Kenyon College: Acceptance Rate and Your Chances
Updated June 2026 · CollegeCalcAI
| Acceptance rate | 30% |
| SAT (75th percentile) | 1420 |
| ACT (75th percentile) | 32 |
| Location | OH |
| School type | Private |
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, with a well-known tradition in the humanities and creative writing. It accepts around 30% of applicants. The campus community is close-knit and academically serious, and admissions reflects that the school is genuinely selective about who it admits.
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At 30%, Kenyon admits about one in three applicants, which puts it in the same tier as many strong liberal arts colleges. The school is small, so each year's admitted class is limited in size. That makes every spot more meaningful and the review process more personal.
Students who get in tend to have solid academics and a genuine intellectual identity. Kenyon is not just looking for good students in a generic sense. The school has a distinct character, and applicants who connect with that tend to do well in the process.
Test scores that make you competitive
The 75th percentile SAT for Kenyon's admitted students is 1420, and the 75th percentile ACT is 32. Those are competitive numbers but not unusually high for a school of this caliber. Kenyon has offered test-optional admissions in recent years. If your scores are below those benchmarks, a strong academic record and compelling essays can still make you a serious candidate.
What Kenyon College looks for
Kenyon values students who have genuinely engaged with ideas, whether in the classroom or outside it. Strong grades in challenging courses matter, but so does the quality of your writing and thinking as shown in your essays. Kenyon places a high value on the application essay, and many students report that it carries significant weight. Activities where you have developed real depth, a long-standing interest in writing, theater, science, or community work, read better than a scattered list of brief involvements.
Estimate your chances at Kenyon College
The free calculator at CollegeCalcAI (collegecalcai.com) lets you estimate your personal odds at Kenyon based on your GPA, test scores, and activities. It is a useful tool for figuring out whether Kenyon fits your list as a target or a stretch.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kenyon College's acceptance rate?
Kenyon College accepts about 30% of applicants.
What SAT or ACT score do I need for Kenyon College?
The 75th percentile SAT for admitted students is 1420 and the 75th percentile ACT is 32. Those are the competitive benchmarks, though Kenyon is test-optional and reads the whole application.
Is Kenyon College hard to get into?
It is selective. Most applicants are not admitted. Academic strength and a genuine fit with the school's culture both factor into the decision.
See your real odds at Kenyon College
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), NCES, and publicly reported Common Data Sets. Acceptance rate and score figures are rounded and reflect recent admissions cycles. How we calculate chances.