- Acceptance rate: 78% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $23,088 a year (2022–23)
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McDaniel College reported an acceptance rate of 78% 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. McDaniel College reviews each application.
McDaniel College GPA requirements
McDaniel College 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 McDaniel College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
McDaniel College acceptance rate
McDaniel College admitted 3,302 of 4,237 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 78%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
McDaniel College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Westminster, Maryland, with 1,620 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What McDaniel College 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 |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
McDaniel College didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
McDaniel College 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 $23,088 a year at McDaniel College 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
Can I get into McDaniel College with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. McDaniel College admitted 78% 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 McDaniel College?
A lot: McDaniel College requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider test scores and other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is McDaniel College hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. McDaniel College admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into McDaniel College?
McDaniel College's acceptance rate was 78% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,302 of 4,237 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into McDaniel College?
McDaniel College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with 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.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to McDaniel College?
Check McDaniel College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. McDaniel College didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
What do students pay at McDaniel College after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $23,088 a year at McDaniel College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does McDaniel College ask for a personal statement?
No, but it considers one. McDaniel College doesn't require a personal statement or essay but considers one if you send it, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does McDaniel College give credit for AP exams?
Yes. McDaniel College 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.
Does McDaniel College look at legacy status?
Yes. McDaniel College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check McDaniel College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: McDaniel CollegeU.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.
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