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#4 Best Public Universities in Illinois

Southern Illinois University Admission Requirements

Carbondale, Illinois

 1 Reviews

Chances of getting into Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Acceptance Rate

Admitted 
95%
Admission Difficulty for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Moderate 
Applicant Competition Very Low 
How hard is it to get into Southern Illinois University and can I get accepted?

The acceptance rate at Southern Illinois University is 95%.  It ranks #60 in Illinois for lowest rate of acceptance. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 6,648 out of 6,987 applicants were admitted.

The school has moderate admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 61 percent on standardized admission tests. Southern Illinois University Carbondale typically accepts and attracts "B" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.24. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 21% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Test Optional

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 43% of students submitted SAT scores and 18% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..

Southern Illinois University SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 
930-1160
Applicants Submitting SAT 
43%
SAT Scores for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 25th 480
SAT Math 25th 450
SAT Composite 25th 930
SAT Scores for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
SAT Reading 75th 590
SAT Math 75th 570
SAT Composite 75th 1160
Average SAT Score 1050

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a test optional school meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT scores with their application. The position on SAT scores from the school is "considered but not required".

Students who get into Southern Illinois University Carbondale score in the top 73 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 930-1160.

Find other colleges with similar SAT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

Southern Illinois University Carbondale admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1160 and Above Good >97%
1045 to 1160 Avg + 95%-97%
930 to 1045 Avg - 91%-95%
815 to 930 Reach 84%-91%
Less than 815 Low <84%
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Southern Illinois University ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 
20-28 
Applicants Submitting ACT 
18%
ACT Scores for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 25th 20
ACT Math 25th 18
ACT Composite 25th 20
ACT Scores for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
ACT Reading 75th 28
ACT Math 75th 26
ACT Composite 75th 28
Average ACT Score 24

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Southern Illinois University?

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is test optional. Students are not required to submit ACT scores with their application. The policy on ACT scores is "considered but not required".

Southern Illinois University regularly accepts students who score 20 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 49 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 20-28.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Southern Illinois University Carbondale admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
28 and Above Good >97%
24 to 28 Avg + 95%-97%
20 to 24 Avg - 91%-95%
16 to 20 Reach 84%-91%
Less than 16 Low <84%
Calculate My Chances 

Southern Illinois University GPA

Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 
3.24
Typical High School Grades 
B

What GPA do you need to get into Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

Applicants need about average high school grades to get into Southern Illinois University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Southern Illinois University Carbondale was 3.24 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #42 in Illinois for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.24 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Southern Illinois University accepts 95% of all applicants.

 What do these ratings mean?

Explore more colleges with similar GPA requirements

High School GPA's for admitted Southern Illinois University Carbondale students
High School GPA Freshmen Within Range Competitiveness 
4.0 6.33% Good
3.75 to 3.99 20.47% Avg +
3.50 to 3.74 13.86% Avg +
3.25 to 3.49 12.51% Avg -
3.00 to 3.24 13.57% Avg -
2.50 to 2.99 19.47% Reach
2.00 to 2.49 12.94% Reach
1.00 to 1.99 0.85% Reach
less than 1.00 0% Reach

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

High School Class Rank

69% of Southern Illinois University Carbondale freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Southern Illinois University Carbondale students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 16%
Top 25% of class 38%
Top 50% of class 69%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Southern Illinois University Carbondale admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 4,193 2,788 6,987
Accepted 4,022 2,621 6,648
Acceptance Rate 96% 94% 95%
Enrolled 734 687 1,422
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 18% 26% 21%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $40.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Southern Illinois University Carbondale and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Application Requirements
Test Scores Considered but not required
High School GPA Required
High School Class Rank Recommended
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required
Recommendations Neither required nor recommended
Demonstration of Competencies Neither required nor recommended

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences Yes
Other Colleges to Consider 

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=149222 IPEDS survey data for Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

FAQs

Does Southern Illinois University Carbondale prefer SAT or ACT?

43% of students submit their SAT scores to Southern Illinois University. 18% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

95% of those who apply are granted admission to Southern Illinois University. Admission competition is and the college has moderate admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 930 and 1160. 43% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for Southern Illinois University Carbondale?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 20 and 28. 18% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.