Maryville College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Maryville College, founded in 1819 in Tennessee, is a private liberal arts college ranked among the best national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News. Maryville offers 60+ majors with strengths in environmental studies, music, and outdoor recreation. The college's 320-acre campus at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains features the Clayton Center for the Arts and the Bartlett Hall science facility. Maryville maintains a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and emphasizes experiential learning through its 'Maryville Curriculum.'
Maryville's location provides outdoor recreation opportunities and access to Knoxville's urban resources. The Scots compete in NCAA Division III athletics in the USA South Conference. The college's Mountain Challenge program promotes leadership development through outdoor education. Maryville's strong Presbyterian heritage informs its commitment to service and ethical leadership, while its civic engagement initiatives connect students with community organizations.
Maryville College Acceptance Rate
Maryville College takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 65.7% each year.
What Maryville College 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
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Maryville College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Maryville College is October 15 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by October 31.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 79 days left — Early Action💡 The scholarship deadline (October 15, 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.
Maryville College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Maryville College is 3.61. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.31 and 3.61? 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 3.81–4.01.Maryville College 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:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Distinctive 4-1-4 calendar with a January Term for intensive single-course study (travel, service, or capstone work).
- Bonner Scholars: 15 first-years selected per year, need-based (EFC under $15,000), application + interview, due February 1.
- Test-optional; GPA and class rigor weighted more heavily than class rank or recommendations.
- Rolling admissions; application opens August 1; acceptance rate reported in the low-to-mid 60% range.
- 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 Maryville College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Maryville College's verified institutional data
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Maryville College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Maryville College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Maryville College Without SAT or ACT?
Maryville College Average SAT Score: 1181
The average SAT score of admitted students at Maryville College is 1181 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
If your score is below 1018, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Maryville College. 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 | 552 | 505 | 598 |
| SAT Reading | 552 | 513 | 590 |
| SAT Composite | 1181 | 1018 | 1188 |
Below 1018, you're behind most admitted students; at 1188 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 Maryville College with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of Maryville College'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.
Maryville College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Maryville College is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| ACT English | 24 | 19 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 20 | 28 |
Can I get into Maryville College with a 28 ACT?
A 28 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Maryville College's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several 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 (Science, especially, 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 Maryville College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Maryville College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Maryville College is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Maryville reviews "more than transcripts" - alumni consistently describe direct counselor contact, not a stats formula, as central to decisions here. Reach out early and stay in touch through the process.
This is a separate, competitive, interview-based application - need-based (EFC under $15,000), funding $3,000/year plus aid for 10 hours/week of community service. It's distinct from general admission.
Maryville runs a 4-1-4 calendar with a distinctive January Term - one intensive course, often travel- or service-based, or the senior Ethics 490 capstone. Naming a specific J-Term interest signals real fit.
Maryville is test-optional and weighs GPA/course rigor more heavily than rank or recommendations per reported data. Being top-half of your class with a strong college-prep curriculum matters more than chasing an SAT score.
Don't confuse Maryville College (small Presbyterian-founded liberal arts school in Maryville, Tennessee) with Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri - different UNITIDs, different institutions, and mixing up materials between them is a real, recurring error.
Maryville College Profile
Is a Maryville College Degree Worth It?
At $53,162/year against a $49,279 median graduate salary, Maryville College 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 $57,500, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.94%.
How much does a degree from Maryville College Cost?
The sticker price is $53,162/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
35.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 80.7% take federal loans at Maryville College — file your FAFSA early and list Maryville College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Maryville College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $49,279 — about 21% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Maryville College. 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 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 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 Maryville College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Maryville College. 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 Maryville College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Maryville College Admissions
Median earnings for Maryville College graduates sit around $49,279 a year.
At about $53,162 a year, Maryville College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 35.4% receive a Pell Grant at Maryville College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 65.7%, Maryville College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Maryville College average a 3.61 GPA.
Maryville College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.31 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.21, Maryville College 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 Maryville College — aim above 1181, ideally within the 1018–1188 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Maryville College is October 15 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by October 31.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is October 15, 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.
