Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
San Antonio, Texas
Our Lady of the Lake University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
3.55Avg GPA
980Avg SAT
$42,137Annual Cost
$48,675Grad Salary
57.5%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
3.55
Avg SAT
980
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
940–1010
Need-Based Aid
57.5% receive Pell
Our Lady of the Lake University, founded in 1895 in Texas, is a private Catholic university offering social work, business, and education programs.
OLLU is unranked but known for its commitment to serving underrepresented populations. Its San Antonio location enhances community engagement.
Our Lady of the Lake University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Our Lady of the Lake University is inclusive by design. 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
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
3.55 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.35 – 3.54
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.10
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Our Lady of the Lake University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark December 1 for Our Lady of the Lake University (Priority — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 112 days left — Priority
Priority
December 1
Regular Decision
August 1
💡 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.
OLLU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at OLLU is 3.55. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.25 and 3.55? 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 3.75–3.95.OLLU 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
3.55 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.35 – 3.54
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.15 – 3.34
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.14
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- OLLU's admission process is test-blind (not merely test-optional) - ACT/SAT scores are not considered even if submitted; the hard cutoff is a 2.5 recommended-curriculum GPA, below which freshman applicants are denied but encouraged to reapply as transfers.
- Priority Fall deadline is Oct. 15 (decision ~Nov. 1); Regular Decision is May 1; Final Deadline is Aug. 1 on a space-available basis. Spring priority is Sept. 15.
- The Branch Scholarship for STEM Majors offers up to $15,800/year (renewable 4 years for freshmen, 2 for transfers), requiring a 3.5+ unweighted GPA and a separate scholarship application after admission; the Futuro Leaders Scholarship targets first-gen Texas seniors nominated by their high school principal.
- Founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, OLLU identifies as tied to the origin of the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and hosted the first U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing on Mexican Americans in the Southwest.
- 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 OLLU
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Our Lady of the Lake University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at OLLU. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into OLLU Without SAT or ACT?
OLLU's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Our Lady of the Lake University Average SAT Score: 980
Admitted students at Our Lady of the Lake University average a 980 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 980 — Accessible
A 980 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1010 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Our Lady of the Lake University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 940? A retake is worth it at OLLU. 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 | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 980 | 940 | 1010 |
A score under 940 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1010+ 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 1000
Can I get into Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) with a 1000 SAT?
At 1000, your SAT is squarely in OLLU'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.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for OLLU
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
OLLU provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Know that OLLU admission is now test-blind, not just test-optional
OLLU has moved beyond test-optional to fully test-blind: standardized test scores are no longer considered in the admission decision at all, even if submitted. Admission instead hinges on a hard 2.5 GPA cutoff against a specific recommended core curriculum (4 English, 3-4 math through pre-calc/statistics, 3-4 science, 2-3 social studies, 2 foreign language) - students below 2.5 are denied freshman admission outright but actively encouraged to reapply later as transfer students.
Apply for the Branch STEM Scholarship the moment admission opens, on its own separate track
The Branch Scholarship for STEM Majors (funded by a $1 million gift honoring a Dow Chemical chemist and executive) awards up to $15,800 toward tuition, renewable four years for freshmen, but requires a 3.5+ unweighted GPA, a declared STEM major, admission by a specific priority date, and then a separate scholarship-specific application submitted shortly after. A STEM-bound student needs both boxes checked in quick succession - the general admission deadline alone won't secure this money.
Use the Futuro Leaders principal-nomination pathway for first-generation Texas students
The Futuro Leaders Scholarship Program is built specifically for Texas high school seniors who are first-generation college-bound and recommended by their own principal - a genuinely unusual nomination mechanic that puts the decision partly in the hands of a school administrator rather than the student alone. Counselors working with first-gen Texas seniors should proactively raise this with the principal's office rather than waiting for the student to discover it independently.
Lean into OLLU's HSI origin story and mission in any personal statement
OLLU frames itself as tied to the founding of the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation and hosted the first U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearing on Mexican Americans in the Southwest - a specific, citable institutional history rather than generic diversity language. A student writing OLLU's optional personal statement who connects their own goals to this specific legacy stands out to a reader who knows the institution's actual history.
Expert Insight:
Don't let a borderline student (GPA just under 2.5) submit an application assuming a strong test score will offset it - OLLU's process is test-blind, so scores literally cannot compensate for GPA the way they might at a test-optional school; a family in this situation should focus energy on OLLU's transfer pathway (the school explicitly invites denied freshman applicants to reapply later as transfers) rather than resubmitting with the same numbers.
OLLU Profile
Full Name
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)
City
San Antonio
State
Texas
ZIP Code
78207-4689
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a OLLU Degree Worth It?
Whether OLLU is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $52,500, and graduates see a 4.01% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from OLLU Cost?
Listed tuition runs $42,137/year at OLLU. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At OLLU, 57.5% receive a Pell Grant and 64.6% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming OLLU on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a OLLU Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, OLLU graduates report a median income of $48,675, 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 Our Lady of the Lake University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 966 | 17 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City, KS | 950 | 17 |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville, KY | 965 | 18 |
| Grambling State University | Grambling, LA | 955 | 17 |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 938 | 17 |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, MD | 935 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Our Lady of the Lake University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Our Lady of the Lake University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
Degree Programs at OLLU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About OLLU Admissions
Our Lady of the Lake University graduates earn a lower median salary of $48,675/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Our Lady of the Lake University is moderate, around $42,137/year; many students supplement with aid.
57.5% of Our Lady of the Lake University students receive a Pell Grant, which is need-based aid you don't repay. File your FAFSA early and list Our Lady of the Lake University as a choice for the best shot at maximum aid.
The average GPA of admitted Our Lady of the Lake University students is 3.55, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.25 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Our Lady of the Lake University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.15 or below makes admission tougher at Our Lady of the Lake University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Our Lady of the Lake University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 980, and within the 940–1010 range, keeps you competitive.
Our Lady of the Lake University's deadline is December 1 (Priority).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Our Lady of the Lake University'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.