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AccessibleReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Pace University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Pace University, a private college in New York, reports a 76% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

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

Use this page to see what Pace University weighs, where it ranks among New York schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1220, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
76%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1180-1340
of admitted students
Type
Private
New York, NY
Average net price
$30,892
per year after aid

What do students study at Pace 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 · 333 (19.7%)Visual and Performing Arts · 284 (16.8%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 269 (15.9%)Communication and Journalism · 195 (11.6%)Psychology · 137 (8.1%)Social Sciences · 104 (6.2%)Computer and Information Sciences · 102 (6%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 57 (3.4%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 42 (2.5%)Education · 40 (2.4%)English Language and Literature · 37 (2.2%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 21 (1.2%)

Will I get into Pace University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Pace University?

Your odds at Pace University are not the same as its 76% 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 Pace University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Pace University hard to get into?

Pace University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 76% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Pace University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Pace University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Pace 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 Pace University →

Your chances at Pace University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Pace 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 Pace University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1260 SAT?

About 97% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1260 SAT, the middle of Pace University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1340 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Pace University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 118025th pctSAT 1260middleSAT 134075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.558%Likely73%Safety79%Safety41%Target
2.883%Safety90%Safety93%Safety77%Safety
3.194%Safety97%Safety98%Safety94%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%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/pace-university.

How to get into Pace University

Built from Pace 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 Pace 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 Pace University carries about a 3.16 core GPA and a 1290 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 1180 to 1340 SAT (24 to 29 ACT). Submit a score at 1260 or higher; below 1180, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Pace University weighs

Pace 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 Pace University's exact dates at www.pace.edu.

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

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

Pace University admitted 21,961 of the 28,469 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 77.1%. 1,949 enrolled. Only about 9% 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. Pace University enrolls about 7,665 undergraduates in total, 65% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Applied
28,469
fall 2023
Admitted
21,961
77.1% of applicants
Enrolled
1,949
9% yield
Undergraduates
7,665
New York, large city

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

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

Admitted students at Pace University post SAT scores of 1180 to 1340 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1266. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 24 to 29. A score above 1340 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1180 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Pace 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%
1180-1340
average 1266
ACT middle 50%
24-29
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Pace University looks for

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

The factors that carry the most weight at Pace 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 Pace 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
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Pace 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 Pace 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 1220 SAT →Colleges for a 25 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Pace University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Pace University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $69,550 a year. Tuition and fees alone are $53,290. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,892 a year, and it ranges from $26,473 for families earning under $30,000 to $36,430 for families earning over $110,000. 27% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$69,550
per year, before aid
Average net price
$30,892
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
27%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$26,473
$30k to $48k$26,362
$48k to $75k$28,467
$75k to $110k$31,219
Over $110k$36,430

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 Pace University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Pace University students ten years after entry are $70,378 ($52,767 at the six-year mark). 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 75% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $23,250; 45% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$70,378
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
60%
within six years
Retention
75%
return for year two
Median debt
$23,250
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Pace University compares in New York

Pace University ranks #43 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.

Among the 59 New York schools we track, Pace University ranks #43 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Columbia University (4%) and Cornell University (9%) sit nearby, which makes New York a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Columbia University
4%acceptance · NY
Cornell University
9%acceptance · NY
New York University
9%acceptance · NY
U.S. Military Academy
12%acceptance · NY
Colgate University
14%acceptance · NY
Hamilton College
14%acceptance · NY
Vassar College
19%acceptance · NY
Skidmore College
21%acceptance · NY
See all New York schools →

Similar to Pace University

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

Applicants targeting Pace University often weigh DePaul University, Albright College, and Ashland 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.

DePaul University
76%acceptance · IL
Albright College
76%acceptance · PA
Ashland University
76%acceptance · OH
Baldwin Wallace University
76%acceptance · OH
California Lutheran University
76%acceptance · CA
Eckerd College
76%acceptance · FL

Frequently asked questions

What is Pace University's acceptance rate?

Pace University admitted 21,961 of 28,469 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 77.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 9% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Pace University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1180 to 1340 on the SAT and 24 to 29 on the ACT. A score above 1340 is in the top quarter of admits. Pace University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Pace University test-optional?

Yes. Pace 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 Pace University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Pace University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $30,892 a year against a sticker price of about $69,550. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $26,473 on average.

What do Pace University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Pace University are $70,378 a year among students who received federal aid, and 60% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Pace University value most in applicants?

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

Does Pace University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

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

What are the admission requirements for Pace University?

Pace 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, 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.