Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Sherman, Texas
46.7% Acceptance Rate
Austin College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
46.7%Acceptance Rate
3.63Avg GPA
1272Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$59,654Annual Cost
$61,296Grad Salary
30.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
46.7%
Avg GPA
3.63
Avg SAT
1272
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1170–1340
ACT Middle 50%
26–32
Need-Based Aid
30.4% receive Pell
Austin College, established in 1849 in Sherman, Texas, is a top liberal arts college emphasizing global learning and undergraduate research. It ranks for its strong pre-professional programs and study abroad opportunities.
The campus includes science centers, art studios, and a primate research facility. Its commitment to interdisciplinary education and leadership development prepares students for diverse careers.
Austin College Acceptance Rate
Austin College admits roughly 46.7% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Austin College Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 46.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier. A solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.63 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.18
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Austin College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 15 for Austin College (Early Decision I — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 103 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 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.
Austin College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Austin College is 3.63. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.33 and 3.63? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.83–4.03.Austin 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
3.63 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.23 – 3.42
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.22
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Essay: 250?650 words, open topic, required.
- Admission interview is recommended, not required - but commonly cited as influential.
- Test-optional; regular deadline August 15, no application fee.
- Distinctive JanTerm program each January for internships/study abroad/seminars; mascot "Kangaroos."
- 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 Austin College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Austin 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.
Austin College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Austin 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 Austin College Without SAT or ACT?
Austin College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Austin College Average SAT Score: 1272
Admitted students at Austin College average a 1272 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1272 — Slightly Competitive
A 1272 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1340 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Austin College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1170? A retake is worth it at Austin 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 | 620 | 580 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 590 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1272 | 1170 | 1340 |
A score under 1170 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1340+ 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 1250
Can I get into Austin College with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in Austin 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.
Austin College ACT Requirements
Austin College's admitted students average an ACT of 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
An average of 29 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 22 | 29 |
| ACT English | 29 | 24 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 32 |
Can I get into Austin College with a 32 ACT?
At 32, you're in the top quarter of Austin College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Austin College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Austin College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Austin College means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Do the interview even though it's "optional"
Austin College markets its admission interview as recommended, not required - but counselors who work with AC regularly see it function as a de facto differentiator in a test-optional applicant pool, since it's the one place a shy transcript can't speak for a genuinely curious, community-minded kid the way a 20-minute conversation can.
Write the 250?650 word essay around a specific value, not a resume highlight
AC's essay prompt is fully open-topic, which trips up applicants who default to a generic "why I want to succeed" essay - admissions readers here respond to essays that show reflection tied to AC's Presbyterian-heritage community ethos (service, mentorship, small-group intellectual life), not just achievement.
Name JanTerm in your application materials
Austin College's January Term (a dedicated month for internships, study abroad, or intensive seminars) is one of its most distinctive academic structures - mentioning a specific way you'd use JanTerm (a particular study-abroad region, an internship field) signals you've researched AC specifically, not just "small Texas liberal arts colleges" generically.
Lean into test-optional strategically, not defensively
With acceptance rates reported anywhere from 47% to 71% depending on the source (likely reflecting shifting selectivity across recent cycles), AC is more accessible than its "moderately selective" label suggests - a mid-range GPA (3.5+) applicant should apply test-optional if scores are below the 1100?1310 SAT band, since the essay and interview carry more relative weight here than at test-mandatory peers.
Expert Insight:
Sources disagree sharply on Austin College's acceptance rate (47% per US News/Research.com vs. 71% per BigFuture) - don't anchor a student's confidence or anxiety to one number; treat AC as genuinely moderately selective and build a complete application rather than assuming either extreme.
Austin College Profile
Full Name
Austin College
City
Sherman
State
Texas
ZIP Code
75090-4400
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Austin College Degree Worth It?
At $59,654/year against a $61,296 median graduate salary, Austin 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 $74,600, and graduates see a 2.81% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Austin College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $59,654/year at Austin College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Austin College, 30.4% receive a Pell Grant and 51.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Austin College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Austin College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Austin College graduates report a median income of $61,296, about 51% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Austin College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Austin College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Mercer University | Macon, GA | 1280 | 28 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Austin College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Austin College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Austin College Admissions
Austin College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $61,296/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Austin College runs high, at roughly $59,654+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
30.4% of Austin College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Austin College's acceptance rate is 46.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Austin College students is 3.63, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.33 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Austin College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.23 or below makes admission tougher at Austin College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Austin College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1272, and within the 1170–1340 range, keeps you competitive.
Austin College's deadline is November 15 (Early Decision I), with decisions out by December 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Austin 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.