Moderately selectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

Henderson State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 71%, Henderson State University is a moderately selective public university in Arkansas. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what Henderson State University weighs, where it ranks among Arkansas schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
71%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1100
of admitted students
Type
Public
Arkansas
Selectivity in state
#9
of 18 in AR
Get your real chances at Henderson State University
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into Henderson State University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Henderson State University?

Henderson State University admits most qualified applicants (around 71%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. 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 Henderson State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Henderson State University hard to get into?

Henderson State University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 71% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Henderson State University?

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

Henderson State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1100. 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 Henderson State University.

Calculate your chances at Henderson State University

What Henderson State University looks for

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

In its review, Henderson State University leans most on 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 Henderson State 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
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Important
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at Henderson State 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 Henderson State 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
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Henderson State University compares in Arkansas

Henderson State University ranks #9 most selective of 18 schools in Arkansas in our database.

Among the 18 Arkansas schools we track, Henderson State University ranks #9 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (41%) and Philander Smith University (50%) sit nearby, which makes Arkansas a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
41%acceptance · AR
Philander Smith University
50%acceptance · AR
Hendrix College
56%acceptance · AR
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
59%acceptance · AR
Central Baptist College
63%acceptance · AR
Arkansas Baptist College
65%acceptance · AR
Ouachita Baptist University
68%acceptance · AR
Harding University
71%acceptance · AR
See all Arkansas schools →

Similar to Henderson State University

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

Build around Henderson State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as University of Delaware, University of South Alabama, and Virginia Military Institute. 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.

University of Delaware
71%acceptance · DE
University of South Alabama
71%acceptance · AL
Virginia Military Institute
71%acceptance · VA
Western Illinois University
71%acceptance · IL
Ramapo College
71%acceptance · NJ
Rutgers-Newark
71%acceptance · NJ

Frequently asked questions

What does Henderson State University value most in applicants?

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

Does Henderson State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Henderson State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Henderson State 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 Henderson State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Henderson State University?

As a public university, Henderson State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

What are the admission requirements for Henderson State University?

Henderson State 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 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.