Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
90% Acceptance Rate
Wilson College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
90%Acceptance Rate
3.45Avg GPA
1020Avg SAT
$38,932Annual Cost
$43,326Grad Salary
26.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
90%
Avg GPA
3.45
Avg SAT
1020
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
940–1110
Need-Based Aid
26.6% receive Pell
Wilson College is a private, liberal arts institution in Pennsylvania that emphasizes academic excellence and social responsibility. Admissions are holistic, looking for individuals who are intellectually engaged and ready to participate in a small, collaborative learning environment. The college values applicants who have demonstrated leadership in their extracurriculars or community organizations.
When applying, prospective students should emphasize their willingness to participate in seminar-style discussions and collaborative research projects. The college values personal growth, so highlighting a student's history of overcoming challenges or pursuing meaningful projects can be effective. A strong personal statement that reflects the student's values and career interests will help the admissions committee determine if they are a good fit for the close-knit Wilson community.
Wilson College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Wilson College is inclusive by design: 90% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 90% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.45 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.25 – 3.44
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.00
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Wilson College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Wilson 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
Wilson 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 (Recommended: 2026/02/15 (competitive scholarship consideration); Wilson Scholarship Competition: 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.
Wilson College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Wilson College is 3.45. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.15–3.45 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 3.65–3.85.Wilson 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
3.45 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.25 – 3.44
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.05 – 3.24
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.04
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Presbyterian Church (USA) affiliation; became coeducational in 2013-14 after 144 years as a women's college
- Penn Hall Equestrian Center features three 24-stall barns, two indoor arenas, an outdoor arena, and a cross-country jump course; campus also includes a working organic farm (Fulton Center for Sustainability Studies)
- 98%+ of Wilson students receive some form of scholarship as part of financial aid
- Notable programs include Veterinary Nursing (Medical Technician), Equine Studies, and Equine-Facilitated Therapeutics - fields rarely offered together at small liberal arts colleges
- 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 Wilson College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Wilson College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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.
Wilson College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Wilson 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 Wilson College Without SAT or ACT?
Wilson College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Wilson College Average SAT Score: 1020
Admitted students at Wilson College average a 1020 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1020 — Accessible
A 1020 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1110 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Wilson College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 940? A retake is worth it at Wilson 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 | 500 | 460 | 540 |
| SAT Reading | 525 | 480 | 570 |
| SAT Composite | 1020 | 940 | 1110 |
A score under 940 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1110+ 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 1000
Can I get into Wilson College with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in Wilson 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 Wilson College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Wilson College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
For students who are single parents, lead with the Single Parent Scholar Program as a distinctive, fully-funded structural pathway - not a footnote
Wilson's Single Parent Scholar Program supports up to 12 students annually pursuing a full-time bachelor's degree while raising up to two children (ages 20 months to 10-12 years), with on-campus family housing now fully grant-covered since 2020 (no housing cost to the parent), plus a dedicated on-campus Child Care Center, parenting workshops, and alumnae mentoring. Counsel single-parent applicants to apply to this program as an explicit, named track alongside general admission - not as a financial aid add-on - since it structurally changes housing, campus-life integration, and support resources in ways a standard application doesn't surface.
For equine-track students, apply for TERF scholarships as a named, separate step from general Wilson financial aid
The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation funds a recurring, renewable scholarship specifically for Wilson students in animal-related majors (Veterinary Nursing, Equine Studies, Equine-Facilitated Therapeutics, Animal Studies), awarded based on need, academic achievement, and equine-related career goals - since 2015 TERF has provided over $112,000 to Wilson students. Counsel prospective equine/veterinary nursing majors to ask their admissions counselor specifically about the TERF scholarship application process during the application cycle, since this externally-funded award isn't part of Wilson's standard institutional aid packaging.
Highlight Wilson's relatively recent (2020) addition of an NCEA equestrian team when discussing competitive-level riding goals, distinct from its long-standing club/IHSA program
Wilson added a National Collegiate Equestrian Association varsity team in fall 2020 on top of its historic club-level hunt seat and Western riding teams - and the program has already produced a national championship (Julie Warnick '26 in open reining, the program's first national title). Counsel serious competitive riders to specify interest in the NCEA-affiliated team specifically (versus the club/IHSA programs) when contacting the equestrian program director, since these represent different competitive tiers with different recruitment and scholarship processes.
Understand Wilson's 2013-14 shift to coeducation when discussing the college's identity and programs with prospective male or non-binary applicants
Wilson operated as a women's college for 144 years before its board voted to admit male residential students starting fall 2014 - meaning many of its historic single-sex scholarship endowments (visible in the scholarship directory, several marked with an asterisk noting "preference for women students") predate coeducation and may carry gendered eligibility language worth clarifying directly with financial aid. Counsel male and non-binary applicants to ask financial aid specifically which named scholarships carry legacy gender-based preferences before assuming all listed awards are open to them equally.
Expert Insight:
The most common missed opportunity at Wilson is prospective single parents or equine/veterinary-track students researching only the general admissions and financial aid pages - both the Single Parent Scholar Program and TERF equine scholarships are structurally separate application tracks that require direct, proactive outreach to be identified and pursued, rather than being automatically surfaced through the standard application.
Wilson College Profile
Full Name
Wilson College
City
Chambersburg
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
17201-1285
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Wilson College Degree Worth It?
At $38,932/year against a $43,326 median graduate salary, Wilson 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 $58,700, and graduates see a 2.83% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Wilson College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $38,932/year at Wilson College; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Wilson College, 26.6% receive a Pell Grant and 85.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Wilson College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Wilson College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Wilson College graduates report a median income of $43,326, about 7% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Wilson College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Wilson College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Wilson College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Wilson College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Wilson College Admissions
Wilson College graduates earn a lower median salary of $43,326/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Wilson College is moderate, around $38,932/year; many students supplement with aid.
26.6% of Wilson College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Wilson College's acceptance rate is 90%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Wilson College students is 3.45, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.15 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Wilson College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.05 or below makes admission tougher at Wilson College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Wilson College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1020, and within the 940–1110 range, keeps you competitive.
Wilson 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 Recommended: 2026/02/15 (competitive scholarship consideration); Wilson Scholarship Competition: 2026/03/01 — that's Wilson 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.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all Pennsylvania Colleges
Average SAT Score of Pennsylvania Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in Pennsylvania
Bachelor Programs in Pennsylvania
Test Optional Colleges in Pennsylvania
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in Pennsylvania