Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Center Valley, Pennsylvania
78.6% Acceptance Rate
DeSales University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
78.6%Acceptance Rate
3.39Avg GPA
1199Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$59,409Annual Cost
$61,295Grad Salary
22.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
78.6%
Avg GPA
3.39
Avg SAT
1199
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1290
ACT Middle 50%
24–28
Need-Based Aid
22.9% receive Pell
DeSales University is a private, Catholic, Salesian institution in Pennsylvania known for its commitment to academic excellence, service, and character development. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university fosters a supportive and engaged campus community that encourages critical inquiry and personal growth. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a meaningful and reliable choice for students seeking to prepare for leadership.
DeSales University Acceptance Rate
DeSales University runs an open-access admission policy. With a 78.6% 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 — 78.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.39 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.94
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
DeSales University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for DeSales University is November 15 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 20.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 97 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: December 20
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 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.
DeSales University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at DeSales University is 3.39. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.09–3.39 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 3.59–3.79.DeSales University 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
3.39 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.99 – 3.18
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.98
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Personal essay/statement is required (not optional) for freshman admission
- Rolling admission, Aug 1 deadline, no application fee
- Theatre, Dance, and TV/Film majors require both academic and artistic admission via a separate audition/interview day
- Home to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, a professional Actors' Equity company in residence on campus
- 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 DeSales University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on DeSales 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.
DeSales University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if DeSales University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into DeSales University Without SAT or ACT?
DeSales University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
DeSales University Average SAT Score: 1199
The average SAT score of admitted students at DeSales University is 1199 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1199 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? DeSales 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 1090, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at DeSales 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 | 590 | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 550 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1199 | 1090 | 1290 |
Below 1090, 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 1200
Can I get into DeSales University with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of DeSales 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.
DeSales University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at DeSales 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 | 23 | 27 |
| ACT English | 26 | 23 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 24 | 28 |
Can I get into DeSales University with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of DeSales University'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 DeSales University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for DeSales University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into DeSales University isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Theatre/Dance/TV-Film applicants: prep for a separate artistic application
Academic acceptance alone doesn't get you into these majors - an audition/interview day and artistic application run as their own parallel process with its own timeline.
Name the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival directly in your essay if applying to theatre
PSF is a professional Equity theatre company in residence on campus - DeSales' single most distinctive asset. Naming it shows real program-specific research beyond a browsed webpage.
Submit early even though admission is rolling through Aug 1
Getting transcripts and your personal statement in well before senior spring gives you more lead time to schedule an audition and be considered for scholarship funding.
Write a substantive personal statement regardless of major
Unlike some rolling-admission peers, a personal essay is explicitly required (not optional) here for freshman admission - don't treat it as a formality.
Expert Insight:
Theatre and Dance applicants sometimes assume that because DeSales has a 77-79% overall acceptance rate, the major itself is easy to get into. It isn't - the program requires a separate artistic audition/interview day, and academic acceptance does not guarantee artistic acceptance.
DeSales University Profile
Full Name
DeSales University
City
Center Valley
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
18034-9568
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a DeSales University Degree Worth It?
Whether DeSales 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 $69,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.9%.
How much does a degree from DeSales University Cost?
The sticker price is $59,409/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
22.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 63.9% take federal loans at DeSales University. File your FAFSA early and list DeSales University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a DeSales University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $61,295. That's about 51% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than DeSales University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as DeSales University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| 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 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than DeSales University. 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 Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at DeSales University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About DeSales University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at DeSales University run about $61,295 a year.
At about $59,409 a year, DeSales University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
DeSales University's Pell Grant rate of 22.9% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 78.6%, DeSales University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at DeSales University average a 3.39 GPA.
DeSales University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.09 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.99, DeSales 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 DeSales University — aim above 1199, ideally within the 1090–1290 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for DeSales University is November 15 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 20.
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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