Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Augustana admits about 7 in 10 applicants (73%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 58% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 63%, women at 73%.
Where applicants live
South Dakota applicants were admitted at 93%, applicants from other states at 88%, and international applicants at 51%.
All applicants in the same class: 73%
Of those admitted, 41% from South Dakota enrolled, against 26% from other states and 9.6% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
26% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How Augustana reads a record
GPA is very important; is important; class rank and tests are both considered. 57% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 4% of first-years sent an SAT and 53% an ACT. Recommends 4 years of English and 3 of math. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
65% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 73% of first-year applicants
212 applied · 138 admitted · 67 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Minimum college GPA: 2.3
Minimum high school GPA: 2.7
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date August 1, apply by August 1
- Spring entry: priority date December 15, apply by December 15
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Recommended for some
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: May 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting September 9.
- Admitted students must reply by August 1.
- $100 housing deposit, due September 1, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| History | 2 |
| Total | 19 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.66
From the 87% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.027%
- 3.75–3.9930%
- 3.50–3.7416%
- 3.25–3.4911%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.09%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.25–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 26.9% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 30.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15.5% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 11.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 7.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 6.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 2.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Augustana University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1260 on the SAT, 90 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
10% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 53% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
327 studentsAt least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:Augustana University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Augustana University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Augustana University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Augustana University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)