Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

Olivet Nazarene University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Olivet Nazarene University is a private college in Illinois that admits most qualified applicants (around 56%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what Olivet Nazarene 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 1200, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
56%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1200
of admitted students
Type
Private
Illinois
Selectivity in state
#10
of 37 in IL
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Will I get into Olivet Nazarene University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Olivet Nazarene University?

At Olivet Nazarene University, your real chance depends on far more than the published 56% 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 Olivet Nazarene University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Olivet Nazarene University hard to get into?

Olivet Nazarene University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 56% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Olivet Nazarene University?

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

Olivet Nazarene University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1200. 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 Olivet Nazarene University.

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What Olivet Nazarene University looks for

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

Olivet Nazarene 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 Olivet Nazarene 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
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Olivet Nazarene 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 Olivet Nazarene University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 25 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Olivet Nazarene University compares in Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University ranks #10 most selective of 37 schools in Illinois in our database.

Among the 37 Illinois schools we track, Olivet Nazarene University ranks #10 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
Judson University
48%acceptance · IL
Governors State University
48%acceptance · IL
Quincy University
51%acceptance · IL
See all Illinois schools →

Similar to Olivet Nazarene University

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

If Olivet Nazarene University is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Hendrix College, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Lancaster Bible 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.

Hendrix College
56%acceptance · AR
Ohio Wesleyan University
56%acceptance · OH
Lancaster Bible College
56%acceptance · PA
Bethany College (KS)
56%acceptance · KS
Lawrence Technological University
56%acceptance · MI
Wayland Baptist University
56%acceptance · TX

Frequently asked questions

What does Olivet Nazarene University value most in applicants?

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

Does Olivet Nazarene University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

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

Is Olivet Nazarene University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Olivet Nazarene University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1200; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

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.