Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
75%
6,464 applicants
Avg SAT
1090
Mid 50: 1000–1190
In-state tuition
$10,507
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$19,524
after aid, what families pay

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 75%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1086 and an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,524 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania?

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
23.8%
3.75–3.99
21.1%
3.50–3.74
18.1%
3.25–3.49
13.7%
3.00–3.24
11.1%
2.50–2.99
11.6%
Below 2.50
0.4%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

What does Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania weight in admissions?

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Important4 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Class rank
  • Academic GPA
  • Standardized test scores
Considered3 factors
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Talent/ability
Not Considered11 factors
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

SAT and ACT scores Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 540. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–25. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1000
50th percentile1090
75th percentile1190
% submitting SAT19%
ACT Composite
25th percentile18
50th percentile22
75th percentile26
% submitting ACT3%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class15%
Top 25% of class42%
Top 50% of class78%
% submitting class rank53%

How much does Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania actually cost?

Published tuition is $10,507 for in-state students and $14,615 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,584 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,524 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 28% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$7,716
Out-of-state tuition$11,574
Room and board$10,884
Average net price (after aid)$19,524
Application fee$30 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Regular admission
Notification date15-Jun
Reply deadlineNo set date
Rolling admissionsYes

Will my child graduate from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
84%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
65.6%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

What GPA do I need for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania?

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.

What SAT or ACT score does Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 540. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–25.

How much does Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania after grants and scholarships is $19,524 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.