Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Lawrence admits about 6 in 10 applicants (64%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 72% 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 59%, women at 69%.
Where applicants live
Wisconsin applicants were admitted at 83%, applicants from other states at 83%, and international applicants at 21%.
All applicants in the same class: 64%
Of those admitted, 25% from Wisconsin enrolled, against 14% from other states and 18% 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
17% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 2 offered a place, 2 accepted, 2 admitted (100% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 73% admitted
45 of 62 early applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 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 1; decisions by Dec 15
Where you stand
How Lawrence reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 21% of first-years sent an SAT and 33% 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 | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Important | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | 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; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
68% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 64% of first-year applicants
144 applied · 98 admitted · 58 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, winter, and spring.
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date July 31, decisions on a rolling basis
- Winter entry: priority date November 1, apply by December 1, decisions by November 15, reply by December 1
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended
- Interview
- Recommended
- Standardized test scores
- Required of 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.
- Priority date: January 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
- 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 | 2 |
| History | 2 |
| Total | 16 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started requiring high school GPA in fall 2024; Stopped requiring an essay (still considered) in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2024 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.47
From the 1% 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.
This college publishes an average but not a breakdown.
0% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 1% in the top quarter, of the 0% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Lawrence University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1310 on the SAT, 140 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2026.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Lawrence University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;Lawrence University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;Lawrence University Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;Lawrence University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)