Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Alliance, Ohio
80.1% Acceptance Rate
University of Mount Union — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
80.1%Acceptance Rate
3.33Avg GPA
1227Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$46,890Annual Cost
$53,217Grad Salary
28.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
80.1%
Avg GPA
3.33
Avg SAT
1227
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1070–1290
ACT Middle 50%
24–28
Need-Based Aid
28.7% receive Pell
University of Mount Union is a private, comprehensive institution in Ohio known for its commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, and student success. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, the university provides a supportive campus community that encourages critical inquiry, leadership, and professional preparation. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a meaningful choice for students seeking to prepare for leadership in their fields.
University of Mount Union Acceptance Rate
University of Mount Union runs an open-access admission policy. With a 80.1% 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 — 80.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.88
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Mount Union Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Mount Union is December 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 20.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 112 days left — Early Action
Early Action
December 1
Decision by: December 20
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 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.
University of Mount Union GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of Mount Union is 3.33. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.03–3.33 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 3.53–3.73.University of Mount Union GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.93 – 3.12
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.92
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Direct-entry BSN priority consideration requires a 3.3+ HS GPA, 23+ ACT composite, and either a 24+ ACT Science Reasoning subscore or B+ in lab-based HS biology/chemistry; applicants missing these are still admitted but placed provisionally in the nursing major.
- The general application essay (300+ words) explicitly asks what the committee can't learn from your transcript - a direct invitation for previously unstated context.
- A Fast Track 36-month BSN option exists for students with sufficient AP/CCP credit, contingent on a 3.25+ GPA and B-or-higher grades in five specific first-year science/nursing courses.
- Mount Union's direct-entry BSN was ranked the #1 prelicensure BSN program in Ohio for the third time in 2024, with a 98.4% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate.
- 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 Mount Union
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Mount Union'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 Mount Union Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if University of Mount Union is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into University of Mount Union Without SAT or ACT?
University of Mount Union considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Mount Union Average SAT Score: 1227
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Mount Union is 1227 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1227 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Mount Union allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1070, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of Mount Union. 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 | 590 | 510 | 670 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 560 | 620 |
| SAT Composite | 1227 | 1070 | 1290 |
Below 1070, you're behind most admitted students; at 1290 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 University of Mount Union with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of University of Mount Union'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 Mount Union ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at University of Mount Union 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 | 26 | 24 | 28 |
| ACT English | 24 | 21 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 24 | 28 |
Can I get into University of Mount Union with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of University of Mount Union'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 University of Mount Union.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of Mount Union
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
University of Mount Union takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Target the specific direct-entry nursing benchmarks, and take the ACT science section even though it's optional
Mount Union's direct-entry BSN gives priority consideration to applicants with a 3.3+ cumulative HS GPA, a 23+ ACT composite, and either a 24+ ACT Science Reasoning subscore or B's or higher in lab-based high school biology and chemistry. Since spring 2025 the ACT science section is optional university-wide, but Mount Union explicitly encourages nursing-intent applicants to take it anyway - skipping it removes one of two ways to demonstrate the science benchmark, leaving your high school lab grades as the only path.
If you don't meet direct-entry criteria, know you're provisionally admitted, not rejected
Applicants who fall short of one or more direct-entry benchmarks are still admitted to the university and provisionally placed in the nursing major rather than turned away - this isn't a rejection, it's a different starting track. If you're borderline, apply anyway and indicate nursing as your first academic interest with a required 500-word personal statement on why you want to be a nurse; provisional status still gets you into the program's coursework pipeline.
Use Mount Union's essay to reveal something transcripts can't - the prompt is designed for exactly that
Mount Union's required 300-word-minimum essay explicitly asks what you'd like the admission committee to know about you that they can't learn from your transcript. This is a direct invitation to write about something genuinely unlisted elsewhere in your application - a specific circumstance, an unconventional interest, or a perspective - rather than restating achievements already visible in your activities list.
If AP/College Credit Plus credit puts you ahead, ask about the Fast Track 36-month BSN
Students entering with sufficient AP or CCP transfer credit can pursue a compressed 36-month BSN pathway with elevated but achievable benchmarks (3.3 HS GPA, B's in lab science or a 24+ ACT science subscore, 23+ ACT composite) - but progression requires a B or higher and a 3.25+ cumulative GPA in five specific first-year courses (both A&P courses, Foundations of Chemistry, Health Promotion, Intro to Nursing Practice). If you qualify for Fast Track, treat those five specific courses as non-negotiable performance targets, since falling short shifts you to the standard 4-year plan rather than dismissing you.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes treat Mount Union's test-optional policy as meaning test scores are irrelevant everywhere in the application - but for direct-entry nursing specifically, ACT/SAT scores (particularly the science subscore) are one of two explicit pathways to priority consideration, and skipping them removes an option rather than being a neutral choice, unlike general admission where scores only affect scholarship eligibility.
University of Mount Union Profile
Full Name
University of Mount Union
City
Alliance
State
Ohio
ZIP Code
44601-3929
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a University of Mount Union Degree Worth It?
At $46,890/year against a $53,217 median graduate salary, University of Mount Union 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 $61,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.74%.
How much does a degree from University of Mount Union Cost?
The sticker price is $46,890/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
28.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 80% take federal loans at University of Mount Union. File your FAFSA early and list University of Mount Union as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a University of Mount Union Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $53,217. That's about 31% 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 Mount Union. 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 |
| 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 |
| Howard University | Washington, DC | 1205 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Mount Union. 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 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Mount Union. 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 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at University of Mount Union
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Mount Union Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Mount Union run about $53,217 a year.
University of Mount Union costs roughly $46,890 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 28.7% receive a Pell Grant at University of Mount Union. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 80.1%, University of Mount Union's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Mount Union average a 3.33 GPA.
University of Mount Union doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.03 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.93, University of Mount Union 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 Mount Union — aim above 1227, ideally within the 1070–1290 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Mount Union is December 1 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 20.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 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.