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AccessibleUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Adams State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Adams State University, a public university in Colorado, reports a 99% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Your odds at Adams State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Adams State University weighs, where it ranks among Colorado schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
99%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1100
of admitted students
Type
Public
Alamosa, CO
Average net price
$12,980
per year after aid

What do students study at Adams State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 79 (39.1%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 27 (13.4%)Social Sciences · 18 (8.9%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 17 (8.4%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 16 (7.9%)

Will I get into Adams State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Adams State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Adams State University?

Your odds at Adams State University are not the same as its 99% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Adams State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Adams State University hard to get into?

Adams State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 99% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Adams State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Adams State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Adams State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Adams State University?

Adams State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Adams State University.

Calculate your chances at Adams State University →

Your chances at Adams State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Adams State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Adams State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1040 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1040 SAT, the middle of Adams State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1100 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Adams State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 97025th pctSAT 1040middleSAT 110075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.589%Safety94%Safety97%Safety92%Safety
2.898%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.198%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/adams-state-university.

How to get into Adams State University

Built from Adams State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

There is no formula that guarantees a spot at Adams State University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Adams State University carries about a 2.91 core GPA and a 1050 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Build the file around what Adams State University weighs

Adams State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 3
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Adams State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.adams.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Adams State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.adams.edu ↗

What Adams State University looks for

What Adams State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Adams State University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Adams State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Adams State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Adams State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Adams State University cost after financial aid?

Adams State University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $24,352 per year. Tuition and fees are $9,824 for CO residents and $21,944 for out-of-state students, a $12,120 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,980 a year, and it ranges from $9,947 for families earning under $30,000 to $20,274 for families earning over $110,000. 38% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$24,352
per year, before aid
Average net price
$12,980
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$9,824
$21,944 out of state
Pell recipients
38%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$9,947
$30k to $48k$10,392
$48k to $75k$11,921
$75k to $110k$15,787
Over $110k$20,274

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Adams State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Adams State University student who received federal aid earns $44,372 a year, up from $38,338 at six years. 39% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 51% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,500; 33% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$44,372
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
39%
within six years
Retention
51%
return for year two
Median debt
$19,500
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Adams State University compares in Colorado

Adams State University ranks #14 most selective of 16 schools in Colorado in our database.

Among the 16 Colorado schools we track, Adams State University ranks #14 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like U.S. Air Force Academy (14%) and Colorado College (18%) sit nearby, which makes Colorado a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

U.S. Air Force Academy
14%acceptance · CO
Colorado College
18%acceptance · CO
Colorado School of Mines
61%acceptance · CO
Colorado Christian University
68%acceptance · CO
Fort Lewis College
77%acceptance · CO
University of Colorado
78%acceptance · CO
University of Denver
78%acceptance · CO
Colorado Mesa University
82%acceptance · CO
See all Colorado schools →

Similar to Adams State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Adams State University often weigh Southeastern Louisiana University, University of South Dakota, and University of Southern Mississippi, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Southeastern Louisiana University
99%acceptance · LA
University of South Dakota
99%acceptance · SD
University of Southern Mississippi
99%acceptance · MS
Utah Valley University
99%acceptance · UT
Central State University
99%acceptance · OH
Columbus State University
99%acceptance · GA

Frequently asked questions

How much does Adams State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Adams State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $12,980 a year against a sticker price of about $24,352. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,947 on average.

What do Adams State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Adams State University are $44,372 a year among students who received federal aid, and 39% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Adams State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Adams State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Adams State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Adams State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Adams State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Adams State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Adams State University?

Adams State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is Adams State University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Adams State University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.