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Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Bluffton University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Bluffton University, a private college in Ohio, reports a 67% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

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

Use this page to see what Bluffton University weighs, where it ranks among Ohio schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
67%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
860-1130
of admitted students
Type
Private
Bluffton, OH
Average net price
$19,943
per year after aid

What do students study at Bluffton 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.

Education · 20 (20.4%)Business, Management and Marketing · 18 (18.4%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 16 (16.3%)

Will I get into Bluffton University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Bluffton University?

Your odds at Bluffton University are not the same as its 67% 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 Bluffton University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Bluffton University hard to get into?

Bluffton University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 67% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Bluffton University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Bluffton University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Bluffton University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Bluffton University →

Your chances at Bluffton University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Bluffton 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 Bluffton University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1000 SAT?

About 60% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1000 SAT, the middle of Bluffton University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1130 SAT comes out near 91%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Bluffton University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 86025th pctSAT 1000middleSAT 113075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.514%Reach16%Reach32%Target27%Target
2.832%Target35%Target58%Likely57%Likely
3.156%Likely60%Likely79%Safety82%Safety
3.479%Safety81%Safety91%Safety94%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/bluffton-university.

How to get into Bluffton University

Built from Bluffton 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 Bluffton 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 Bluffton University carries about a 3.26 core GPA and a 1080 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 860 to 1130 SAT (16 to 22 ACT). Submit a score at 995 or higher; below 860, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Bluffton University weighs

Bluffton University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Bluffton University's exact dates at www.bluffton.edu.

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

How many students apply to Bluffton University, and how many get in?

Bluffton University admitted 1,757 of the 2,873 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 61.2%. 190 enrolled. Only about 11% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Bluffton University enrolls about 582 undergraduates in total, 42% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.

Applied
2,873
fall 2023
Admitted
1,757
61.2% of applicants
Enrolled
190
11% yield
Undergraduates
582
Bluffton, distant rural

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Bluffton University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Bluffton University scored between 860 and 1130 on the SAT (average 976). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 16 to 22. A score above 1130 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 860 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Bluffton University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
860-1130
average 976
ACT middle 50%
16-22
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Bluffton University looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Bluffton University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Bluffton 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
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Bluffton 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 Bluffton University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1230 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Bluffton University cost after financial aid?

Bluffton University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $51,862 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $37,362. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,943 a year, and it ranges from $16,363 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,321 for families earning over $110,000. 45% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$51,862
per year, before aid
Average net price
$19,943
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
45%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$16,363
$30k to $48k$16,689
$48k to $75k$18,469
$75k to $110k$21,233
Over $110k$26,321

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 Bluffton University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Bluffton University student who received federal aid earns $49,547 a year, up from $41,940 at six years. 53% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 60% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $27,000; 77% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$49,547
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
53%
within six years
Retention
60%
return for year two
Median debt
$27,000
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Bluffton University compares in Ohio

Bluffton University ranks #15 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Bluffton University ranks #15 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Denison University (17%) and Kenyon College (31%) sit nearby, which makes Ohio a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Denison University
17%acceptance · OH
Kenyon College
31%acceptance · OH
Oberlin College
34%acceptance · OH
Case Western Reserve University
37%acceptance · OH
Wilberforce University
41%acceptance · OH
Defiance College
48%acceptance · OH
Ohio Wesleyan University
56%acceptance · OH
Franciscan University of Steubenville
58%acceptance · OH
See all Ohio schools →

Similar to Bluffton University

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

Applicants targeting Bluffton University often weigh Carroll University, Millikin University, and North Greenville University, 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.

Carroll University
67%acceptance · WI
Millikin University
67%acceptance · IL
North Greenville University
67%acceptance · SC
Rochester Institute of Technology
67%acceptance · NY
U of Indianapolis
67%acceptance · IN
Westminster University (UT)
67%acceptance · UT

Frequently asked questions

What is Bluffton University's acceptance rate?

Bluffton University admitted 1,757 of 2,873 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 61.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 11% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Bluffton University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 860 to 1130 on the SAT and 16 to 22 on the ACT. A score above 1130 is in the top quarter of admits. Bluffton University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Bluffton University test-optional?

Yes. Bluffton University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Bluffton University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Bluffton University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $19,943 a year against a sticker price of about $51,862. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $16,363 on average.

What do Bluffton University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Bluffton University are $49,547 a year among students who received federal aid, and 53% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Bluffton University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Bluffton University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Bluffton University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Bluffton University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Bluffton 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 Bluffton University specifically.

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.