Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Ripon, Wisconsin
83.9% Acceptance Rate
Ripon College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
83.9%Acceptance Rate
3.41Avg GPA
1143Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$61,495Annual Cost
$54,902Grad Salary
33.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
83.9%
Avg GPA
3.41
Avg SAT
1143
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1000–1190
ACT Middle 50%
20–27
Need-Based Aid
33.3% receive Pell
Ripon College is a private, liberal arts college in Wisconsin known for its commitment to excellence and academic challenge. Through a rigorous and highly personalized curriculum, the college encourages students to think deeply and critically, preparing them for success in graduate school and meaningful professional careers.
Ripon College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Ripon College is inclusive by design: 83.9% 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 — 83.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.96
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Ripon College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark February 1 for Ripon College (Regular Decision — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by March 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 187 days left — Regular Decision
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.
Ripon College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Ripon College is 3.41. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.11–3.41 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.61–3.81.Ripon College 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
3.41 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.01 – 3.20
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.00
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Rolling admissions; test-optional with SAT/ACT never a barrier to admission or merit scholarship consideration; essay and recommendation letters are encouraged but not strictly required
- 100% of incoming first-year students receive some form of institutional financial aid
- All Ripon Commitment institutional aid is guaranteed for all four years regardless of later changes to federal/state aid eligibility, as long as full-time enrollment continues
- Undergraduate courses are offered exclusively in-person on campus; no online undergraduate degree option exists
- 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 Ripon College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Ripon College'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.
Ripon College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Ripon College — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Ripon College Without SAT or ACT?
Ripon College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Ripon College Average SAT Score: 1143
Admitted students at Ripon College average a 1143 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1143 — Less Competitive
A 1143 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1190 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Ripon College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1000? A retake is worth it at Ripon College — 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 | 540 | 490 | 590 |
| SAT Reading | 555 | 510 | 600 |
| SAT Composite | 1143 | 1000 | 1190 |
A score under 1000 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1190+ 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 1150
Can I get into Ripon College with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in Ripon College'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.
Ripon College ACT Requirements
Ripon College's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 20 | 27 |
Can I get into Ripon College with a 27 ACT?
At 27, you're in the top quarter of Ripon College'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, Ripon College 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 Ripon College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Ripon College is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
For Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota residents, lead with "The Ripon Commitment" tuition match - it's the single biggest driver of actual cost, more relevant than merit scholarship talk
Households with AGI of $75,000 or less get free tuition and fees for up to 8 consecutive semesters (4 years) as first-year students or 4 consecutive semesters (2 years) as transfers; households above $75,000 in the same five states get a guaranteed tuition-and-fee match to UW-Madison's rate (capped around $12,186 for 2025-26), which as of 2026 was expanded from Wisconsin-only to include Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota residents. Counsel eligible-state families to calculate their household AGI (student's AGI plus parents' AGI as reflected on the FAFSA) before assuming they need merit scholarships to make Ripon affordable, since this program can eliminate tuition entirely regardless of academic profile.
Understand the two hard conditions that can silently forfeit the Ripon Commitment: full-time enrollment and on-campus housing/meal plan
The Ripon Commitment only applies to students enrolled full-time (12-20 credits/semester) and does not cover housing, food, or other indirect costs - and while housing isn't explicitly required by the program name, the economics only work because virtually all recipients live on campus with a meal plan. Counsel recipients to confirm their intended course load stays within the 12-20 credit full-time band each semester and to budget separately for the roughly $10,000+ per year in housing/meal costs not covered by the Commitment, since dropping below full-time status forfeits program eligibility for that term.
Note that AGI eligibility is locked in at first-year enrollment - a future income increase doesn't disqualify, but a future decrease after enrolling elsewhere doesn't newly qualify
If a student's household AGI is $75,000 or less at the time of admission, subsequent increases in household income during their four years won't affect eligibility for the free-tuition tier - but the reverse isn't true: only incoming (not continuing) students are evaluated for the free-tuition tier, so a currently enrolled student whose family income later drops cannot retroactively qualify for the top tier (though they may still access other aid). Counsel families right at the income threshold to apply and lock in eligibility at the point of initial admission, since this is a one-time determination, not an annual reassessment.
For students interested in physical therapy, ask about the Bellin College early-admission affiliation as a distinctive built-in graduate pipeline
Ripon has established an affiliation agreement with Bellin College providing Ripon students an opportunity for early admission into Bellin's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program - a specific, named pre-professional pathway beyond generic pre-health advising. Counsel pre-PT students to ask their admissions counselor or pre-health advisor about this specific Bellin affiliation agreement's requirements and timeline as soon as they declare interest, since early-admission agreements typically require meeting benchmarks well before senior year.
Expert Insight:
The most common mistake is a family in an eligible state (WI, IL, IA, MI, MN) assuming they need to compete for merit scholarships to afford Ripon, when The Ripon Commitment's income-based free-tuition or UW-Madison tuition-match tiers may make the cost question almost entirely about qualifying by state residency and AGI - families outside these five states do not have access to this program and should budget using standard net price estimates instead.
Ripon College Profile
Full Name
Ripon College
City
Ripon
State
Wisconsin
ZIP Code
54971-0248
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Ripon College Degree Worth It?
At $61,495/year against a $54,902 median graduate salary, Ripon College 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 $66,800, and graduates see a 2.87% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Ripon College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $61,495/year at Ripon College; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Ripon College, 33.3% receive a Pell Grant and 73.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Ripon College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Ripon College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Ripon College graduates report a median income of $54,902, about 35% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Ripon College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| University of Saint Joseph | West Hartford, CT | 1100 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Ripon College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Ripon College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Ripon College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Ripon College Admissions
Ripon College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $54,902/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Ripon College runs high — roughly $61,495+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
33.3% of Ripon College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Ripon College's acceptance rate is 83.9%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Ripon College students is 3.41, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.11 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Ripon College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.01 or below makes admission tougher at Ripon College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Ripon College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1143, and within the 1000–1190 range, keeps you competitive.
Ripon College's deadline is February 1 (Regular Decision), with decisions out by March 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026 — that's Ripon 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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