Knox College: the complete school report for parents
Knox College puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. With a 77.2% admit rate and 54% of enrolled students at a 3.75 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer Science graduates earn a median $112,708 against $31,169 for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Knox College is officially Knox College. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does Knox College actually weigh in admissions?
Knox College rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Knox College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Knox College rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Important |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Knox College consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does Knox College consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Knox College consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Knox College consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Knox College consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider class rank?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does Knox College consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider an interview?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does Knox College consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does Knox College consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Knox College consider religious affiliation?
No. Knox College does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
54% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.64 on a 4 scale, reported for 51% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 29.1% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 24.5% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 12.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 10.3% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 9.3% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 11.6% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 2.3% |
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Knox College admitted 62.9% of 105 transfer applicants, against 77.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Knox College reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | January 15 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $0 |
| Fee waiver available | Not reported |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
Knox College requires 14 academic units and recommends 17. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | Not stated | 4 years |
| Mathematics | Not stated | 4 years |
| Science | Not stated | 3 years |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 3 years |
What will Knox College actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $24,595 a year at Knox College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $61,998. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 93.3% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 30 merit awards averaging $49,400 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
65% of Knox College graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $30,438 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $286 a month in repayment. Knox College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Knox College pay off?
Graduates earn a median $54,820 ten years after entering, and $37,757 at six years. 72% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 76% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
$112,708 to $31,169, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Knox College:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $112,708 | 19 |
| Political Science and Government | $72,368 | 20 |
| Economics | $69,504 | 18 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $61,965 | 9 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $48,613 | 16 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,962 | 19 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $31,169 | 26 |
College Scorecard, by field of study.
Will my child actually graduate?
81% of first-years return for a second year. 48% graduate within four years and 73% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 71.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 73.0% of everyone else, a gap of 2.0 points.
How big are the classes?
76% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 72% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
What is life at Knox College like?
1,108 undergraduates, 49% of first-years from out of state. 95% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 98% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 6% of men join a fraternity and 3% of women a sorority. 28% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $71,884.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Knox College recommends 17 academic units.
- 54% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.64. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Its highest-earning major returns $112,708 five years out against $31,169 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Knox College
What GPA do you need for Knox College?
54% of enrolled students at Knox College had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.64, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What do Knox College graduates earn?
Knox College graduates earn a median $54,820 ten years after entering, and 72% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Knox College
- EarlhamAdmissions report · 79.0% admit rate
- Connecticut CollegeAdmissions report · 39.2% admit rate
- Fairfield UniversityAdmissions report · 25.1% admit rate
- Montclair State UniversityAdmissions report · 89.4% admit rate
- Loyola University MarylandAdmissions report · 69.9% admit rate
- WashUAdmissions report · 11.9% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Knox College’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.
How to read these numbers · Back to the Knox College profile