- Acceptance rate: 78% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 490–610 reading and writing, 450–588 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 18–23 composite
- Average net price: $11,393 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Online GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what McNeese State University reported: an acceptance rate of 78% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 18–23.
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. McNeese State University reviews each application.
McNeese State University GPA requirements
McNeese State 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 McNeese State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
McNeese State University acceptance rate
McNeese State University admitted 3,054 of 3,902 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 78%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
McNeese State University is a public 4-year university in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with 5,668 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered McNeese State 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 | 490 | 530 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 450 | 520 | 588 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 23 |
| ACT English | 17 | 21 | 24 |
| ACT Math | 16 | 19 | 23 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1087 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What McNeese State 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 |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| 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 |
AP credit
McNeese State 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 $11,393 a year at McNeese State 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
Can I get into McNeese State University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. McNeese State University 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.
What GPA do you need to get into McNeese State University?
McNeese State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported 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 are McNeese State University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of McNeese State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 490–610 in reading and writing and 450–588 in math; ACT composite 18–23, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
How selective is McNeese State University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. McNeese State University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Does McNeese State University require the SAT or ACT?
No. McNeese State University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 7% sent SAT scores and 86% sent ACT scores.
What is McNeese State University's acceptance rate?
McNeese State University's acceptance rate was 78% for fall 2024: it admitted 3,054 of 3,902 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does GPA matter at McNeese State University?
A lot: McNeese State University requires high school GPA and college preparatory program. It considers high school record, high school class rank and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider 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.
Does McNeese State University accept AP credit?
Yes. McNeese State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does McNeese State University look at legacy status?
No. McNeese State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What is the average net price at McNeese State University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $11,393 a year at McNeese State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check McNeese State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: McNeese State 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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