Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Milligan, Tennessee
70.3% Acceptance Rate
Milligan University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
70.3%Acceptance Rate
3.69Avg GPA
1195Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$49,850Annual Cost
$46,641Grad Salary
23.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
70.3%
Avg GPA
3.69
Avg SAT
1195
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1120–1290
ACT Middle 50%
21–27
Need-Based Aid
23.4% receive Pell
Milligan University, established in 1866 in Milligan, Tennessee, is a private Christian university ranked #21 in Regional Colleges South by U.S. News. Offering programs in theology, business, and health sciences, Milligan integrates faith with learning through its Christian Leadership' core. The 195-acre campus features the Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts and a new nursing simulation lab.
Milligan's location near Johnson City provides internships in healthcare and ministry. The university emphasizes service, with mission trips and Appalachian outreach programs. NCAA Division II athletics and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio foster a supportive community.
Milligan University Acceptance Rate
Milligan University is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Milligan University is 70.3%. This means that 70 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
Admissions Guidelines
- Broad Evaluation: Personal growth and vocational goals are considered alongside grades.
- Flexible Standards: Strengths in extracurriculars can often balance an average GPA.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 70.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.24
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Milligan GPA Requirement
The average GPA of the admitted students at Milligan is 3.69. Milligan is highly selective.
Mostly A's with a few B's will keep you competitive. Taking AP/IB courses related to your field will improve your chances.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.89-4.09 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.39 and 3.69, a strong SAT or ACT score is recommended.
Milligan GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Admissions at Milligan utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.69, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.29 – 3.48
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.28
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Acceptance rate: approximately 65?72% (IPEDS 2024-25: 72%); rolling admissions; $30 application fee waivable with code APPLYNOW; no essay or letters of recommendation required for first-year students; test-optional (ACT/SAT considered if submitted).
- FAFSA priority deadline for financial aid is March 1; undergraduate tuition is frozen for the third consecutive year as of 2026; 9:1 student-faculty ratio across approximately 800 undergraduates.
- Milligan's physician assistant graduate program (MSPAS) posted a 100% first-time PANCE pass rate for its Class of 2026; PA, OT (MSOT), nursing, and Emmanuel Christian Seminary are all fully operational on a single 355-acre campus in the Tri-Cities region of northeast Tennessee near Johnson City.
- Emmanuel Christian Seminary operates on campus and offers undergraduates cross-registration for seminary credit and advanced standing; Milligan is named not for its founder or its location, but for a professor, Robert Milligan - a distinction that resonates in visit and essay conversations about the school's intellectual heritage.
- The Rigor Metric: At Milligan, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Milligan
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Milligan University's verified institutional data
--%
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.
Milligan University (Milligan) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Milligan Without SAT or ACT?
Milligan University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
Milligan University Average SAT Score: 1195
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Milligan University is 1195 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1195 — Less Competitive
This score makes it less competitive for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1195 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1290 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Milligan University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1120, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Milligan. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 595 | 540 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 610 | 580 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1195 | 1120 | 1290 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1120 then you are below most of the admitted students at Milligan and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1290 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Milligan University (Milligan) with a 1300 SAT?
With a 1300 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Milligan University (Milligan) are good but the admission staff at Milligan tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Milligan University (Milligan) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at Milligan is 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
This score makes Milligan University slightly Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do well to score 24 on the ACT.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 20 | 26 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 27 |
Can I get into Milligan University with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at Milligan University — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at Milligan University use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.
One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that Milligan University — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether Milligan University uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.
Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 27 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Milligan
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Milligan is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Apply With the Fee Waiver Code - Then Apply Early for Aid
Milligan has rolling admissions with a $30 application fee that is fully waivable using the code APPLYNOW - there is no deadline for that waiver, but students should confirm current availability when applying. No essay, no letters of recommendation, and no test scores are required for first-year admission; the Common App listing confirms this. However, the FAFSA priority date for financial aid is March 1, and Milligan's merit scholarship pool is competitive - students who apply in fall of senior year receive aid decisions much faster and can stack institutional scholarships more easily than spring applicants. The low application friction makes earlier submission strictly better.
Know the Faith Expectation Before You Enroll
Milligan is affiliated with the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and the campus life is built around that identity: chapel services center on Seeger Memorial Chapel, weekly vespers is a campus institution, and the academic culture explicitly frames learning as preparation for faith-driven service. The College of Bible and Ministry is a full school within the university, and Emmanuel Christian Seminary operates on campus, allowing undergraduates to cross-register for seminary credit and earn advanced standing. Students who want faith-integrated academics will find the community exceptionally cohesive; students who want a secular or religiously neutral environment will feel this mismatch acutely within the first semester.
Target the Health Sciences Pipeline if Grades Support It
Milligan runs an unusually dense cluster of health sciences programs for a university of 800 undergraduates: an accredited Nursing program (CCNE), a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (ARC-PA accredited, with a 100% first-time PANCE pass rate for the Class of 2026), a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (ACOTE accredited), and a Social Work program in candidacy with CSWE. Pre-health undergraduates at Milligan have direct access to these graduate programs, shorter pathways to clinical training, and faculty mentors across multiple disciplines in one small campus footprint. A student committed to healthcare and Christian mission should discuss guaranteed or priority admission pathways to these graduate programs directly with an admissions counselor.
Use the Tuition Freeze in Your Financial Comparison
As of spring 2026, Milligan announced it is holding undergraduate tuition flat for the third consecutive year - a meaningful data point in a financial aid comparison where sticker prices at peer institutions are climbing 3?5% annually. The 9:1 student-faculty ratio and strong merit aid availability (over 90% of students receive financial assistance) mean the actual net cost is frequently lower than comparably sized Christian liberal arts colleges in the South. Help families run the net price calculator and compare the Milligan aid package against schools with similar religious missions but higher published tuition increases.
Expert Insight:
Milligan's sharpest failure pattern is students who choose it primarily for the faith community without vetting whether their intended career program is the right fit at this institution's scale. The university is genuinely strong in health sciences and ministry; it is more limited in specialized engineering tracks and research infrastructure despite recent mechanical and electrical engineering program additions. A student who enrolls for Milligan's spiritual community but needs a large research university for their science goals often transfers by sophomore year - the community warmth doesn't compensate for a program mismatch.
Milligan Profile
Full Name
Milligan University (Milligan)
City
Milligan
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
37682
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Milligan Degree Worth It?
Getting into Milligan can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Milligan offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Milligan is $54,800 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3%.
How much does a degree from Milligan Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Milligan University is $49,850. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Milligan University is much less than this.
23.4% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 49 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Milligan and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Milligan University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Milligan as your choice in the form.
How much does a Milligan Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $46,641. An average Milligan graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Milligan University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| 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 Milligan University. 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 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 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 Milligan University. 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 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
Degree Programs at Milligan
Bachelor Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Milligan University →
Frequently Asked Questions About Milligan Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $46,641 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is moderate, around $49,850 per year. Many students seek financial aid and scholarships to manage the cost.
23.4% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
The acceptance rate of Milligan University is 70.3% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.69. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.39, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.39, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 3.29 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.69, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to Milligan University is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1195 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 1120–1290.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.