Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
74.2% Acceptance Rate
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
74.2%Acceptance Rate
2.87Avg GPA
1174Avg SAT
$39,685Annual Cost
$40,457Grad Salary
46.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
74.2%
Avg GPA
2.87
Avg SAT
1174
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1060–1298
Need-Based Aid
46.3% receive Pell
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is a private, liberal arts institution in Pennsylvania known for its unique commitment to a values-based, Swedenborgian education. Offering an intimate and supportive campus environment, the college fosters an atmosphere of critical inquiry, character development, and academic excellence. Its focus on integrating intellectual and spiritual growth makes it a meaningful and distinctive choice for students seeking a personalized and mission-driven educational experience.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Acceptance Rate
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 74.2% each year.
What Bryn Athyn College 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 — 74.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.87 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.67 – 2.86
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.42
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Bryn Athyn College 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.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 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.
Bryn Athyn College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Bryn Athyn College is 2.87. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
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 3.07–3.27.Bryn Athyn College 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
2.87 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.67 – 2.86
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.47 – 2.66
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.46
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- The nation's only New Church (Swedenborgian) college - every major requires one religious instruction course per year and weekly chapel attendance, though the school states explicitly it does not seek to convert students.
- Three entry terms per year (Winter, Spring, Fall), each with its own priority enrollment-deposit deadline, rather than one annual fall cycle.
- Average class size is about 14 students; FAFSA is the only financial aid form required (school code 003228).
- GED is accepted in place of a high school diploma, and class rank is recommended but not required for admission.
- 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 Bryn Athyn College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Bryn Athyn College of the New Church'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.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church (Bryn Athyn College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Bryn Athyn College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Bryn Athyn College Without SAT or ACT?
Bryn Athyn College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church Average SAT Score: 1174
The average SAT score of admitted students at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church is 1174 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1174 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1298 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Bryn Athyn College of the New Church allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1060, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Bryn Athyn College. 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 | 580 | 550 | 610 |
| SAT Reading | 599 | 510 | 688 |
| SAT Composite | 1174 | 1060 | 1298 |
Below 1060, you're behind most admitted students; at 1298 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 1150
Can I get into Bryn Athyn College of the New Church (Bryn Athyn College) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Bryn Athyn College'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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Bryn Athyn College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Bryn Athyn College is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Frame Interest in New Church Teachings as Curiosity, Not Conversion - Because That's Literally What They're Recruiting For
Bryn Athyn states directly that it "welcomes all faiths" and seeks "curious thinkers who ask questions," with "no attempts to convert." An essay or interview that leans into genuine intellectual curiosity about Swedenborgian theology - even from a student of a different or no faith background - fits the school's actual stated recruiting goal better than either avoiding the topic entirely or performing religious enthusiasm the student doesn't feel.
Treat the Campus Visit as Load-Bearing, Not Optional, Given the Tiny Class Sizes
With an average class size of about 14 students and a culture the school describes as everyone - professors, staff, even the president - genuinely asking how students are doing, personal fit matters more here than at a large university. Use the offered virtual class sit-ins and professor conversations deliberately, and reference specific details from that visit in the application, since a demonstrated-fit signal carries real weight in a community this small.
Use the Three Separate Entry Terms to Manage Timing
Bryn Athyn admits for Winter, Spring, and Fall terms, each with its own priority enrollment-deposit deadline (Winter 2025: Nov 15, 2025; Spring 2026: March 1, 2026; Fall 2026: May 1, 2026) rather than a single fall-only cycle. A student who needs more time to firm up their application, or who's transferring mid-year, has real entry points beyond the typical fall deadline.
Surface the Mandatory Religious Instruction and Chapel Requirement Before Applying, Not After Acceptance
Every student, regardless of home faith, takes one religious instruction course per year and must attend at least one of three weekly chapel services - this is a structural graduation requirement built into every major, not an add-on elective. Families should raise any questions or concerns about this directly with admissions during the application process so it's a known, accepted part of the decision rather than a surprise discovered after enrollment.
Expert Insight:
The recurring misstep is families outside the New Church either ruling Bryn Athyn out reflexively because it sounds like a closed religious school, or overcorrecting by fabricating religious enthusiasm in the application - both misread a college that explicitly says it wants genuine curiosity rather than converts, and either reaction can cost a good-fit family a legitimately strong small-college option or produce an application that reads as inauthentic to admissions staff who know their own community well.
Bryn Athyn College Profile
Full Name
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church (Bryn Athyn College)
City
Bryn Athyn
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
19009-0717
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Bryn Athyn College Degree Worth It?
Bryn Athyn College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $96,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.34%.
How much does a degree from Bryn Athyn College Cost?
The sticker price is $39,685/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
46.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 65.1% take federal loans at Bryn Athyn College — file your FAFSA early and list Bryn Athyn College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Bryn Athyn College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $40,457 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. 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 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Bryn Athyn College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryn Athyn College Admissions
Median earnings for Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates sit around $40,457 a year.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church costs roughly $39,685 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 46.3% receive a Pell Grant at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 74.2%, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church average a 2.87 GPA.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.57 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.47, Bryn Athyn College of the New Church 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 Bryn Athyn College of the New Church — aim above 1174, ideally within the 1060–1298 range admitted students typically fall in.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 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.
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