Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Madison, Wisconsin
94.5% Acceptance Rate
Edgewood College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
94.5%Acceptance Rate
3.5Avg GPA
$48,450Annual Cost
$59,728Grad Salary
23.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
94.5%
Avg GPA
3.5
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
23.4% receive Pell
Edgewood College is a private, Catholic liberal arts college in Wisconsin that emphasizes values-based education, social justice, and inclusive community engagement. Admissions are holistic, evaluating applicants on their academic record, character, and alignment with the college's mission of service and personal development. The college seeks individuals who are looking for a high-quality education that integrates professional preparation with a solid, values-oriented foundation.
Prospective students should highlight their participation in service-oriented activities, reflecting the college's commitment to ethical leadership. A strong personal statement that discusses how the student's values align with the college's mission is highly encouraged. The admissions committee looks for students who will contribute to the campus culture and who show a genuine commitment to personal growth, community service, and academic excellence within a supportive and mentorship-rich environment.
Edgewood College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Edgewood College is inclusive by design: 94.5% 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 — 94.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.50 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.30 – 3.49
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.05
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Edgewood College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Edgewood College 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
CUW 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.
CUW GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at CUW is 3.5. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.20 and 3.5? 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 3.70–3.90.CUW 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
3.50 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.30 – 3.49
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.10 – 3.29
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.09
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Edgewood College officially became Edgewood University on July 1, 2025, its centennial year; older sources may still reference "Edgewood College."
- Admission is test-blind (not merely test-optional): no essay, recommendation letter, or application fee is required for first-year applicants, and standardized test scores are not used in the admission decision. Average incoming GPA is approximately 3.4-3.5.
- The post-baccalaureate Accelerated BSN (ABSN) requires a minimum 2.75 GPA (2.75 in prerequisite math/science) but is highly competitive, with priority given to applicants at 3.0+ GPA or holding a CNA license; ABSN graduates maintaining a 3.0 GPA are guaranteed admission to Edgewood's Master of Nursing program.
- The Cutting Edge Program, one of Wisconsin's first fully inclusive four-year college programs for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities, has a separate application window (Aug. 1-Nov. 30) and does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.
- 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 CUW
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Edgewood College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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.
Edgewood College (CUW) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at CUW — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into CUW Without SAT or ACT?
CUW 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 CUW
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
CUW's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Know that Edgewood College is now Edgewood University - verify current info directly
Effective July 1, 2025, Edgewood College officially became Edgewood University in its centennial year. A student researching the school on older third-party sites (Niche, PrepScholar, CollegeVine) will find outdated "Edgewood College" branding, so counselors should verify current program names and requirements directly against edgewood.edu rather than aggregator sites.
Treat Edgewood as test-blind, not merely test-optional, and lean entirely on the transcript
Edgewood does not require an essay, letter of recommendation, or application fee for first-year applicants, and test scores are not factored into admission decisions at all - the entire decision rests on the high school transcript and cumulative GPA (average incoming GPA is around 3.4-3.5). Students should focus energy on finishing senior year strong rather than test prep or essay polish, since neither moves the needle here.
If pursuing the Accelerated BSN, know the priority GPA tiers before applying through NursingCAS
Edgewood's post-baccalaureate Accelerated BSN requires a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and 2.75 GPA in prerequisite math/science courses, but admission is highly competitive - applicants with a 3.0+ GPA on prerequisite coursework, or who already hold a CNA license, are given priority. A student serious about this program should treat 3.0 as the real target, not 2.75. ABSN graduates who maintain a 3.0 are guaranteed admission into Edgewood's Master of Nursing program.
Flag the Cutting Edge Program early and separately for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities
Edgewood's Cutting Edge Program - one of the first fully inclusive four-year college programs in Wisconsin for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities - has its own application window (Aug. 1-Nov. 30, ideally filed a full year ahead of enrollment) and does not guarantee an interview or acceptance to every applicant. Apply well before the deadline and treat it as a distinct, competitive track layered on top of general admission.
Expert Insight:
Don't assume general admission and Cutting Edge Program admission are the same process, or that meeting Edgewood's low general-admission bar guarantees Cutting Edge acceptance - the Cutting Edge Program has its own application, fee structure, and timeline (apply by Nov. 30 the year before enrollment), and families who wait until spring to inquire may have already missed the effective window for the following fall.
CUW Profile
Full Name
Edgewood College (CUW)
City
Madison
State
Wisconsin
ZIP Code
53711-1997
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a CUW Degree Worth It?
Whether CUW 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 $68,100, and graduates see a 2.62% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from CUW Cost?
Listed tuition runs $48,450/year at CUW; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At CUW, 23.4% receive a Pell Grant and 57.4% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming CUW on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a CUW Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, CUW graduates report a median income of $59,728, about 47% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at CUW
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About CUW Admissions
Edgewood College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $59,728/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Edgewood College is moderate, around $48,450/year; many students supplement with aid.
23.4% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Edgewood College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Edgewood College's acceptance rate is 94.5%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Edgewood College students is 3.5, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.2 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Edgewood College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.1 or below makes admission tougher at Edgewood College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Edgewood College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2026 — that's Edgewood College'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.
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