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Moderately selectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Missouri-St. Louis acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 63%, Missouri-St. Louis is a moderately selective public university in Missouri. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Missouri-St. Louis
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Missouri-St. Louis weighs, where it ranks among Missouri schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1120, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
63%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1060-1290
of admitted students
Type
Public
Saint Louis, MO
Average net price
$15,071
per year after aid

What do students study at Missouri-St. Louis?

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 · 326 (23.5%)Social Sciences · 143 (10.3%)Psychology · 128 (9.2%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 126 (9.1%)Education · 122 (8.8%)Computer and Information Sciences · 108 (7.8%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 72 (5.2%)Public Administration and Social Service · 68 (4.9%)Engineering · 49 (3.5%)Communication and Journalism · 48 (3.5%)Visual and Performing Arts · 44 (3.2%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 40 (2.9%)

Will I get into Missouri-St. Louis?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Missouri-St. Louis, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Missouri-St. Louis?

Missouri-St. Louis admits most qualified applicants (around 63%), 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 Missouri-St. Louis in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Missouri-St. Louis hard to get into?

Missouri-St. Louis is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 63% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Missouri-St. Louis?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Missouri-St. Louis, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Missouri-St. Louis reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Missouri-St. Louis →

Your chances at Missouri-St. Louis by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Missouri-St. Louis 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 Missouri-St. Louis with a 3.1 GPA and a 1180 SAT?

About 89% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1180 SAT, the middle of Missouri-St. Louis's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1290 SAT comes out near 96%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Missouri-St. Louis by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 106025th pctSAT 1180middleSAT 129075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.535%Target55%Likely59%Likely23%Reach
2.857%Likely75%Safety78%Safety48%Likely
3.177%Safety89%Safety90%Safety76%Safety
3.489%Safety95%Safety96%Safety91%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/missouri-st-louis.

How to get into Missouri-St. Louis

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

Here is how to get into Missouri-St. Louis, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Missouri-St. Louis carries about a 3.31 core GPA and a 1240 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 1060 to 1290 SAT (19 to 27 ACT). Submit a score at 1175 or higher; below 1060, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Missouri-St. Louis weighs

Missouri-St. Louis 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

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Missouri-St. Louis's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.umsl.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Missouri-St. Louis →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.umsl.edu ↗

How many students apply to Missouri-St. Louis, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Missouri-St. Louis received 4,627 applications and admitted 2,645, an acceptance rate of 57.2%. 464 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. Missouri-St. Louis enrolls about 5,024 undergraduates in total, 55% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Applied
4,627
fall 2023
Admitted
2,645
57.2% of applicants
Enrolled
464
18% yield
Undergraduates
5,024
Saint Louis, large suburb

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

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Missouri-St. Louis?

Admitted students at Missouri-St. Louis post SAT scores of 1060 to 1290 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1199. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 19 to 27. A score above 1290 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1060 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Missouri-St. Louis 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%
1060-1290
average 1199
ACT middle 50%
19-27
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Missouri-St. Louis looks for

What Missouri-St. Louis weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Missouri-St. Louis 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 Missouri-St. Louis'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
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Missouri-St. Louis

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 Missouri-St. Louis
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 1120 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Missouri-St. Louis cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Missouri-St. Louis (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $31,199 a year. Tuition and fees are $14,112 for MO residents and $35,112 for out-of-state students, a $21,000 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,071 a year, and it ranges from $13,031 for families earning under $30,000 to $21,608 for families earning over $110,000. 18% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$31,199
per year, before aid
Average net price
$15,071
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$14,112
$35,112 out of state
Pell recipients
18%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$13,031
$30k to $48k$12,979
$48k to $75k$15,222
$75k to $110k$17,598
Over $110k$21,608

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 Missouri-St. Louis graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Missouri-St. Louis students ten years after entry are $53,037 ($47,564 at the six-year mark). 57% 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 $20,000; 19% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$53,037
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
57%
within six years
Retention
74%
return for year two
Median debt
$20,000
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Missouri-St. Louis compares in Missouri

Missouri-St. Louis ranks #7 most selective of 35 schools in Missouri in our database.

Among the 35 Missouri schools we track, Missouri-St. Louis ranks #7 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington University in St. Louis (12%) and College of the Ozarks (12%) sit nearby, which makes Missouri 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.

Washington University in St. Louis
12%acceptance · MO
College of the Ozarks
12%acceptance · MO
William Jewell College
38%acceptance · MO
Harris-Stowe State University
50%acceptance · MO
Lindenwood University
57%acceptance · MO
Drury University
58%acceptance · MO
Central Missouri
64%acceptance · MO
Central Methodist University
65%acceptance · MO
See all Missouri schools →

Similar to Missouri-St. Louis

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

Build around Missouri-St. Louis with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Florida Gulf Coast University, UNC Wilmington, and Central Missouri. 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.

Florida Gulf Coast University
63%acceptance · FL
UNC Wilmington
64%acceptance · NC
Central Missouri
64%acceptance · MO
Elizabeth City State University
64%acceptance · NC
Queens College (NY)
64%acceptance · NY
SUNY New Paltz
62%acceptance · NY

Frequently asked questions

What is Missouri-St. Louis's acceptance rate?

Missouri-St. Louis admitted 2,645 of 4,627 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 57.2% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 18% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Missouri-St. Louis?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1060 to 1290 on the SAT and 19 to 27 on the ACT. A score above 1290 is in the top quarter of admits. Missouri-St. Louis is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Missouri-St. Louis test-optional?

Yes. Missouri-St. Louis 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 Missouri-St. Louis cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Missouri-St. Louis, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $15,071 a year against a sticker price of about $31,199. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $13,031 on average.

What do Missouri-St. Louis graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Missouri-St. Louis are $53,037 a year among students who received federal aid, and 57% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Missouri-St. Louis value most in applicants?

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

Does Missouri-St. Louis favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Missouri-St. Louis 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 Missouri-St. Louis?

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 Missouri-St. Louis specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Missouri-St. Louis?

As a public university, Missouri-St. Louis 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 Missouri-St. Louis?

Missouri-St. Louis 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.