SelectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

Defiance College acceptance rate and admissions profile

Defiance College is a private college in Ohio that admits roughly 48% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Defiance College 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 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
48%
Selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1120
of admitted students
Type
Private
Ohio
Selectivity in state
#6
of 45 in OH
Get your real chances at Defiance College
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into Defiance College?

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

What are my chances of getting into Defiance College?

At Defiance College, your real chance depends on far more than the published 48% admit 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 Defiance College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Defiance College hard to get into?

Defiance College is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 48% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Defiance College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Defiance College, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Defiance College 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 Defiance College?

Defiance College does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120. 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 Defiance College.

Calculate your chances at Defiance College

What Defiance College looks for

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

Defiance College signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Defiance College'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
Very important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Defiance College

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 Defiance College
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 Defiance College compares in Ohio

Defiance College ranks #6 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Defiance College ranks #6 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
Ohio Wesleyan University
56%acceptance · OH
Franciscan University of Steubenville
58%acceptance · OH
University of Akron
60%acceptance · OH
See all Ohio schools →

Similar to Defiance College

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

If Defiance College is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Santa Clara University, Austin College, and Rollins College. 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.

Santa Clara University
48%acceptance · CA
Austin College
48%acceptance · TX
Rollins College
48%acceptance · FL
St. Olaf College
48%acceptance · MN
Stevens Institute of Technology
48%acceptance · NJ
Judson University
48%acceptance · IL

Frequently asked questions

What does Defiance College value most in applicants?

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

Does Defiance College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Defiance College'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 Defiance College?

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 Defiance College specifically.

Is Defiance College test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Defiance College's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1120; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.