Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
31.1% Acceptance Rate
Bryn Mawr College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
31.1%Acceptance Rate
3.85Avg GPA
1404Avg SAT
32Avg ACT
$79,380Annual Cost
$75,217Grad Salary
14.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
31.1%
Avg GPA
3.85
Avg SAT
1404
Avg ACT
32
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1300–1470
ACT Middle 50%
30–33
Need-Based Aid
14.3% receive Pell
Bryn Mawr College, established in 1885, is a prestigious women's liberal arts college near Philadelphia and part of the Tri-College Consortium with Haverford and Swarthmore. Renowned for its academic rigor, Bryn Mawr pioneered graduate education for women and maintains exceptional programs in archaeology (with its own artifact collections), astrophysics (featuring student research at the college observatory), and social work. The 135-acre campus, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, features Gothic architecture like Pembroke Hall alongside modern spaces like the Park Science Center. Bryn Mawr's Honor Code fosters intellectual freedom, allowing self-scheduled exams since 1896.
The college's traditions including Parade Night and Hell Week build community among its diverse student body (30% international). Through the Bi-Co and Quaker Consortium, students access 5,000+ courses across partner schools. Notable alumnae include Nobel Prize-winning chemist Emily Whitehead and poet Marianne Moore. Bryn Mawr's career outcomes shine, with 25% of graduates earning PhDs the 3rd highest rate among U.S. colleges. The college's recent 'Defy Expectation' campaign raised $301 million to support STEM initiatives and accessibility, reinforcing its mission to empower women scholars.
Bryn Mawr College Acceptance Rate
At an acceptance rate of 31.1%, Bryn Mawr College rewards applicants who show real academic growth rather than a flawless transcript.
What Bryn Mawr College Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 31.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.85 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.65 – 3.84
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.40
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Bryn Mawr College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 15 for Bryn Mawr College (Early Decision I — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 112 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 2
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Financial Aid Priority: 2025/11/15) 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 Mawr College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Bryn Mawr College is 3.85. 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 3.55 and 3.85, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 4.05–4.25.Bryn Mawr College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective — this GPA sits within the typical admitted band.
Recommended Strategy: A top-5th-percentile SAT/ACT score makes the strongest case here.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.85 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.65 – 3.84
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.45 – 3.64
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.44
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Bryn Mawr operates two separate, binding admissions tracks-Early Decision I and Early Decision II-which require a signed agreement confirming the college is your unequivocal first choice.
- The college requires two teacher recommendations specifically from core academic subjects alongside a counselor report, utilizing them to gauge your daily seminar-style collaboration skills.
- Homeschooled and alternative education applicants face additional verification hurdles, including a mandatory graded research paper with evaluator comments and a detailed curriculum description.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
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 Mawr College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Bryn Mawr College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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 Mawr College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Bryn Mawr College — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Bryn Mawr College Without SAT or ACT?
Bryn Mawr College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Bryn Mawr College Average SAT Score: 1404
Admitted students at Bryn Mawr College average a 1404 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1404 — Very Competitive
Bryn Mawr College's SAT average sits comfortably in the upper range nationally.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1470 SAT or 33 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Bryn Mawr College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1300? A retake is worth it at Bryn Mawr College — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 680 | 630 | 730 |
| SAT Reading | 705 | 670 | 740 |
| SAT Composite | 1404 | 1300 | 1470 |
A score under 1300 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1470+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1400
Can I get into Bryn Mawr College with a 1450 SAT?
At 1450, your SAT is squarely in Bryn Mawr College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Bryn Mawr College ACT Requirements
Bryn Mawr College's admitted students average an ACT of 32.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 32 — Very Competitive
Bryn Mawr College's ACT average sits comfortably in the upper range nationally.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 29 | 26 | 32 |
| ACT English | 33 | 31 | 35 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 30 | 33 |
Can I get into Bryn Mawr College with a 33 ACT?
At 33, you're in the top quarter of Bryn Mawr College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Bryn Mawr College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Bryn Mawr College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Bryn Mawr College rewards consistency. Being a top-quartile applicant here doesn't just help admission odds — it's usually what unlocks the strongest scholarship offers too.
Master the Historic Seven Sisters Holistic Narrative Target within Your Personal Essays
Bryn Mawr College conducts an intensely holistic, mission-driven review that seeks intellectually ambitious, self-aware individuals ready to participate in a historically women's liberal arts collective. Your writing supplement must directly address the institution's specific culture of authentic self-reflection. When responding to the specialized prompt regarding what you know about yourself to be true, avoid superficial lists of achievements. Instead, write a 250-500 word narrative deconstructing how your background, experiences, and personal values led you to that internal truth, proving you can handle the seminar-style intellectual rigor of the campus.
Exhaust Curricular Upper Limits to Validate Academic Readiness for the Honor System
Your high school transcript is the single most critical data pillar in Bryn Mawr's selection engine, evaluated strictly in the context of your school's local offerings. To pass the academic screening, you must pursue a highly rigorous program filled with accelerated, AP, or IB courses. Admissions committees look for high marks-with a score of 5 required on most AP exams to secure advanced standing or credit. Because Bryn Mawr operates a historic, student-run Honor Code that governs unproctored exams and daily life, your recommendations must confirm you possess the intellectual maturity and integrity needed to thrive in an environment built on complete trust.
Leverage the Test-Optional Policy Wisely Against Enrolled Freshman Mid-50% Benchmarks
Bryn Mawr maintains a strict test-optional policy, recognizing that standardized test scores do not fully capture a student's long-term academic potential. If you choose to submit self-reported scores, Bryn Mawr will superscore your highest sub-sections across all test sittings, irrespective of the dates. If your combined scores sit comfortably within or above the elite top-tier liberal arts percentiles, they provide a powerful validation marker. However, if your scores fall below, you should confidently withhold them; the evaluation engine will smoothly re-allocate evaluation weight to your two core teacher recommendations and your counselor report.
Secure an Early Evaluative Interview and Utilize the SlideRoom Arts Supplement Track
While interviews are technically optional, Bryn Mawr strongly recommends scheduling an interview with an admissions staff member, senior student, or alumnae representative between June and December of your senior year. This conversation functions as a major qualitative evaluation tag in the final committee review. Additionally, if you possess serious talents in music, theater, dance, or creative writing, you should submit a formal arts supplement via SlideRoom. This extra dimension provides external validation of your creative depth, elevating your profile above similarly qualified applicants.
Expert Insight: Writing a Bryn Mawr supplement that reads like a generic brochure, focusing only on general study abroad options or campus architecture without weaving in your personal alignment with the college's historic mission of equity and intellectual independence, is a fatal error-the committee reads thousands of essays for an intimate class and will quickly reject unauthentic profiles.
Bryn Mawr College Profile
Full Name
Bryn Mawr College
City
Bryn Mawr
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
19010
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Bryn Mawr College Degree Worth It?
At $79,380/year against a $75,217 median graduate salary, Bryn Mawr College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $79,000, and graduates see a 3.1% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Bryn Mawr College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $79,380/year at Bryn Mawr College; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Bryn Mawr College, 14.3% receive a Pell Grant and 47.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Bryn Mawr College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Bryn Mawr College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Bryn Mawr College graduates report a median income of $75,217, about 85% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Bryn Mawr College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | 1362 | 30 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 1363 | 30 |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | 1389 | 32 |
| St. John's College | Annapolis, MD | 1381 | 31 |
| Emerson College | Boston, MA | 1359 | 32 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, MA | 1354 | 30 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1393 | 31 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Bryn Mawr College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 1397 | 31 |
| Simpson College | Indianola, IA | 1410 | 32 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Bryn Mawr College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Oakland | Oakland, CA | 1472 | 32 |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA | 1461 | 33 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, CA | 1480 | 33 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | 1445 | 33 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | 1447 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Bryn Mawr College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryn Mawr College Admissions
Bryn Mawr College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $75,217/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Bryn Mawr College runs high — roughly $79,380+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
14.3% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Bryn Mawr College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Bryn Mawr College's acceptance rate is 31.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Bryn Mawr College students is 3.85, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.55 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Bryn Mawr College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.45 or below makes admission tougher at Bryn Mawr College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Bryn Mawr College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1404, and within the 1300–1470 range, keeps you competitive.
Bryn Mawr College's deadline is November 15 (Early Decision I), with decisions out by December 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Financial Aid Priority: 2025/11/15 — that's Bryn Mawr College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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