Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Marshall admits about 10 in 10 applicants (96%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 11% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (96% and 96%).
Applicants from West Virginia and from other states were admitted at similar rates (97% and 97%).
$40 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
28% 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 Marshall reads a record
GPA and tests are both very important; is considered. 48% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are required. 71% of first-years sent an SAT and 42% an ACT. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it. Recommends 4 years of math and English. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Considered | ||||
| Class rank | Not considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Not considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Not considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Not considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Not considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Not considered | ||||
| Work experience | Not considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: English proficiency test required
Transferring in
97% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 96% of first-year applicants
908 applied · 883 admitted · 513 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 12 credit hours completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- 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.
- Apply by August 23 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- There's no set reply date.
- The housing deposit is refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: one academic 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 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| History | 0 |
| Academic electives | 0 |
| Total | 17 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped requiring the high school record (no longer considered) in fall 2023.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.60
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)
- 4.032%
- 3.75–3.9916%
- 3.50–3.7414%
- 3.25–3.4911%
- 3.00–3.249%
- below 3.018%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 32.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 16.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 14.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 11.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 9.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 11.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 6.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 1.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Marshall 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 1040 on the SAT, 130 points below the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. 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
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2025, before the change.
Score bands
41% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 800–999.
49% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 18–23.
44% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
47% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 400–499.
Shares of the 71% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 42% 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
At least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Marshall University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Marshall University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Marshall University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Marshall University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)