Ursinus College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2025-2026

Acceptance rate
78%
38,030 applicants
Avg SAT
1350
Mid 50: 1260–1430
In-state tuition
$60,663
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$38,428
after aid, what families pay

Ursinus College is a private institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the most recent reporting cycle, Ursinus College admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 78%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1337 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,428 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Ursinus College 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 Ursinus College?

Ursinus College has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. 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
34.0%
3.75–3.99
21.0%
3.50–3.74
20.0%
3.25–3.49
13.0%
3.00–3.24
8.0%
2.50–2.99
4.0%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Ursinus College.

What does Ursinus College weight in admissions?

Ursinus College reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important4 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Class rank
  • Academic GPA
  • Standardized test scores
Important3 factors
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Character/personal qualities
Considered8 factors
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered3 factors
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Ursinus College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 645. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1260
50th percentile1350
75th percentile1430
% submitting SAT35%
ACT Composite
25th percentile28
50th percentile30
75th percentile33
% submitting ACT4%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Required for some

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 class31.78%
Top 25% of class63.18%
Top 50% of class88.95%
% submitting class rank26.5%

How much does Ursinus College actually cost?

Published tuition is $60,663 for in-state students and $60,663 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,550 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $38,428 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 25% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition
Room and board
Average net price (after aid)$38,428
Application fee$65 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Ursinus College

Regular admission
Regular deadline15-Jan
Notification date1-Apr
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadline15-Nov
ED acceptance rate78%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadline15-Nov

Will my child graduate from Ursinus College?

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
88.5%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
77.94%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Ursinus College

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Ursinus College 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 Ursinus College

What GPA do I need for Ursinus College?

Ursinus College has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.

What SAT or ACT score does Ursinus College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 645. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–33.

How much does Ursinus College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Ursinus College after grants and scholarships is $38,428 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 Ursinus College 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, Ursinus College 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 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Ursinus College, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.