Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
59.3% Acceptance Rate
Augustana University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
59.3%Acceptance Rate
3.76Avg GPA
1187Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$53,169Annual Cost
$59,217Grad Salary
16%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
59.3%
Avg GPA
3.76
Avg SAT
1187
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1075–1290
ACT Middle 50%
21–27
Need-Based Aid
16% receive Pell
Augustana University, founded in 1860 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a prestigious liberal arts college ranked #2 in Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News. Known for its strong sciences and humanities programs, it boasts a 100-acre campus with cutting-edge facilities like the Froiland Science Complex. Its location in South Dakota's largest city provides ample cultural and professional opportunities.
Augustana University Acceptance Rate
Augustana University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 59.3% each year.
What Augie Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 59.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.76 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.56 – 3.75
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.31
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Augustana University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Augustana 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
Augie 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 (Priority: 2026/12/01) 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.
Augie GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Augie is 3.76. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.46 and 3.76? 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 3.96–4.16.Augie GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.76 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.56 – 3.75
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.36 – 3.55
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.35
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No application fee; SAT code 6015, ACT code 3902 for direct score submission
- Holistic review weighs essays, recommendations, and work experience heavily for GED holders and borderline applicants
- ELS conditional admission pathway available for international students not yet meeting English proficiency requirements
- Record enrollment for fall 2025: 615 first-year students and 2,548 total students, the largest in the university's 165-year history
- 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 Augie
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Augustana University'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.
Augustana University (Augie) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Augie is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Augie Without SAT or ACT?
Augie considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Augustana University Average SAT Score: 1187
The average SAT score of admitted students at Augustana University is 1187 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1187 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Augustana University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1075, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Augie. 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 | 598 | 545 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 585 | 530 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1187 | 1075 | 1290 |
Below 1075, you're behind most admitted students; at 1290 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 1200
Can I get into Augustana University (Augie) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Augie'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.
Augustana University (Augie) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Augie is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 20 | 26 |
| ACT English | 23 | 20 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 27 |
Can I get into Augustana University with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Augie'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 Augie.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Augie
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Augie is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
If your transcript is borderline, lean hard on the essay and recommendations
Augustana explicitly gives extra weight to essays, recommendations, and work experience for GED holders and students who don't quite meet standard requirements. If your numbers alone don't tell a strong story, this is your real lever, not an afterthought.
Business-minded applicants: ask about the new Trust minor
The Rydell School of Business just launched a trust minor available at only a handful of colleges nationwide. If it fits your interests, name it specifically in your application as a point of genuine differentiation.
International students short on English proficiency: ask about the ELS pathway
Augustana offers conditional admission through an ELS intensive English program up to level 112 for students who haven't yet met standard English proficiency requirements - ask about this route directly rather than assuming you must clear TOEFL/IELTS first.
Homeschooled applicants: use Augustana's specific transcript format
Homeschooled students must submit an official transcript listing individual courses - this is a distinct submission policy from the standard high school process. Don't submit a generic homeschool portfolio without checking this first.
Expert Insight:
Because admission explicitly considers a student's "ability to positively impact the Augustana community," applicants sometimes underweight the extracurricular and leadership portion of their application in favor of academics alone. The school states this factors directly into decisions, not just as a tiebreaker.
Augie Profile
Full Name
Augustana University (Augie)
City
Sioux Falls
State
South Dakota
ZIP Code
57197-0001
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Augie Degree Worth It?
At $53,169/year against a $59,217 median graduate salary, Augie 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 $60,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.28%.
How much does a degree from Augie Cost?
The sticker price is $53,169/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
16% of students receive a Pell Grant and 51.8% take federal loans at Augie. File your FAFSA early and list Augie as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Augie Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $59,217. That's 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 Augustana University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Augustana University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Augustana University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Augie
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Augie Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Augustana University run about $59,217 a year.
At about $53,169 a year, Augustana University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Augustana University's Pell Grant rate of 16.0% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 59.3%, Augustana University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Augustana University average a 3.76 GPA.
Augustana University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.46 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.36, Augustana University 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 Augustana University — aim above 1187, ideally within the 1075–1290 range admitted students typically fall in.
Augustana University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority: 2026/12/01. 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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