Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Dayton, Ohio
61.7% Acceptance Rate
University of Dayton — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
61.7%Acceptance Rate
3.77Avg GPA
1313Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$64,310Annual Cost
$75,537Grad Salary
15.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
61.7%
Avg GPA
3.77
Avg SAT
1313
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1195–1370
ACT Middle 50%
26–31
Need-Based Aid
15.5% receive Pell
University of Dayton, established in 1850, is Ohio's Catholic research university with renowned engineering programs. The campus includes the new GE EPISCenter. UD's 'Learn. Lead. Serve.' philosophy integrates community engagement.
University of Dayton Acceptance Rate
At 61.7%, admission to University of Dayton is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What University of Dayton 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 — 61.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.77 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.57 – 3.76
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.32
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Dayton Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Dayton is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 96 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (Merit Scholarship Priority: 2025/11/01) 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.
University of Dayton GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of Dayton is 3.77. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.47 and 3.77? 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 3.97–4.17.University of Dayton GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.77 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.57 – 3.76
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.37 – 3.56
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.36
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate: approximately 65% (2024?25: ~21,981 applicants, ~14,386 admitted); Early Action rate approximately 62.5%; no additional scholarship application required - automatic merit consideration from admissions application; 60% of Fall 2025 entrants applied test-optional.
- No standalone supplemental essay is required beyond the Common App personal statement (or UD's own application essay); nursing applicants must submit a separate nursing-specific essay and meet the November 1 nursing deadline; a counselor recommendation letter is required for admission (not merely recommended).
- UD is one of three Marianist universities in the U.S. (founded 1850, Society of Mary); the admission committee explicitly evaluates ability to "contribute meaningfully to our Catholic, Marianist university" - a fit criterion that applies to all applicants, not only Catholics; demonstrated interest via campus visit or local event attendance is named in official admissions materials as a consideration.
- Integrated Learning-Living Communities (ILLCs) assign first-year students to theme-based residential and academic cohorts (e.g., "Women in Science and Engineering," "Business and Marianist Values," "Sustainability, Energy and the Environment") - a distinctive co-curricular structure that connects housing assignment directly to academic interests and is worth engaging with specifically in application materials.
- 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 University of Dayton
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Dayton'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.
University of Dayton Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if University of Dayton is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into University of Dayton Without SAT or ACT?
University of Dayton considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Dayton Average SAT Score: 1313
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Dayton is 1313 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1313 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1370 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Dayton allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1195, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of Dayton. 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 | 643 | 595 | 690 |
| SAT Reading | 640 | 600 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1313 | 1195 | 1370 |
Below 1195, you're behind most admitted students; at 1370 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 1300
Can I get into University of Dayton with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of University of Dayton'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.
University of Dayton ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at University of Dayton is 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — 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 | 28 | 25 | 30 |
| ACT English | 28 | 24 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 31 |
Can I get into University of Dayton with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of University of Dayton'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 University of Dayton.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of Dayton
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into University of Dayton isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Treat Demonstrated Interest as a Formal Admissions Factor - and Act on It Early
The University of Dayton explicitly names demonstrated interest as a factor in admissions decisions, and their published admission process states that attending an official campus visit or event in the applicant's area is a recognized way to show it. This is not implied language - it is direct language from UD's admissions materials. At a university receiving over 22,000 applications annually with a 65% acceptance rate and holistic review, a competitive application file that lacks any demonstrated interest signal is making a structural concession. Students who attend a formal visit, register for an info session, or attend an area counselor event before applying have a documented touchpoint that non-attending students do not. UD actively tracks this engagement.
Apply by November 1 for Early Action - and Understand Nursing Has a Hard Separate Deadline
UD's Early Action deadline is November 1 (non-binding), with nursing applicants also due November 1 under a distinct nursing admissions process that includes a nursing-specific essay. Regular Decision extended to March 1 for 2026. The Early Action acceptance rate (approximately 62.5%) is slightly lower than the overall rate (65%), which is unusual - it likely reflects a more competitive self-selected EA pool. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships upon submission with no separate application. The Marianist identity of UD means fit with its "learn, lead, serve" mission is an implicit evaluation criterion in the holistic review, even for students who are not Catholic - 60% of Fall 2025 entrants applied test-optional.
Use the Integrated Learning-Living Communities as a Specific Application Differentiator
UD assigns first-year students to Integrated Learning-Living Communities (ILLCs) - theme-based residential communities where students share both housing and classes around a common topic such as "Women in Science and Engineering," "Business and Marianist Values," or "Sustainability, Energy and the Environment." This structure is genuinely distinctive and not common at peer schools. An applicant who researches the specific ILLC that aligns with their major or interests and references it in their essay or campus visit conversations is demonstrating a level of institutional research that generic applicants skip. For engineering or pre-health students in particular, naming a specific ILLC that connects their major to UD's community model makes the application substantially more contextual.
Submit Test Scores Strategically - They Can Still Affect Scholarship Outcomes
UD is test-optional for admission and scholarship eligibility explicitly does not change based on whether scores are submitted. However, UD superscores both the ACT and SAT and accepts scores through the December senior-year test dates. Students who have strong scores relative to the 25th?75th percentile range (SAT 1200?1380, ACT 26?32) should submit them as supporting evidence in a holistic file where GPA, rigor, essay, and recommendation all interact. Test scores at UD "are considered within the context of the supplemental information," meaning they function as one contextual data point. Students with uneven transcripts but strong test scores benefit most from submitting; students with strong transcripts but modest scores should evaluate carefully before submitting.
Expert Insight:
UD's student neighborhood is one of the most distinctive physical features of the campus - upperclass students live in a residential neighborhood of houses surrounding campus in a community model unlike typical dormitory arrangements - and it is also a routine topic in UD admissions conversations, campus tours, and student testimonials. Students who visit, see this neighborhood, and then write generic essays about wanting a "strong community" without ever naming or referencing UD's specific community structures have missed the most visible differentiator in front of them. The student neighborhood is explicitly cited in student narratives as a major reason for enrollment. Not engaging with it in any application essay or campus visit conversation is a signal of non-research at a school that explicitly tracks and values demonstrated interest.
University of Dayton Profile
Full Name
University of Dayton
City
Dayton
State
Ohio
ZIP Code
45469
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a University of Dayton Degree Worth It?
At $64,310/year against a $75,537 median graduate salary, University of Dayton 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 $75,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.52%.
How much does a degree from University of Dayton Cost?
The sticker price is $64,310/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
15.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 42.3% take federal loans at University of Dayton — file your FAFSA early and list University of Dayton as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a University of Dayton Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $75,537 — about 86% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Dayton. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Dayton. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Dayton. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
Degree Programs at University of Dayton
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Dayton Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Dayton run about $75,537 a year.
At about $64,310 a year, University of Dayton's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
University of Dayton's Pell Grant rate of 15.5% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 61.7%, University of Dayton's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Dayton average a 3.77 GPA.
University of Dayton doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.47 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.37, University of Dayton 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 University of Dayton — aim above 1313, ideally within the 1195–1370 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Dayton is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit Scholarship Priority: 2025/11/01. 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.