Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Abilene, Texas
57.7% Acceptance Rate
McMurry University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
57.7%Acceptance Rate
3.7Avg GPA
1072Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$43,087Annual Cost
$48,779Grad Salary
44.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
57.7%
Avg GPA
3.7
Avg SAT
1072
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1010–1170
ACT Middle 50%
18–25
Need-Based Aid
44.9% receive Pell
McMurry University, founded in 1923 in Abilene, Texas, is a Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college with strengths in theology, nursing, and fine arts. It emphasizes service-learning.
The campus features a chapel, science center, and art galleries. Its McMurry Experience' integrates academics with community engagement.
McMurry University Acceptance Rate
McMurry University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 57.7% each year.
What McM 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 — 57.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.70 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.25
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
McMurry University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
McMurry 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
McM 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.
McM GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at McM is 3.7. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.40 and 3.7? 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 3.90–4.10.McM 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
3.70 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.50 – 3.69
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.30 – 3.49
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.29
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- ~57% acceptance rate; test-optional; personal essay recommended, not required
- All admitted students receive an automatic merit-based scholarship
- Community Commitment Scholarship: 50% tuition for students from service/military/public-sector families
- Rolling admission; informal priority dates ~March 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring) for best aid
- 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 McM
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on McMurry 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.
McMurry University (McM) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if McM is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into McM Without SAT or ACT?
McM considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
McMurry University Average SAT Score: 1072
The average SAT score of admitted students at McMurry University is 1072 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1072 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1170 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? McMurry 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 1010, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at McM. 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 | 550 | 510 | 590 |
| SAT Reading | 540 | 500 | 580 |
| SAT Composite | 1072 | 1010 | 1170 |
Below 1010, you're behind most admitted students; at 1170 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 1050
Can I get into McMurry University (McM) with a 1150 SAT?
A 1150 SAT puts you ahead of most of McM'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.
McMurry University (McM) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at McM is 22.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| ACT English | 20 | 16 | 23 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 18 | 25 |
Can I get into McMurry University with a 25 ACT?
A 25 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of McM'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 McM.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for McM
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
McM is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Check the Community Commitment angle
If a parent, guardian, spouse, or the applicant works full-time in public service, healthcare, education, nonprofit, or the military, McMurry offers a 50% tuition scholarship most families never hear about because it's not on the main financial aid page. Confirm eligibility before assuming you need loans.
Write the "optional" essay anyway
McMurry's personal essay is recommended, not required - and because admission itself is fairly open (57% acceptance), the essay is actually doing quiet work behind the scenes on which merit scholarship tier and departmental award you land in. Skipping it because it's optional leaves money on the table, not just admission risk.
Apply before the priority dates, even though it's rolling
McMurry has no hard deadline, but scholarship and aid consideration is tied to informal priority windows (roughly March 1 for fall). Rolling admission lulls families into waiting until summer - by then the best institutional aid packages are already committed.
Submit scores only if they clear the bar
Scoring 1160 SAT / 24 ACT or above moves you toward guaranteed admission and better merit tiers at a test-optional school. Below that, McMurry evaluates you holistically without the number working against you - so withhold scores that would sit below that line.
Expert Insight:
Families treat the low acceptance bar as a signal that nothing here needs strategy - but every admitted student gets some merit scholarship, and the size of that award is quietly shaped by the essay and any service-family documentation that most applicants never submit.
McM Profile
Full Name
McMurry University (McM)
City
Abilene
State
Texas
ZIP Code
79697
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a McM Degree Worth It?
McM 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 $52,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.77%.
How much does a degree from McM Cost?
The sticker price is $43,087/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
44.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 60.4% take federal loans at McM — file your FAFSA early and list McM as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a McM Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $48,779 — about 20% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than McMurry University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
| Point University | West Point, GA | 1059 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as McMurry University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Piedmont University | Demorest, GA | 1074 | 21 |
| Shorter University | Rome, GA | 1075 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than McMurry University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at McM
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About McM Admissions
Median earnings for McMurry University graduates sit around $48,779 a year.
McMurry University costs roughly $43,087 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 44.9% receive a Pell Grant at McMurry University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 57.7%, McMurry University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at McMurry University average a 3.7 GPA.
McMurry University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.4 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.3, McMurry 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 McMurry University — aim above 1072, ideally within the 1010–1170 range admitted students typically fall in.
McMurry 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.