- Acceptance rate: 87% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 500–598 reading and writing, 460–570 math
- Average net price: $20,561 a year (2022–23)
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Carlow University reported an acceptance rate of 87% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Carlow University reviews each application.
Carlow University GPA requirements
Carlow University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Carlow University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Carlow University acceptance rate
Carlow University admitted 1,099 of 1,264 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 87%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Carlow University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with 1,355 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Carlow University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 500 | 545 | 598 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 535 | 570 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1080 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Carlow University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
AP credit
Carlow University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $20,561 a year at Carlow University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Carlow University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Carlow University admitted 87% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What are Carlow University's SAT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Carlow University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 500–598 in reading and writing and 460–570 in math, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Carlow University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Carlow University admitted 87% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at Carlow University?
A lot: Carlow University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and demonstration of competencies. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is Carlow University test optional?
Check Carlow University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Carlow University was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 26% sent SAT scores.
What GPA does Carlow University look for?
Carlow University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What percent of applicants does Carlow University accept?
Carlow University's acceptance rate was 87% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,099 of 1,264 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does Carlow University cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $20,561 a year at Carlow University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Carlow University look at legacy status?
Yes. Carlow University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Carlow University accept AP credit?
Yes. Carlow University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Carlow University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Carlow UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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