Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Houston, Texas
93.3% Acceptance Rate
University of St Thomas — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
93.3%Acceptance Rate
3.53Avg GPA
1204Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$44,151Annual Cost
$59,224Grad Salary
37.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
93.3%
Avg GPA
3.53
Avg SAT
1204
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1075–1340
ACT Middle 50%
22–28
Need-Based Aid
37.9% receive Pell
University of St. Thomas (TX) is a private, Catholic, Basilian institution in Houston that excels in balancing rigorous liberal arts study with professional preparation. Admissions are competitive and holistic, seeking students who display high intellectual potential, character, and a commitment to service within a values-centered community. The university values applicants who show they can engage in deep critical inquiry while remaining grounded in the institution's commitment to ethical reflection and professional excellence.
Successful applicants should emphasize their participation in academic and extracurricular organizations that showcase leadership or a proactive interest in their chosen field of study. Because the university encourages a blend of theory and practice, providing evidence of projects or roles that demonstrate a student's initiative will strengthen the application significantly. A clear articulation of how the student intends to use a liberal arts foundation to achieve their specific career aspirations is essential, as the admissions committee values students who are both ambitious and mission-aligned.
University of St Thomas Acceptance Rate
Admission at University of St Thomas is inclusive by design: 93.3% 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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 93.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.53 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.33 – 3.52
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.08
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of St Thomas Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of St Thomas follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of February 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 190 days left — Priority
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
University of St Thomas 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.
Priority
February 1
💡 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.
University of St Thomas GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at University of St Thomas is 3.53. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.23 and 3.53? 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 3.73–3.93.University of St Thomas 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
3.53 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.33 – 3.52
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.13 – 3.32
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.12
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- UST-Houston is the only Catholic university in Houston, founded in 1947 by the Basilian Fathers, and is a Cardinal Newman Guide-recommended, Hispanic-Serving Institution.
- Admission is rolling with no fixed EA/RD deadlines; unofficial guidance points to an August 1 priority window for fall scholarship and housing consideration.
- Minimum admission bar is a 2.80 GPA across 18 college-preparatory high school units; test scores are optional but a strong asset in the SAT ~1090 / ACT ~21 median range.
- No separate scholarship application is required for incoming freshmen - over 85% receive a UST scholarship through the same admission file, and roughly 98% of all students receive some form of aid.
- 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 University of St Thomas
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from University of St Thomas'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.
University of St Thomas Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at University of St Thomas — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into University of St Thomas Without SAT or ACT?
University of St Thomas considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of St Thomas Average SAT Score: 1204
Admitted students at University of St Thomas average a 1204 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1204 — Slightly Competitive
A 1204 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1340 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of St Thomas allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1075? A retake is worth it at University of St Thomas — 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 | 595 | 530 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 613 | 545 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1204 | 1075 | 1340 |
A score under 1075 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 1200
Can I get into University of St Thomas with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in University of St Thomas'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.
University of St Thomas ACT Requirements
University of St Thomas's admitted students average an ACT of 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 25 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 19 | 25 |
| ACT English | 25 | 23 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 28 |
Can I get into University of St Thomas with a 28 ACT?
At 28, you're in the top quarter of University of St Thomas'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, 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, University of St Thomas weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for University of St Thomas
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into University of St Thomas is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Answer All Three Parts of the Actual Essay Prompt, In Order
UST's required one-page personal essay has three explicit components: why you're interested in UST, what you plan to study, and why you'll be an asset to the UST community. Structure the essay to visibly hit all three - readers at a school this size notice when an essay only addresses one or two. For the "why UST" section, reference the Core Curriculum's stated goal of self-knowledge and "the great conversation" rather than generic "small class sizes" language; it signals you've read past the marketing page into how UST frames its own mission.
Submit Early Because Scholarship and Admission Share One File
UST doesn't require a separate scholarship application for incoming freshmen - the same materials submitted for admission are automatically reviewed for institutional merit aid. There's no hard Early Action/Regular Decision split since admission is rolling, but the school's own guidance points to an informal priority window around August 1 for the fall cycle; submitting closer to that window rather than at the tail of rolling admission puts your file in front of scholarship committees while more award funding is still uncommitted.
Calibrate Whether to Submit Test Scores Using UST's Actual Range
UST is test-optional, but its middle-50 bands run lower than most test-optional private schools (SAT roughly 500?610 EBRW, 480?600 Math; ACT 18?25 composite). A score at or above the median (SAT ~1090, ACT ~21) is a genuine asset here rather than a wash, so students in that range should submit; students below it should use test-optional status and let the essay and a 2.80+ GPA across 18 college-prep units carry the file instead.
Name-Check Mission-Aligned Service, Not Generic Volunteering
UST explicitly highlights student service tied to Catholic social teaching - its own admissions materials cite nursing students serving at Magnificat House as a flagship example. If applying to a health-science or education track, describe service in terms of accompaniment and direct care rather than hours logged; UST is a Cardinal Newman Guide-recommended institution faithful to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and committees reading mission-fit essays respond to language that mirrors how the university talks about formation, not generic "gives back to the community" phrasing.
Expert Insight:
Because UST admits roughly 90% of applicants, students and counselors sometimes treat it as a safety school and submit a recycled generic private-college essay. That's the real risk - not rejection, but landing in the pool that gets admitted without merit aid, since the essay is the only differentiator in a file that isn't competing on selectivity. An essay that never engages UST's Catholic intellectual identity or Core Curriculum reads as mission-mismatched to a committee that screens explicitly for that fit, even when the applicant is otherwise clearly admissible.
University of St Thomas Profile
Full Name
University of St Thomas
City
Houston
State
Texas
ZIP Code
77006-4696
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a University of St Thomas Degree Worth It?
At $44,151/year against a $59,224 median graduate salary, University of St Thomas 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 $71,800, and graduates see a 3.62% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from University of St Thomas Cost?
Listed tuition runs $44,151/year at University of St Thomas; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At University of St Thomas, 37.9% receive a Pell Grant and 36.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming University of St Thomas on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a University of St Thomas Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, University of St Thomas graduates report a median income of $59,224, about 46% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of St Thomas. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of St Thomas. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of St Thomas. 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 Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at University of St Thomas
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About University of St Thomas Admissions
University of St Thomas graduates earn a moderate median salary of $59,224/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at University of St Thomas is moderate, around $44,151/year; many students supplement with aid.
37.9% of University of St Thomas students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
University of St Thomas's acceptance rate is 93.3%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted University of St Thomas students is 3.53, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.23 puts you in the standard applicant pool at University of St Thomas. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.13 or below makes admission tougher at University of St Thomas, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
University of St Thomas weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1204, and within the 1075–1340 range, keeps you competitive.
University of St Thomas's deadline is February 1. Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2026 — that's University of St Thomas'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.