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SelectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Fisk University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Fisk University is a private college in Tennessee that admits roughly 37% 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.

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

Use this page to see what Fisk University weighs, where it ranks among Tennessee schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1050, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
37%
Selective
SAT middle 50%
1140-1510
of admitted students
Type
Private
Nashville, TN
Average net price
$32,020
per year after aid

What do students study at Fisk 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.

Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 39 (34.8%)Computer and Information Sciences · 19 (17%)Psychology · 13 (11.6%)Social Sciences · 11 (9.8%)

Will I get into Fisk University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Fisk University?

At Fisk University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 37% 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 Fisk University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Fisk University hard to get into?

Fisk University is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 37% 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 Fisk University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Fisk University, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Fisk 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 Fisk University →

Your chances at Fisk University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Fisk 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 Fisk University with a 3.5 GPA and a 1330 SAT?

About 66% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1330 SAT, the middle of Fisk University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1510 SAT comes out near 76%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Fisk University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 114025th pctSAT 1330middleSAT 151075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.941%Target41%Target41%Target22%Reach
3.253%Likely53%Likely53%Likely34%Target
3.566%Likely66%Likely66%Likely49%Likely
3.876%Safety76%Safety76%Safety64%Likely

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/fisk-university.

How to get into Fisk University

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

Getting into Fisk University comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Fisk University carries about a 3.59 core GPA and a 1460 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Landing at or above it makes you competitive; the rest of the file decides.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1140 to 1510 SAT (19 to 24 ACT). Submit a score at 1325 or higher; below 1140, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Fisk University weighs

Fisk 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 Fisk University's exact dates at www.fisk.edu.

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

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

7,982 students applied to Fisk University for fall 2023; 4,622 were admitted (57.9%). 320 enrolled. Only about 7% 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. Fisk University enrolls about 1,035 undergraduates in total, 63% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1.

Applied
7,982
fall 2023
Admitted
4,622
57.9% of applicants
Enrolled
320
7% yield
Undergraduates
1,035
Nashville, large city

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

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

Admitted students at Fisk University post SAT scores of 1140 to 1510 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1200. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 19 to 24. A score above 1510 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1140 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Fisk 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%
1140-1510
average 1200
ACT middle 50%
19-24
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Fisk University looks for

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

Fisk University 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 Fisk 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
Very important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Important
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Fisk 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 Fisk 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
1100Above the admitted 75th percentile
Colleges for a 1050 SAT →Colleges for a 20 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Fisk University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Fisk University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $39,450 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $25,858. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,020 a year, and it ranges from $27,647 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,678 for families earning over $110,000. 52% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$39,450
per year, before aid
Average net price
$32,020
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
52%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$27,647
$30k to $48k$32,474
$48k to $75k$34,204
$75k to $110k$34,974
Over $110k$26,678

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 Fisk University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Fisk University students ten years after entry are $45,454 ($33,604 at the six-year mark). 30% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 74% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $27,000; 53% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$45,454
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
30%
within six years
Retention
74%
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 Fisk University compares in Tennessee

Fisk University ranks #2 most selective of 33 schools in Tennessee in our database.

Among the 33 Tennessee schools we track, Fisk University ranks #2 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Vanderbilt University (6%) and University of Tennessee (42%) sit nearby, which makes Tennessee a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Vanderbilt University
6%acceptance · TN
University of Tennessee
42%acceptance · TN
Bryan College
48%acceptance · TN
Rhodes College
50%acceptance · TN
Lane College
55%acceptance · TN
Sewanee - University of the South
57%acceptance · TN
Union University (TN)
60%acceptance · TN
Freed-Hardeman University
60%acceptance · TN
See all Tennessee schools →

Similar to Fisk University

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

If Fisk University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Case Western Reserve University, Connecticut College, and Mount Holyoke 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.

Case Western Reserve University
37%acceptance · OH
Connecticut College
37%acceptance · CT
Mount Holyoke College
36%acceptance · MA
Whitman College
38%acceptance · WA
William Jewell College
38%acceptance · MO
Regent University
38%acceptance · VA

Frequently asked questions

What is Fisk University's acceptance rate?

Fisk University admitted 4,622 of 7,982 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 57.9% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 7% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Fisk University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1140 to 1510 on the SAT and 19 to 24 on the ACT. A score above 1510 is in the top quarter of admits. Fisk University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Fisk University test-optional?

Yes. Fisk 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 Fisk University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Fisk University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $32,020 a year against a sticker price of about $39,450. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $27,647 on average.

What do Fisk University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Fisk University are $45,454 a year among students who received federal aid, and 30% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Fisk University value most in applicants?

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

Does Fisk University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

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

Is Fisk University a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Fisk University's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.

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.