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Selective2026-2027 admissions cycle

Judson University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Judson University, a private college in Illinois, reports a 48% acceptance rate and sits in the selective band. In practice that means it admits a minority of applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

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

Use this page to see what Judson University weighs, where it ranks among Illinois schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1150, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
48%
Selective
SAT middle 50%
816-1118
of admitted students
Type
Private
Elgin, IL
Average net price
$18,558
per year after aid

What do students study at Judson 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 · 37 (22.3%)Psychology · 23 (13.9%)Architecture · 22 (13.3%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 19 (11.4%)Education · 13 (7.8%)Visual and Performing Arts · 11 (6.6%)Computer and Information Sciences · 10 (6%)

Will I get into Judson University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Judson University?

Your odds at Judson University are not the same as its 48% 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 Judson University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Judson University hard to get into?

Judson University 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 Judson University?

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

Your chances at Judson University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Judson 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 Judson University with a 3.5 GPA and a 970 SAT?

About 57% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 970 SAT, the middle of Judson University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1120 SAT comes out near 84%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Judson University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 82025th pctSAT 970middleSAT 112075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.920%Reach26%Target43%Target33%Target
3.232%Target40%Target59%Likely52%Likely
3.548%Likely57%Likely74%Safety71%Safety
3.864%Likely71%Safety84%Safety84%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/judson-university.

How to get into Judson University

Built from Judson 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 Judson 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 Judson University carries about a 3.47 core GPA and a 1068 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 816 to 1118 SAT (16 to 24 ACT). Submit a score at 967 or higher; below 816, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Judson University weighs

Judson 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 Judson University's exact dates at www.judsonu.edu.

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

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

Judson University admitted 551 of the 873 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 63.1%. 178 enrolled. Only about 32% 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. Judson University enrolls about 708 undergraduates in total, 41% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.

Applied
873
fall 2023
Admitted
551
63.1% of applicants
Enrolled
178
32% yield
Undergraduates
708
Elgin, midsize city

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

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

Admitted students at Judson University post SAT scores of 816 to 1118 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1039. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 16 to 24. A score above 1118 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 816 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Judson 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%
816-1118
average 1039
ACT middle 50%
16-24
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Judson University looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Judson 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 Judson 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
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Judson 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 Judson 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
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1150 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Judson University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Judson University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $43,137 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $31,360. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,558 a year, and it ranges from $15,701 for families earning under $30,000 to $21,515 for families earning over $110,000. 39% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$43,137
per year, before aid
Average net price
$18,558
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
39%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$15,701
$30k to $48k$18,010
$48k to $75k$17,079
$75k to $110k$21,124
Over $110k$21,515

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 Judson University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Judson University students ten years after entry are $56,313 ($45,374 at the six-year mark). 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 59% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $25,000; 55% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$56,313
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
60%
within six years
Retention
59%
return for year two
Median debt
$25,000
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Judson University compares in Illinois

Judson University ranks #6 most selective of 37 schools in Illinois in our database.

Among the 37 Illinois schools we track, Judson University ranks #6 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Chicago (4%) and Northwestern University (8%) sit nearby, which makes Illinois a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Chicago
4%acceptance · IL
Northwestern University
8%acceptance · IL
Illinois Wesleyan University
39%acceptance · IL
University of Illinois
42%acceptance · IL
Chicago State University
43%acceptance · IL
Governors State University
48%acceptance · IL
Quincy University
51%acceptance · IL
Illinois Institute of Technology
55%acceptance · IL
See all Illinois schools →

Similar to Judson University

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

Applicants targeting Judson University often weigh Santa Clara University, Austin College, and Rollins 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.

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
Bryan College
48%acceptance · TN

Frequently asked questions

What is Judson University's acceptance rate?

Judson University admitted 551 of 873 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 63.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 32% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Judson University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 816 to 1118 on the SAT and 16 to 24 on the ACT. A score above 1118 is in the top quarter of admits. Judson University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Judson University test-optional?

Yes. Judson 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 Judson University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Judson University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $18,558 a year against a sticker price of about $43,137. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $15,701 on average.

What do Judson University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Judson University are $56,313 a year among students who received federal aid, and 60% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Judson University value most in applicants?

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

Does Judson University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

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

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

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Judson 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.