Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
85.6% Acceptance Rate
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
85.6%Acceptance Rate
3.23Avg GPA
1090Avg SAT
$29,480Annual Cost
$56,351Grad Salary
29.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
85.6%
Avg GPA
3.23
Avg SAT
1090
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
990–1210
Avg Net Price
$23,553
Need-Based Aid
29.6% receive Pell
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution known for its commitment to academic excellence, student success, and regional service. Offering a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, the university provides a supportive campus environment that prepares students for professional and personal leadership.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (SU) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 85.6% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 85.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.23 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.03 – 3.22
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.78
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of February 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 189 days left — Priority Freshman
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
SU 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.
Priority Freshman
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 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.
SU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SU is 3.23. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.93–3.23 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 3.43–3.63.SU 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
3.23 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.03 – 3.22
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.83 – 3.02
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.82
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Shippensburg has rolling admissions with no application deadline and a $45 application fee (CEEB fee-waiver eligible); most applicants hear back within 24-48 hours.
- Test-blind for general admission (scores are not reviewed even if submitted), but scores can accelerate decisions for specific competitive majors/programs.
- Personal essays and recommendation letters are explicitly listed as "recommended, but not required" for general admission - a genuinely low-stakes application relative to peer PASSHE schools.
- Distinctive structural feature: multiple guaranteed 3+2/3+3/3+4 affiliation pathways into graduate/doctoral health programs (OT, chiropractic, audiology, clinical exercise physiology) built directly into the undergraduate curriculum.
- 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 SU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania'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.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (SU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if SU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into SU Without SAT or ACT?
SU considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Average SAT Score: 1090
The average SAT score of admitted students at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 1090 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1090 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1210 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 990, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at SU. 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 | 545 | 490 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 555 | 500 | 610 |
| SAT Composite | 1090 | 990 | 1210 |
Below 990, you're behind most admitted students; at 1210 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 1100
Can I get into Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (SU) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of SU'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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into SU isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Know that Shippensburg is test-blind, not just test-optional - submitting scores can only help, never accidentally hurt
Ship states explicitly it "will not review test scores as part of the admissions process even if we've received test scores for the student" for general admission. This means your application is built almost entirely from transcript, class rank, and course rigor (AP/IB/college-prep courses) - invest your senior-year energy in finishing strong academically rather than in retaking the SAT for general admission.
Submit SAT/ACT scores anyway if you're targeting a specific competitive program for faster action
Even though scores don't affect general admission review, Ship notes certain programs allow applicants who submit SAT/ACT scores to "speed up" or receive immediate/early admission decisions into that specific major. If you have a strong score and know your intended major, submit it - it functions as a program-level accelerator even in a test-blind system.
For Allied Health Pre-Professional (Exercise Science) admission, meet the specific transfer/entry criteria before you declare
The AHPP concentration has explicit entry criteria for incoming, internal-transfer, and external-transfer students, including completing BIOL 237 (or equivalent A&P course) with a C or higher. If pre-health is your goal, take and pass this specific course early - it's a documented gatekeeping requirement the department checks, not a general suggestion.
Leverage the guaranteed 3+2/3+3/3+4 pipeline agreements in your application narrative
Ship has built-in guaranteed-admission pathways to a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Wilson College (via Exercise Science), a Clinical Exercise Physiology master's at East Stroudsburg, and Doctor of Chiropractic pathways at Logan University or Northeast College of Health Sciences. If you have a defined health-career goal, name the specific pipeline program in your application/essay - it signals fit with a concrete, existing agreement rather than generic pre-health interest.
Expert Insight:
Because Ship's overall acceptance rate is high (mid-80s to low-90s percent) and admission is rolling with no deadline, some applicants treat every program the same way and delay declaring a competitive concentration like Allied Health Pre-Professional - only to find the C-or-better prerequisite course (BIOL 237) wasn't completed in time, which blocks the internal transfer into that specific track even after general admission to the university.
SU Profile
Full Name
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (SU)
City
Shippensburg
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
17257-2299
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a SU Degree Worth It?
At $29,480/year against a $56,351 median graduate salary, SU is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.71%.
How much does a degree from SU Cost?
The sticker price is $29,480/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $23,553.
29.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 59.9% take federal loans at SU — file your FAFSA early and list SU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a SU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $56,351 — about 39% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. 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 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. 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 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Degree Programs at SU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SU Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania run about $56,351 a year.
At about $29,480 a year, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is on the more affordable end.
About 29.6% receive a Pell Grant at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 85.6%, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania average a 3.23 GPA.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.93 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.83, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania — aim above 1090, ideally within the 990–1210 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is February 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 45. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 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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