Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Cedarville, Ohio
62.8% Acceptance Rate
Cedarville University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
62.8%Acceptance Rate
3.9Avg GPA
1246Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$46,994Annual Cost
$55,443Grad Salary
15.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
62.8%
Avg GPA
3.9
Avg SAT
1246
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1110–1360
ACT Middle 50%
23–29
Need-Based Aid
15.4% receive Pell
Cedarville University is an evangelical Christian university that integrates biblical worldview into all academic programs, including its highly regarded engineering, pharmacy, and nursing programs. The university maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence and spiritual growth.
The 400-acre campus features the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies, the Engineering and Science Center with robotics and biomedical labs, and the new Scharnberg Business Center. All students participate in daily chapel services and have opportunities for ministry involvement both locally and globally.
Cedarville University Acceptance Rate
Cedarville University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 62.8% each year.
What Cedarville University 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 — 62.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.90 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.70 – 3.89
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.45
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Cedarville University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Cedarville 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 November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 96 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Cedarville University 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
November 1
Regular Decision
January 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Cedarville University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Cedarville University is 3.9. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.60 and 3.9, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
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 4.10–4.30.Cedarville University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Extreme selectivity; requires elite academic standing.
Recommended Strategy: High Course Rigor (AP/IB/Honors) to validate the grade.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.90 – 4.00
Academic Target
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.70 – 3.89
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.50 – 3.69
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.49
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No application fee; deadlines May 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring), rolling after March 15
- Requires one Christian leader reference (non-family, 6+ months acquaintance) plus one academic/professional reference
- Minimum ACT 22 or SAT 1020, minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
- Two required essays, 250-word max each, evaluated for content and writing competence
- 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 Cedarville University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Cedarville 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.
Cedarville University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Cedarville University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Cedarville University Without SAT or ACT?
Cedarville University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Cedarville University Average SAT Score: 1246
The average SAT score of admitted students at Cedarville University is 1246 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1246 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1360 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Cedarville 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 1110, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Cedarville University. 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 | 605 | 540 | 670 |
| SAT Reading | 630 | 570 | 690 |
| SAT Composite | 1246 | 1110 | 1360 |
Below 1110, you're behind most admitted students; at 1360 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 Cedarville University with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of Cedarville University'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.
Cedarville University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Cedarville University is 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — 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 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT English | 27 | 22 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 23 | 29 |
Can I get into Cedarville University with a 29 ACT?
A 29 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Cedarville University'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 Cedarville University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cedarville University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Cedarville University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Write the testimony essay as a growth arc, not a r?sum?
Skip the formulaic "I was lost, now found" structure. Anchor the faith essay on one specific turning point and connect it to how that shapes your academic or vocational goals at Cedarville - readers see hundreds of generic testimonies each cycle.
Choose your Christian leader reference deliberately
It must be a pastor, youth pastor, or Christian school teacher who's known you 6+ months and isn't related to you. Brief them on 2-3 concrete moments of your faith and character they can cite - vague references read as filler.
Use rigor to clear the modest bar
Minimum ACT 22/SAT 1020 and 3.0 GPA are floors, not competitive targets. Lean on AP or dual-credit coursework in your application narrative to signal you're above the baseline applicant.
Apply before March 15, not May 1
May 1 is the hard deadline, but review is rolling and priority scholarship consideration favors applicants who submit before mid-March. Don't wait just because the fee-free application feels low-stakes.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes list a family member as their Christian leader reference - this is explicitly disallowed and causes processing delays. Also, admissions readers flag testimony essays that feel copy-pasted from a youth group devotional rather than personal.
Cedarville University Profile
Full Name
Cedarville University
City
Cedarville
State
Ohio
ZIP Code
45314-0601
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Cedarville University Degree Worth It?
Whether Cedarville University 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 $67,500, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.82%.
How much does a degree from Cedarville University Cost?
The sticker price is $46,994/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
15.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 37.3% take federal loans at Cedarville University — file your FAFSA early and list Cedarville University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Cedarville University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $55,443 — about 37% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Cedarville 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 Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Cedarville University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1254 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Cedarville University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Cedarville University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedarville University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Cedarville University run about $55,443 a year.
Cedarville University costs roughly $46,994 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
Cedarville University's Pell Grant rate of 15.4% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 62.8%, Cedarville University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Cedarville University average a 3.9 GPA.
Cedarville University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.6 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.5, Cedarville 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 Cedarville University — aim above 1246, ideally within the 1110–1360 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Cedarville University is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 30. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
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.