Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Rhodes admits about 5 in 10 applicants (52%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 83% 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 45%, women at 54%.
Yield
17% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 893 offered a place, 511 accepted, 28 admitted (5.5% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 55% admitted
195 of 357 early applicants; 52% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Nov 15
Second round: apply by Jan 15; decisions by Feb 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 15; decisions by Jan 15
Where you stand
How Rhodes reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are important. 64% of first-years 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. 20% of first-years sent an SAT and 35% an ACT. Of the 27% whose high school reported a rank, 44% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English, 3 of math, 2 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | 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 required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
21% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 52% of first-year applicants
135 applied · 28 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1, decisions by May 1, reply by June 1
- Spring entry: priority date November 1, decisions by November 15, reply by December 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by March 15.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: One calendar year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science (lab: 2) | 2 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| Academic electives | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.75
From the 85% 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)
- 4.019%
- 3.75–3.9945%
- 3.50–3.7421%
- 3.25–3.4910%
- 3.00–3.244%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 18.5% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 45.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 20.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 10.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 4.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 1.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
44% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 79% in the top quarter, of the 27% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Rhodes College 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 1418 on the SAT, 248 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
60% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
58% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
61% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
60% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
72% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
41% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 20% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 35% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
98 studentssubmitted ACT
173 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Rhodes College 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;Rhodes College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Rhodes College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Rhodes College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)