Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Burlington, Vermont
66.7% Acceptance Rate
Champlain College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
66.7%Acceptance Rate
3.35Avg GPA
1262Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$63,000Annual Cost
$58,386Grad Salary
23.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
66.7%
Avg GPA
3.35
Avg SAT
1262
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1165–1340
ACT Middle 50%
27–31
Need-Based Aid
23.1% receive Pell
Champlain College, established in 1878 in Burlington, Vermont, specializes in game design, cybersecurity, and business. Ranked for innovation and career preparation.
The college's lakeside campus includes a game studio, cybersecurity lab, and incubator spaces. Its focus on Upside-down curriculum (early major courses) accelerates professional readiness.
Champlain College Acceptance Rate
Champlain College is moderately selective — 66.7% of applicants are admitted — with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Champlain College 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 — 66.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.35 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.15 – 3.34
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.90
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Champlain College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Champlain College is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 110 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.
Champlain College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Champlain College is 3.35. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.05–3.35 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 3.55–3.75.Champlain College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.35 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.15 – 3.34
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.95 – 3.14
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.94
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay and no standardized test score required for admission.
- Deadlines: Early Decision Nov 15, Early Action Dec 15, Regular Decision Jan 10, then rolling.
- Notable programs sit under the Division of Communication & Creative Media, including Game Design.
- Benchmark scores for a comfortable admit: roughly 1220 SAT / 26 ACT.
- 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 Champlain College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Champlain College'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.
Champlain College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Champlain College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Champlain College Without SAT or ACT?
Champlain College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Champlain College Average SAT Score: 1262
The average SAT score of admitted students at Champlain College is 1262 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1262 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1340 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Champlain College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1165, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Champlain College. 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 | 610 | 560 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 643 | 605 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1262 | 1165 | 1340 |
Below 1165, you're behind most admitted students; at 1340 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 1250
Can I get into Champlain College with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of Champlain College'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.
Champlain College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Champlain College is 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 28 |
| ACT English | 29 | 27 | 31 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 27 | 31 |
Can I get into Champlain College with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Champlain College'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 Champlain College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Champlain College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Champlain College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Treat the portfolio as unofficial but influential
No essay or test score is required, but for Game Design and other creative-media majors, a strong portfolio can still shape merit scholarship offers even though it isn't formally mandatory.
Use demonstrated interest to separate yourself since there's no essay
With academics doing most of the talking, a campus visit or contact with the Game Studio/creative-media faculty becomes one of the only qualitative signals in your file.
Pick your major precisely, not broadly
Champlain runs 110 named professional areas of study. A vague "undecided business" application competes differently than a targeted Game Design or Communication & Creative Media application.
Apply by Early Decision (Nov 15) or Early Action (Dec 15) for best merit aid
Admission itself is rolling afterward, but scholarship packaging is stronger for students who apply in these earlier windows.
Expert Insight:
Students assume "no essay required" means nothing extra matters. In practice, skipping optional portfolio submissions or campus contact for creative majors can cost real scholarship money, not admission itself.
Champlain College Profile
Full Name
Champlain College
City
Burlington
State
Vermont
ZIP Code
5401
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Champlain College Degree Worth It?
Champlain College 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 $72,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.77%.
How much does a degree from Champlain College Cost?
The sticker price is $63,000/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
23.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 51.3% take federal loans at Champlain College — file your FAFSA early and list Champlain College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Champlain College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $58,386 — about 44% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Champlain 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 Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | 1223 | 26 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Champlain College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Champlain 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 Champlain College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Champlain College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Champlain College run about $58,386 a year.
At about $63,000 a year, Champlain College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Champlain College's Pell Grant rate of 23.1% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 66.7%, Champlain College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Champlain College average a 3.35 GPA.
Champlain College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.05 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.95, Champlain College 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 Champlain College — aim above 1262, ideally within the 1165–1340 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Champlain College is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 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.