. Prepare specific reasons you want a women's college experience.
Use the optional essay to go beyond your transcript
Meredith says it looks at "the entire person," not test scores. A strong optional essay focused on a specific strength or turning point is one of the clearest ways to differentiate yourself.
Reference StrongPoints if you can speak to it genuinely
Meredith's StrongPoints personal coaching/advising program is found only here. Naming it specifically, tied to your own goals, shows real research.
Get a recommender who knows you, not just your grades
Current students consistently note that a recommendation from a teacher who "truly knows" the applicant carries real weight - more than a generic academic reference.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes skip or treat the interview as a formality since the essay and test scores are optional - but Meredith lists it as a firm requirement alongside the transcript, and repeatedly rescheduling it can stall an otherwise strong file.
Meredith Profile
Full Name
Meredith College (Meredith)
City
Raleigh
State
North Carolina
ZIP Code
27607-5298
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Meredith Degree Worth It?
At $55,557/year against a $51,539 median graduate salary, Meredith 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 $66,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.92%.
How much does a degree from Meredith Cost?
The sticker price is $55,557/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
32.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 54.9% take federal loans at Meredith — file your FAFSA early and list Meredith as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Meredith Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $51,539 — about 27% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Meredith 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 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| 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 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Meredith 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 |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | 1223 | 26 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Meredith 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 Meredith
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Meredith Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Meredith College run about $51,539 a year.
At about $55,557 a year, Meredith College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 32.8% receive a Pell Grant at Meredith College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 74.7%, Meredith College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Meredith College average a 3.52 GPA.
Meredith College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.22 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.12, Meredith 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 Meredith College — aim above 1224, ideally within the 1110–1260 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Meredith College is October 30 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by November 10. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 40. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 15, 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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