Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Scranton, Pennsylvania
84.4% Acceptance Rate
University of Scranton — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
84.4%Acceptance Rate
3.56Avg GPA
1237Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$67,795Annual Cost
$74,652Grad Salary
22.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
84.4%
Avg GPA
3.56
Avg SAT
1237
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1150–1320
ACT Middle 50%
25–30
Need-Based Aid
22.3% receive Pell
University of Scranton is a private, Catholic, Jesuit institution in Pennsylvania known for its commitment to academic excellence, service, and the development of the whole person. With a strong emphasis on the liberal arts and professional preparation, the university fosters a supportive environment that encourages critical inquiry and social justice.
University of Scranton Acceptance Rate
University of Scranton runs an open-access admission policy. With a 84.4% 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 — 84.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.56 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.36 – 3.55
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.11
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Scranton Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for University of Scranton is November 15 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 97 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 15
Regular Decision
February 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (Merit Scholarship 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.
University of Scranton GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of Scranton is 3.56. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.26 and 3.56? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
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 3.76–3.96.University of Scranton GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.56 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.36 – 3.55
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.16 – 3.35
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.15
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- The Business Leadership Program (BLDR) admits only 15 sophomores each spring via competitive application, requiring a 3.0 GPA to enter and 3.5 to graduate with the designation - distinct from freshman-entry honors programs.
- Occupational Therapy applicants enter as freshmen directly into a 5-year (MS) or 6-year (OTD) entry-level track, not through a later competitive internal application.
- Scranton is test-optional; the Admissions Committee reviews GPA, class rank, test scores (if submitted), extracurriculars, essay, and recommendations holistically rather than weighting any single factor.
- The Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA) honors program, established in 1975, and the Leahy Community Health & Family Center are distinctive, mission-linked institutional resources worth referencing by name in applications.
- 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 University of Scranton
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Scranton'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.
University of Scranton Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if University of Scranton is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into University of Scranton Without SAT or ACT?
University of Scranton considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Scranton Average SAT Score: 1237
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Scranton is 1237 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1237 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1320 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Scranton allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1150, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at University of Scranton. 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 | 615 | 570 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 620 | 580 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1237 | 1150 | 1320 |
Below 1150, you're behind most admitted students; at 1320 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 1250
Can I get into University of Scranton with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of University of Scranton'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.
University of Scranton ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at University of Scranton is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — 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 | 28 | 25 | 31 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 30 |
Can I get into University of Scranton with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of University of Scranton'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 University of Scranton.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of Scranton
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into University of Scranton isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Target the Business Leadership Program (BLDR) as a sophomore-year application, not a freshman one
Unlike most honors tracks that admit incoming freshmen, Scranton's Kania School of Management runs the Business Leadership Program as a competitive sophomore-entry program - only 15 students accepted each spring for the two-year curriculum beginning the following fall, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA to enter but 3.5 to graduate with the designation. Students set on this program should build a strong freshman-year transcript and start assembling club involvement, recommendation relationships with professors, and leadership experience specifically in year one, since the competitive application happens at the end of freshman year - well before most students are thinking about a "second" college application.
Enter the Occupational Therapy pathway as a freshman if that's your goal - it's not a post-bachelor's application
Scranton's five-year entry-level Master of Science in OT and six-year entry-level Doctor of OT both admit students directly as freshmen, who then proceed through four years of undergraduate study before entering the graduate phase - meaning the OT admission decision happens at the same time as general first-year admission, not later via a separate competitive internal application. Students interested in OT should apply directly to the OT program during the standard first-year application cycle rather than assuming they'll apply competitively after declaring a pre-OT major partway through.
Use the optional SAT/ACT strategically since Scranton is holistic, not formulaic
Scranton's Admissions Committee explicitly weighs cumulative GPA, class rank, test scores (optional), extracurricular activities, personal essay, and letters of recommendation together rather than any single factor dominating - a genuinely holistic review rather than a GPA-driven formula. Students with strong scores relative to their GPA should submit them as one input among several rather than assuming test-optional status makes scores irrelevant if submitted; students without strong scores should invest correspondingly more in the essay and recommendation letters, since those carry real weight in the absence of a test score.
Use the Leahy Community Health & Family Center as a concrete example in health-sciences essays and interviews
Scranton operates the Leahy Community Health & Family Center, a free clinic in McGurrin Hall's basement serving underserved Lackawanna County residents, where OT and other health-sciences students get direct, practical clinical experience woven into Jesuit "cura personalis" values - a genuinely distinctive, mission-aligned resource rather than a generic "community service" talking point. Health-sciences applicants should reference this specific center (not just "Scranton's Jesuit values" generally) when explaining fit in supplemental materials, since it demonstrates concrete knowledge of the university's actual programs rather than surface-level mission language.
Expert Insight:
Because Scranton markets itself heavily around Jesuit mission language ("cura personalis," "men and women for others"), applicants sometimes lean on generic references to "Jesuit values" or "care for the whole person" in essays without connecting those ideas to anything Scranton-specific. Admissions readers who see this phrasing constantly are looking for applicants who can name actual programs, professors, or resources (the Leahy Center, BLDR, SJLA) rather than repeating mission-statement language back at them - vague mission-alignment writing is the most common way an otherwise qualified applicant reads as generic.
University of Scranton Profile
Full Name
University of Scranton
City
Scranton
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
18510-4699
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a University of Scranton Degree Worth It?
Whether University of Scranton 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 $73,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.82%.
How much does a degree from University of Scranton Cost?
The sticker price is $67,795/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
22.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 64.9% take federal loans at University of Scranton. File your FAFSA early and list University of Scranton as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a University of Scranton Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $74,652. That's about 84% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Scranton. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, 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 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 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 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Scranton. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA | 1230 | 27 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 1237 | 28 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 1242 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Scranton. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
Degree Programs at University of Scranton
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Scranton Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Scranton run about $74,652 a year.
At about $67,795 a year, University of Scranton's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
University of Scranton's Pell Grant rate of 22.3% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 84.4%, University of Scranton's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Scranton average a 3.56 GPA.
University of Scranton doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.26 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.16, University of Scranton 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 University of Scranton — aim above 1237, ideally within the 1150–1320 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Scranton is November 15 for Early Action applicants.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit Scholarship Priority: 2025/11/15. 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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