Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Allentown, Pennsylvania
99.1% Acceptance Rate
Cedar Crest College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
99.1%Acceptance Rate
3.42Avg GPA
1070Avg SAT
$56,240Annual Cost
$59,460Grad Salary
38.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
99.1%
Avg GPA
3.42
Avg SAT
1070
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1000–1230
Need-Based Aid
38.6% receive Pell
Cedar Crest College is a private, comprehensive institution in Pennsylvania that is uniquely dedicated to the education of women, though it is open to all students. Admissions prioritize academic achievement and readiness for a supportive, professional-focused environment. The college seeks motivated students who are eager to participate in its rich tradition of leadership, community engagement, and specialized programs in healthcare, education, and the sciences.
When applying, prospective students should highlight their consistency in academic work and their involvement in organizations that foster teamwork, leadership, or advocacy. Demonstrating a clear interest in the college's specific professional programs such as nursing, research, or professional studies will help an applicant stand out. A strong application shows that the student is proactive, focused, and ready to take full advantage of the resources available at an institution that prioritizes student success and community leadership.
Cedar Crest College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Cedar Crest College is inclusive by design. 99.1% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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 — 99.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.42 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.22 – 3.41
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.97
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Cedar Crest College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Cedar Crest College 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
Cedar Crest 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 (2027/02/01 (Honors/competitive scholarship priority)) 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.
Cedar Crest College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Cedar Crest College is 3.42. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.12–3.42 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.62–3.82.Cedar Crest College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
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
3.42 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.22 – 3.41
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.02 – 3.21
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.01
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Rolling admissions; requires either a personal essay or a writing sample plus a letter of recommendation - no fixed word count published
- STAR program requires unweighted 3.0 GPA and SAT 1050 (combined math+verbal) or ACT 20; award locks at first-year rate for 4 years contingent on maintaining a 2.5 GPA
- Every full-time sophomore receives a fully-funded short-term study abroad trip (the Sophomore Expedition); destination is revealed at orientation, not chosen by the student
- Offers a 15-month Accelerated BSN and multiple 4+1 bachelor's/master's pathways alongside traditional 4-year programs
- 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 Cedar Crest College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Cedar Crest 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.
Cedar Crest College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College Without SAT or ACT?
Cedar Crest College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Cedar Crest College Average SAT Score: 1070
Admitted students at Cedar Crest College average a 1070 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1070 — Accessible
A 1070 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1230 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Cedar Crest College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1000? A retake is worth it at Cedar Crest 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 | 525 | 480 | 570 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 520 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1070 | 1000 | 1230 |
A score under 1000 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1230+ 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 1050
Can I get into Cedar Crest College with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Cedar Crest 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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cedar Crest College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Cedar Crest College is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Treat the STAR benchmarks as a hidden scholarship tier, not a footnote
Cedar Crest's State Tuition Access Rate program automatically matches tuition to a student's home-state flagship public university rate - but only for applicants with an unweighted GPA of 3.0+ and either a combined SAT (math+verbal) of 1050 or an ACT of 20. Because admission itself is accessible, families often don't realize these specific numbers function as a real cutoff for a locked-in, four-year tuition award - build the junior/senior year course and testing plan around clearing this line, not just around "getting in."
Use the essay-or-writing-sample flexibility deliberately
Cedar Crest lets applicants submit either a personal essay or a writing sample instead - a strong recent research paper, lab report writeup, or literary analysis can do more to signal readiness for programs like nursing, forensic science, or biology than a generic personal narrative. Have STEM-leaning applicants bring their best existing academic writing rather than defaulting to a new personal essay.
Speak directly to the historically-women's-college identity in program interest statements
Cedar Crest was founded by nine women 150+ years ago specifically to provide access denied elsewhere, and it still frames its identity (91% female-identifying, Division III women's athletics, leadership-focused culture) as central to fit - applicants who name this history and connect it to their own goals (especially in nursing, forensic science, or pre-law) read as a stronger match than those treating it as a generic small liberal arts school.
Flag the Four-Year Guarantee exception before declaring a major
Cedar Crest's Four-Year Guaranteed Graduation agreement covers every four-year program except Nuclear Medicine Technology. A student interested in that specific major should have this conversation with admissions/advising up front rather than assuming the guarantee applies campus-wide.
Expert Insight:
Because acceptance rates run high (roughly 84-99% depending on source) and the process is rolling and test-optional, families frequently under-invest in the specific GPA/SAT/ACT numbers that trigger the STAR tuition match - missing that threshold by a small margin isn't an admission problem, it's a several-thousand-dollar-per-year financial one that's easy to fix with earlier test prep.
Cedar Crest College Profile
Full Name
Cedar Crest College
City
Allentown
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
18104-6196
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Cedar Crest College Degree Worth It?
At $56,240/year against a $59,460 median graduate salary, Cedar Crest 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 $66,400, and graduates see a 2.95% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Cedar Crest College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $56,240/year at Cedar Crest College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Cedar Crest College, 38.6% receive a Pell Grant and 71.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Cedar Crest College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Cedar Crest College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Cedar Crest College graduates report a median income of $59,460, about 46% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Cedar Crest College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Cedar Crest College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Piedmont University | Demorest, GA | 1074 | 21 |
| Shorter University | Rome, GA | 1075 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Cedar Crest College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Cedar Crest College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Crest College Admissions
Cedar Crest College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $59,460/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Cedar Crest College runs high, at roughly $56,240+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
38.6% of Cedar Crest College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Cedar Crest College's acceptance rate is 99.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Cedar Crest College students is 3.42, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.12 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Cedar Crest College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.02 or below makes admission tougher at Cedar Crest College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Cedar Crest College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1070, and within the 1000–1230 range, keeps you competitive.
Cedar Crest College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before 2027/02/01 (Honors/competitive scholarship priority). That's Cedar Crest 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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