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Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Capital University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Capital University, a private college in Ohio, reports a 70% 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 Capital University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Capital 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
70%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
910-1180
of admitted students
Type
Private
Columbus, OH
Average net price
$22,576
per year after aid

What do students study at Capital 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.

Health Professions and Related Programs · 84 (18.8%)Education · 61 (13.6%)Business, Management and Marketing · 58 (13%)Visual and Performing Arts · 53 (11.9%)Psychology · 41 (9.2%)Social Sciences · 25 (5.6%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 23 (5.1%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 17 (3.8%)Public Administration and Social Service · 17 (3.8%)Communication and Journalism · 15 (3.4%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 13 (2.9%)

Will I get into Capital University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Capital University?

Your odds at Capital University are not the same as its 70% 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 Capital University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Capital University hard to get into?

Capital University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 70% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Capital University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Capital University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Capital 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 Capital University →

Your chances at Capital University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Capital 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 Capital University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1050 SAT?

About 73% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1050 SAT, the middle of Capital University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1180 SAT comes out near 95%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Capital University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 91025th pctSAT 1050middleSAT 118075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.516%Reach24%Reach45%Likely31%Target
2.835%Target47%Likely70%Safety62%Likely
3.162%Likely73%Safety88%Safety87%Safety
3.482%Safety89%Safety95%Safety96%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/capital-university.

How to get into Capital University

Built from Capital 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 Capital 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 Capital University carries about a 3.23 core GPA and a 1130 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 910 to 1180 SAT (18 to 25 ACT). Submit a score at 1045 or higher; below 910, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Capital University weighs

Capital University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and talent / ability highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: one or two activities with leadership or recognition rather than a long list, 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 Capital University's exact dates at www.capital.edu.

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

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

Capital University admitted 3,194 of the 4,365 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 73.2%. 413 enrolled. Only about 13% 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. Capital University enrolls about 1,585 undergraduates in total, 57% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Applied
4,365
fall 2023
Admitted
3,194
73.2% of applicants
Enrolled
413
13% yield
Undergraduates
1,585
Columbus, large suburb

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

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

The middle 50% of admitted students at Capital University scored between 910 and 1180 on the SAT (average 1068). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 18 to 25. A score above 1180 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 910 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Capital 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%
910-1180
average 1068
ACT middle 50%
18-25
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Capital University looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Capital University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and talent / ability. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Capital 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
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Capital 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 Capital 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 Capital University cost after financial aid?

Capital University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $57,130 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $43,234. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,576 a year, and it ranges from $19,062 for families earning under $30,000 to $27,299 for families earning over $110,000. 34% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$57,130
per year, before aid
Average net price
$22,576
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
34%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$19,062
$30k to $48k$18,574
$48k to $75k$20,331
$75k to $110k$23,348
Over $110k$27,299

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 Capital University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Capital University student who received federal aid earns $54,143 a year, up from $45,767 at six years. 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 76% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $26,889; 63% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$54,143
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
60%
within six years
Retention
76%
return for year two
Median debt
$26,889
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Capital University compares in Ohio

Capital University ranks #16 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Capital University ranks #16 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 Capital University

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

Applicants targeting Capital University often weigh Merrimack College, Franklin College, and Lake Erie College, 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.

Merrimack College
70%acceptance · MA
Franklin College
70%acceptance · IN
Lake Erie College
70%acceptance · OH
Rockhurst University
70%acceptance · MO
Nyack College
70%acceptance · NY
Florida College
70%acceptance · FL

Frequently asked questions

What is Capital University's acceptance rate?

Capital University admitted 3,194 of 4,365 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 73.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 13% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Capital University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 910 to 1180 on the SAT and 18 to 25 on the ACT. A score above 1180 is in the top quarter of admits. Capital University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Capital University test-optional?

Yes. Capital 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 Capital University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Capital University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $22,576 a year against a sticker price of about $57,130. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $19,062 on average.

What do Capital University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Capital University are $54,143 a year among students who received federal aid, and 60% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Capital University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Capital University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and talent / ability most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Capital University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Capital 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 Capital 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 Capital 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.