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

Sherman, Texas · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Action
5,826
Applicants
2,778
Admitted48%
350
Enrolled
13%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Selective48% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1200
Mid 50: 1120–1300
In-state tuition
$51,308
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$21,107
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #97 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Austin College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

Is Austin College a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Austin College is a private nonprofit university in Sherman, Texas that admits about 48% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $21,107 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 66% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Austin College is a private institution located in Sherman, Texas with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Austin College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 48%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1200 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,107 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Austin College?

76% of enrolled students at Austin College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
8.6%
3.75–3.99
37.1%
3.50–3.74
30.8%
3.25–3.49
17.5%
3.00–3.24
4.3%
2.50–2.99
1.4%
Below 2.50
0.3%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Austin College.

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What does Austin College weight in admissions?

Austin College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

2
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA

Important

2
  • Application essay
  • Extracurricular activities

Considered

9
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience

Not Considered

5
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Level of applicant's interest

How Austin College reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Austin College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–650, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1120
50th percentile1200
75th percentile1300
% submitting SAT21%
ACT Composite
25th percentile22
50th percentile27
75th percentile30
% submitting ACT12%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional for all U.S. applicants since 2017; scores superscored. International non-native English speakers must submit SAT/ACT/TOEFL/IELTS.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Austin College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

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 class22%
Top 25% of class57%
Top 50% of class89%
% submitting class rank69%

How much does Austin College actually cost?

Published tuition is $48,680 for in-state students and $48,680 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,951 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $21,107 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 31% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$51,308
Room and board$14,946
Average net price (after aid)$21,107
Graduates who borrowed58%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$34,180
Financial aid formsFAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Austin College

Regular admission
Regular deadline3/1
Notification dateRolling beginning 11/15
Reply deadlineMay 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter
Rolling admissionsYes
Early admission
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineNovember 1

Will my child graduate from Austin College?

These predict outcomes at Austin College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
79.72%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
61.27%
finished on time
6-year graduation
65.52%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Austin College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Austin College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Biology, General. Across all programs, Austin College confers roughly 229 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business/Commerce, General program report a median income of about $70,861 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Business/Commerce, General44$70,861
Psychology, General39$44,568
Biology, General33$64,927
Finance and Financial Management Services26n/a
Economics25$67,932
Public Health23n/a
History20$51,010
Communication and Media Studies19$61,368
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Austin College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Austin College disclosed 0 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 0 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
0
0.0 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
0
0.00 per 1,000
Burglary
0
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 1,165 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Austin College?

About 86% of undergraduates at Austin College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 6% of men join a fraternity and 23% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
86%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
62%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
6%
of men
In sororities
23%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Austin College.

Other colleges in Texas parents ask about

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Common questions parents ask about Austin College

What GPA do I need for Austin College?

76% of enrolled students at Austin College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Austin College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–650, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–29.

How much does Austin College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Austin College after grants and scholarships is $21,107 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $48,680. Budget against the net figure.

Is Austin College realistic for my child?

Austin College admits 48% of applicants, so 550–650 SAT Math is target range and below 550 is a reach. Then check the $21,107 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Austin College?

Austin College accepts about 48% of applicants out of roughly 5,826 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is Austin College test-optional?

Yes. Austin College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Austin College?

About 66% of students at Austin College graduate within six years, and 61% finish in four years. 80% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

What does Austin College look for in applicants?

Austin College rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Austin College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Austin College is a private nonprofit institution located in Sherman, Texas.

What are the most popular majors at Austin College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Austin College by annual graduates are Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General and Biology, General. The school awards about 229 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Austin College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Austin College reported 0 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Austin College?

At Austin College, 86% of undergraduates live on campus, 6% of men are in fraternities, 23% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Austin College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers