Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Marshall, Texas
60.1% Acceptance Rate
East Texas Baptist University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
60.1%Acceptance Rate
3.4Avg GPA
$41,833Annual Cost
$52,788Grad Salary
31.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
60.1%
Avg GPA
3.4
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Need-Based Aid
31.4% receive Pell
East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), established in 1912 in Marshall, Texas, is a private Baptist university ranked #34 in Regional Colleges West by U.S. News. Offering programs in theology, education, and biology, ETBU's 200-acre campus features the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center and the Great Commission Center.
ETBU's Tiger Serve Day' mobilizes students for community service. The university's location near the Louisiana border provides cultural and ministry opportunities. NCAA Division III athletics and a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio emphasize faith and learning.
East Texas Baptist University Acceptance Rate
At 60.1%, admission to East Texas Baptist University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What East Texas Baptist University 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 — 60.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.95
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
East Texas Baptist University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
East Texas Baptist 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
East Texas Baptist University 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 (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.
East Texas Baptist University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at East Texas Baptist University is 3.4. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.10–3.4 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 3.60–3.80.East Texas Baptist University 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:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.00 – 3.19
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.99
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No essay or letter of recommendation required for general admission; no application fee.
- Acceptance rate roughly 58?60% for 2024-25/2025-26 cycles.
- Chapel attendance (22 services/semester) required for full-time students.
- Distinctive faith-linked scholarships: Church Matching (up to $2,000/yr), Minister's Dependent ($1,500/yr), and new ETBU Promise Scholarship for SBTC pastors' children (up to $20,000/yr).
- 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 East Texas Baptist University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on East Texas Baptist 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
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
East Texas Baptist University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if East Texas Baptist University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into East Texas Baptist University Without SAT or ACT?
East Texas Baptist University neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for East Texas Baptist University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into East Texas Baptist University isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Skip the essay stress - redirect that energy to church documentation
ETBU does not require or recommend a personal essay for general admission, which surprises students used to essay-heavy applications - the actual leverage point is financial: gather church-membership verification and pastor endorsement letters early, since several of ETBU's largest scholarships (Church Matching, Minister's Dependent, BGCT Ministry) require them and are easy to miss if you're only thinking about the academic application.
If a parent is clergy, apply for the ETBU Promise Scholarship by name
ETBU launched a new Promise Scholarship specifically for children of Southern Baptists of Texas Convention senior pastors (up to $20,000/year, renewable) - this is a newly announced, easy-to-miss award that a general financial aid search won't surface unless you ask the financial aid office directly.
Plan around the Chapel attendance requirement before you enroll
Full-time students must attend 22 Chapel services per semester to get Chapel credit - build this into your course-scheduling expectations now, since students who treat it as optional often scramble to make up credits late in the semester.
Use the Church Matching Scholarship as a negotiation lever
ETBU will match a home church's financial contribution up to $2,000/year - if your church is willing to contribute even a modest gift, apply the matching form alongside your admission application so the matched funds are locked in before your first bill.
Expert Insight:
The most common misstep at ETBU is students focusing entirely on the academic application and missing faith-based scholarship deadlines and documentation (church endorsement, pastor letters) that require lead time your church office may not turn around quickly.
East Texas Baptist University Profile
Full Name
East Texas Baptist University
City
Marshall
State
Texas
ZIP Code
75670-1498
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a East Texas Baptist University Degree Worth It?
East Texas Baptist University offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $56,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.59%.
How much does a degree from East Texas Baptist University Cost?
The sticker price is $41,833/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
31.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 53.1% take federal loans at East Texas Baptist University. File your FAFSA early and list East Texas Baptist University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a East Texas Baptist University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $52,788. That's about 30% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at East Texas Baptist University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About East Texas Baptist University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at East Texas Baptist University run about $52,788 a year.
East Texas Baptist University costs roughly $41,833 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 31.4% receive a Pell Grant at East Texas Baptist University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 60.1%, East Texas Baptist University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at East Texas Baptist University average a 3.4 GPA.
East Texas Baptist University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.1 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3, East Texas Baptist University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
East Texas Baptist University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
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.