Marshall University Average GPA & Admissions

Huntington, WV · Public · 4-year

  • Acceptance rate: 96% for fall 2024
  • Average high school GPA: 3.6, as reported by the college for 2025–26
  • SAT, middle 50%: 480–590 reading and writing, 430–560 math
  • ACT, middle 50%: 19–24 composite
  • Average net price: $9,734 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?

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Where you standEnter your GPA

Type your GPA to compare it with what Marshall University reported: an average GPA of 3.6 (2025–26), an acceptance rate of 96% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 19–24.

A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Marshall University reviews each application.

Marshall University average GPA

Marshall University reported an average high school GPA of 3.6 for its first-year students, in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

How their high school GPAs were spread:

High school GPAShare of first-year students
4.0
32%
3.75–3.99
16%
3.50–3.74
14%
3.25–3.49
11%
3.00–3.24
9%
2.50–2.99
11%
2.00–2.49
6%
1.00–1.99
1%
First-year students who submitted a high school GPA, as Marshall University reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. None had a GPA below 1.00. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

Marshall University acceptance rate

Marshall University admitted 6,525 of 6,816 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 96%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Marshall University is a public 4-year university in Huntington, West Virginia, with 9,146 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Marshall University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test25th percentileMedian75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing480540590
SAT Math430500560
ACT Composite192124
ACT English182225
ACT Math172024
71% submitted SAT scores and 51% submitted ACT scores, as Marshall University reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1061 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Marshall University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factorStatus
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.Required
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.Considered if submitted
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.Not considered
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.Not considered
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.Not considered
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.Not considered
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.Not considered
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
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.Not considered
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.Not considered
Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Marshall University's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Marshall 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 paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $9,734 a year at Marshall 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

Is Marshall University hard to get into?

Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Marshall University admitted 96% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

How much does GPA matter at Marshall University?

A lot: Marshall University requires high school GPA. It considers test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school record, high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

How many applicants get into Marshall University?

Marshall University's acceptance rate was 96% for fall 2024: it admitted 6,525 of 6,816 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

What GPA do you need to get into Marshall University?

Marshall University doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.6, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

Is Marshall University test optional?

Yes. Marshall University considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 71% sent SAT scores and 51% sent ACT scores.

What GPA did Marshall University's first-year students have?

62% of Marshall University's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (32%) had a 4.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.

What are Marshall University's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Marshall University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 480–590 in reading and writing and 430–560 in math; ACT composite 19–24, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

Can a 3.5 GPA get you into Marshall University?

It would be within the usual range there: 38% of Marshall University's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 96% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.

How much does Marshall University cost after financial aid?

First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $9,734 a year at Marshall University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Can you get college credit for AP scores at Marshall University?

Yes. Marshall 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 Marshall University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

  1. College Navigator: Marshall 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.
  2. Marshall University Common Data Set 2025–26Marshall University: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
  3. College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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