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Moderately selectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Dordt University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Dordt University, a private college in Iowa, reports a 68% 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 Dordt University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Dordt University weighs, where it ranks among Iowa schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1260, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
68%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1070-1330
of admitted students
Type
Private
Sioux Center, IA
Average net price
$25,807
per year after aid

What do students study at Dordt 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 · 64 (20.7%)Education · 36 (11.7%)Engineering · 34 (11%)Public Administration and Social Service · 25 (8.1%)Agriculture and Agricultural Operations · 21 (6.8%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 20 (6.5%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 15 (4.9%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 15 (4.9%)Visual and Performing Arts · 10 (3.2%)

Will I get into Dordt University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Dordt University?

Your odds at Dordt University are not the same as its 68% 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 Dordt University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Dordt University hard to get into?

Dordt University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 68% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Dordt University?

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

Your chances at Dordt University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Dordt 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 Dordt University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1200 SAT?

About 85% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1200 SAT, the middle of Dordt University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1330 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Dordt University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 107025th pctSAT 1200middleSAT 133075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.521%Reach41%Target65%Likely29%Target
2.843%Target66%Likely83%Safety59%Likely
3.168%Likely85%Safety94%Safety84%Safety
3.485%Safety94%Safety98%Safety95%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/dordt-university.

How to get into Dordt University

Built from Dordt 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 Dordt 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 Dordt University carries about a 3.25 core GPA and a 1280 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 1070 to 1330 SAT (21 to 29 ACT). Submit a score at 1200 or higher; below 1070, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Dordt University weighs

Dordt 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 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 Dordt University's exact dates at www.dordt.edu.

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

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

Dordt University admitted 1,135 of the 1,595 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 71.2%. 461 enrolled. Roughly 41% of admitted students enrolled, a typical yield for a school in this range. Dordt University enrolls about 1,597 undergraduates in total, 50% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Applied
1,595
fall 2023
Admitted
1,135
71.2% of applicants
Enrolled
461
41% yield
Undergraduates
1,597
Sioux Center, remote town

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

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

Admitted students at Dordt University post SAT scores of 1070 to 1330 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1221. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 21 to 29. A score above 1330 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1070 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Dordt 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%
1070-1330
average 1221
ACT middle 50%
21-29
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Dordt University looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Dordt 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 Dordt 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
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Dordt 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 Dordt University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1260 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Dordt University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Dordt University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $51,733 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $37,050. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,807 a year, and it ranges from $22,597 for families earning under $30,000 to $29,940 for families earning over $110,000. 20% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$51,733
per year, before aid
Average net price
$25,807
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
20%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$22,597
$30k to $48k$21,083
$48k to $75k$24,079
$75k to $110k$25,113
Over $110k$29,940

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 Dordt University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Dordt University students ten years after entry are $52,559 ($50,551 at the six-year mark). 70% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 85% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,500; 41% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$52,559
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
70%
within six years
Retention
85%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,500
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Dordt University compares in Iowa

Dordt University ranks #6 most selective of 21 schools in Iowa in our database.

Among the 21 Iowa schools we track, Dordt University ranks #6 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Grinnell College (15%) and William Penn University (52%) sit nearby, which makes Iowa a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Grinnell College
15%acceptance · IA
William Penn University
52%acceptance · IA
Drake University
64%acceptance · IA
Coe College
64%acceptance · IA
Briar Cliff University
65%acceptance · IA
Morningside University
71%acceptance · IA
Luther College
72%acceptance · IA
Clarke University
72%acceptance · IA
See all Iowa schools →

Similar to Dordt University

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

Applicants targeting Dordt University often weigh Brigham Young University, Hofstra University, and Lipscomb 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.

Brigham Young University
68%acceptance · UT
Hofstra University
68%acceptance · NY
Lipscomb University
68%acceptance · TN
Presbyterian College
68%acceptance · SC
Augustana University
68%acceptance · SD
Colorado Christian University
68%acceptance · CO

Frequently asked questions

What is Dordt University's acceptance rate?

Dordt University admitted 1,135 of 1,595 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 71.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 41% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Dordt University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1070 to 1330 on the SAT and 21 to 29 on the ACT. A score above 1330 is in the top quarter of admits. Dordt University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Dordt University test-optional?

Yes. Dordt 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 Dordt University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Dordt University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $25,807 a year against a sticker price of about $51,733. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $22,597 on average.

What do Dordt University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Dordt University are $52,559 a year among students who received federal aid, and 70% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Dordt University value most in applicants?

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

Does Dordt University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Dordt 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 Dordt 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 Dordt University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Dordt University?

Dordt 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.

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.