Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Scranton, Pennsylvania
83.7% Acceptance Rate
Marywood University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
83.7%Acceptance Rate
3.58Avg GPA
1153Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$52,673Annual Cost
$55,817Grad Salary
29.2%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
83.7%
Avg GPA
3.58
Avg SAT
1153
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1240
ACT Middle 50%
21–26
Need-Based Aid
29.2% receive Pell
Marywood University is a private, Catholic, liberal arts institution in Pennsylvania dedicated to the values of service, social justice, and academic excellence. Known for its strong programs in health sciences, education, and the arts, the university offers a supportive and values-driven environment that prepares students for impactful professional lives.
Marywood University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Marywood University is inclusive by design. 83.7% 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 — 83.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.58 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.38 – 3.57
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.13
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Marywood University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Marywood University 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
Marywood 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 (Scholarship Priority: 2026/03/01) 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.
Marywood GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Marywood is 3.58. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.28 and 3.58? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.78–3.98.Marywood 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
3.58 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.38 – 3.57
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.18 – 3.37
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.17
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Undergraduate first-year admission requires a 250+ word essay chosen from several reflective prompts, plus at least one letter of recommendation from a school-based counselor or teacher.
- Graduate Art Therapy applicants submit a distinct 350-word minimum essay addressing three specific required points (personal art involvement, understanding of art therapy, reasons for pursuing the field).
- Graduate Architecture and Interior Architecture applicants submit a separate essay specifically on career objectives in that field.
- Graduate Speech-Language Pathology applicants submit a 500-word-maximum essay in a specified format, with writing mechanics explicitly factored into review.
- 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 Marywood
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Marywood University'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.
Marywood University (Marywood) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Marywood. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Marywood Without SAT or ACT?
Marywood considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Marywood University Average SAT Score: 1153
Admitted students at Marywood University average a 1153 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1153 — Less Competitive
A 1153 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1240 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Marywood University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1050? A retake is worth it at Marywood. 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 | 560 | 520 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 585 | 530 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1153 | 1050 | 1240 |
A score under 1050 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1240+ 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 1150
Can I get into Marywood University (Marywood) with a 1250 SAT?
At 1250, your SAT is squarely in Marywood'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.
Marywood University (Marywood) ACT Requirements
Marywood's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT English | 23 | 20 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 26 |
Can I get into Marywood University with a 26 ACT?
At 26, you're in the top quarter of Marywood'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, and 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, Marywood weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Marywood
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Marywood isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Write your general essay around a real challenge, not a polished achievement
Marywood's undergraduate application requires a 250+ word essay chosen from a set of reflective prompts (facing a setback, questioning a belief, an accomplishment that sparked growth). Admissions readers here respond well to genuine reflection over resume-style achievement narratives - pick the prompt about a real challenge or a changed belief rather than the generic "share anything" option, since it gives you more to actually say.
If you're applying to Art Therapy at the graduate level, hit all three required essay points explicitly
Marywood's Art Therapy graduate application requires a minimum 350-word essay addressing three specific points: your personal involvement in art, your understanding of art therapy, and why you've chosen this field. Structure your essay to visibly address each of the three in turn - Marywood is one of the more established art therapy graduate programs regionally, and admissions readers are checking for all three elements, not just general enthusiasm for art.
Architecture applicants (grad-level/professional track): treat your essay as a career-objectives statement, not a portfolio narrative
Marywood's Architecture and Interior Architecture graduate applicants must submit an essay specifically discussing career objectives and reasons for pursuing architecture - separate from any portfolio material. Don't fold this into general creative-statement language; address your specific professional trajectory in architecture directly, since that's literally what the prompt asks for.
Speech-Language Pathology applicants: stay within the exact word count and format
Marywood's SLP graduate essay has a hard 500-word maximum, requires double-spacing in 12pt font, and explicitly states that writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, punctuation) factor into the review. Treat this as a technical writing sample as much as a content response - proofread meticulously, since the program tells you directly that mechanics are part of what's being evaluated, not just your answers to the two questions asked.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes reuse the same generic personal essay across every program at Marywood, not realizing that several of its most distinctive graduate programs (Art Therapy, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Speech-Language Pathology, Counseling) each require a separate, specifically prompted essay with its own word count and content requirements. Submitting a generic essay in place of the program-specific one is a common, avoidable way to weaken an otherwise strong application to these particular programs.
Marywood Profile
Full Name
Marywood University (Marywood)
City
Scranton
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
18509-1598
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Marywood Degree Worth It?
Whether Marywood 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.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $58,100, and graduates see a 3.07% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Marywood Cost?
Listed tuition runs $52,673/year at Marywood. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Marywood, 29.2% receive a Pell Grant and 78.2% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Marywood on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Marywood Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Marywood graduates report a median income of $55,817, about 37% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Marywood University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| 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 Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 1119 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Marywood University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Marywood University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Marywood
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Marywood Admissions
Marywood University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $55,817/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Marywood University runs high, at roughly $52,673+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
29.2% of Marywood University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Marywood University's acceptance rate is 83.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Marywood University students is 3.58, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.28 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Marywood University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.18 or below makes admission tougher at Marywood University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Marywood University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1153, and within the 1050–1240 range, keeps you competitive.
Marywood University 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 Scholarship Priority: 2026/03/01. That's Marywood University'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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