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SelectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Kenyon College acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Kenyon College, a private college in Ohio, reports a 31% 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 Kenyon College
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Kenyon 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 1420, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

What are my chances of getting into Kenyon College with a 3.7 GPA and a 1430 SAT?

For a student with a 3.7 GPA and a 1430 SAT, the CollegeCalcAI model estimates about a 51% chance at Kenyon College (likely), an estimate from federal admissions data, not a guarantee. Kenyon College admitted 2,524 of 8,218 first-year applicants for fall 2023, an acceptance rate of 31%. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1358 to 1503 on the SAT and 31 to 33 on the ACT.

Source: IPEDS admissions survey, fall 2023. Updated October 27, 2026.

Acceptance rate
31%
Selective
SAT middle 50%
1358-1503
of admitted students
Type
Private
Gambier, OH
Average net price
$38,512
per year after aid

Kenyon College application deadlines, 2026-27

What do students study at Kenyon College?

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.

Social Sciences · 87 (23.3%)English Language and Literature · 55 (14.7%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 48 (12.8%)Visual and Performing Arts · 48 (12.8%)Psychology · 25 (6.7%)Foreign Languages and Linguistics · 24 (6.4%)History · 19 (5.1%)Physical Sciences · 18 (4.8%)Mathematics and Statistics · 17 (4.5%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 11 (2.9%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 10 (2.7%)

Will I get into Kenyon College?

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

What are my chances of getting into Kenyon College?

Your odds at Kenyon College are not the same as its 31% 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 Kenyon College in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Kenyon College hard to get into?

Kenyon College is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 31% 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 Kenyon College?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Kenyon College, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Kenyon College reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Kenyon College →

Your chances at Kenyon College by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Kenyon College 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 Kenyon College with a 3.7 GPA and a 1430 SAT?

About 52% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1430 SAT, the middle of Kenyon College's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.9 GPA with a 1500 SAT comes out near 65%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Kenyon College by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 136025th pctSAT 1430middleSAT 150075th pctNo testtest-optional
3.333%Target39%Target44%Target30%Target
3.540%Target45%Likely51%Likely37%Target
3.747%Likely52%Likely58%Likely46%Likely
3.954%Likely59%Likely65%Likely54%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/kenyon-college.

Early Decision, Early Action and the waitlist at Kenyon College

From Kenyon College's own 2024-25 Common Data Set (fall 2024 entering class): sections C1, C2, C21-C22 and D2.

Admitted off the waitlist
43
5.4% of 797 who stayed on
Transfer admit rate
46.6%
48 of 103

How many students get off the waitlist at Kenyon College?

43 for fall 2024. Kenyon College offered 1,591 applicants a waitlist spot, 797 accepted one, and 43 were admitted from it: 5.4% of those who stayed on (Kenyon College's 2024-25 Common Data Set).

What is the transfer acceptance rate at Kenyon College?

46.6%: 48 of 103 transfer applicants were admitted for fall 2024 (Kenyon College's 2024-25 Common Data Set).

Source: Kenyon College Common Data Set 2024-25. Every figure appears verbatim in the document. See how early rounds compare across colleges in the Early Decision rankings.

How to get into Kenyon College

Built from Kenyon College'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 Kenyon College, 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 Kenyon College carries about a 3.66 core GPA and a 1453 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 1358 to 1503 SAT (31 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1431 or higher; below 1358, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Kenyon College weighs

Kenyon College rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Selective private colleges admit a larger share of their class in binding Early Decision; if Kenyon College is your clear first choice and the net price works, ED is the single biggest lever an applicant controls. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Kenyon College's exact dates at www.kenyon.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Kenyon College →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.kenyon.edu ↗

How many students apply to Kenyon College, and how many get in?

Kenyon College admitted 2,524 of the 8,218 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 30.7%. 455 enrolled. Only about 18% 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. Kenyon College enrolls about 1,732 undergraduates in total, 56% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Applied
8,218
fall 2023
Admitted
2,524
30.7% of applicants
Enrolled
455
18% yield
Undergraduates
1,732
Gambier, fringe rural

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

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Kenyon College?

Admitted students at Kenyon College post SAT scores of 1358 to 1503 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1429. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 31 to 33. A score above 1503 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1358 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Kenyon College 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%
1358-1503
average 1429
ACT middle 50%
31-33
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Kenyon College looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Kenyon College are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Kenyon 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
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Kenyon 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 Kenyon College
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1420 SAT →Colleges for a 32 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Kenyon College cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Kenyon College (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $87,590 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $71,520. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $38,512 a year, and it ranges from $18,242 for families earning under $30,000 to $51,432 for families earning over $110,000. 10% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$87,590
per year, before aid
Average net price
$38,512
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
10%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$18,242
$30k to $48k$26,319
$48k to $75k$19,156
$75k to $110k$23,757
Over $110k$51,432

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 Kenyon College graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Kenyon College students ten years after entry are $71,830 ($46,627 at the six-year mark). 82% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 92% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $18,527; 21% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$71,830
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
82%
within six years
Retention
92%
return for year two
Median debt
$18,527
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Kenyon College compares in Ohio

Kenyon College ranks #2 most selective of 45 schools in Ohio in our database.

Among the 45 Ohio schools we track, Kenyon College ranks #2 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Denison University (17%) and Oberlin College (34%) sit nearby, which makes Ohio a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Denison University
17%acceptance · OH
Oberlin College
34%acceptance · OH
Case Western Reserve University
37%acceptance · OH
Wilberforce University
41%acceptance · OH
Defiance College
48%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 Kenyon College

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

Applicants targeting Kenyon College often weigh Lafayette College, Bucknell University, and Fairfield 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.

Lafayette College
31%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
Fairfield University
33%acceptance · CT
Bryn Mawr College
29%acceptance · PA
Macalester College
29%acceptance · MN
Mississippi College
29%acceptance · MS

Frequently asked questions

What is Kenyon College's acceptance rate?

Kenyon College admitted 2,524 of 8,218 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 30.7% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 18% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Kenyon College?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1358 to 1503 on the SAT and 31 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1503 is in the top quarter of admits. Kenyon College is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Kenyon College test-optional?

Yes. Kenyon College 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 Kenyon College cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Kenyon College, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $38,512 a year against a sticker price of about $87,590. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $18,242 on average.

What do Kenyon College graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Kenyon College are $71,830 a year among students who received federal aid, and 82% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Kenyon College value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Kenyon College weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Kenyon College consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Kenyon 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 Kenyon 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 Kenyon College specifically.

Is Kenyon College a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Kenyon College'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.