Butler University Admission Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Gaining admission to Butler University requires careful consideration of several factors, including GPA, standardized test scores, and other application components. This article provides a detailed overview of Butler University's admission requirements, offering insights for prospective students.

Acceptance Rate: Understanding Your Chances

The acceptance rate is a crucial indicator of a school's selectivity. Butler University has an acceptance rate of 85.9%, indicating that it is not highly selective. This means that a significant percentage of applicants are admitted. However, it's important to remember that meeting the minimum requirements doesn't guarantee admission, and exceeding them significantly increases your chances. Because Butler University is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average.

GPA Requirements: Aiming for the Top

GPA is a very important academic factor. The average GPA at Butler University is 3.92. To be competitive, you'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. A GPA of 3.92 requires you to be at the top of your class.

GPA Ranges of Admitted Students

The following data provides a more detailed breakdown of the GPA ranges of admitted students:

3.75+: 62%
3.50-3.74: 18%
3.25-3.49: 11%
3.00-3.24: 6%
2.50-2.99: 2%
2.00-2.49: 1%
Below 2.00: 0%

This data shows that the majority of admitted students have a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

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Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT Scores

Butler University has a test-flexible policy, meaning that first-year and transfer students can apply with or without standardized test scores such as the SAT and the ACT. If students submit test scores, the scores will be considered alongside the other materials within our holistic review process. Students who submit scores have the option to submit self-reported scores on the application for admission or on the student status page, which is available after applying. Students who apply with test scores will be required to submit official test scores upon enrollment. If students decide to apply without scores, the Office of Admission will review their application based on academic performance, curriculum, engagement in and outside of the classroom, and the essay. While test scores are not required for any students, they are recommended for certain student populations and degree programs.

SAT Scores

While Butler University doesn't have a strict SAT score cutoff, the middle 50% of admitted students who submitted SAT scores had scores between 1198 and 1340.

25th Percentile SAT Score: 1198
75th Percentile SAT Score: 1340

In other words, a 1198 places you below average, while a 1340 will move you up to above average. Aim for a 1198 SAT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission.

Superscoring

Butler University does superscore the SAT. Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Butler University will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. This means that the university considers the highest section scores across multiple test attempts. Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1198, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on.

ACT Scores

The average ACT score at Butler University is 28. The 25th percentile ACT score is 26, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 31. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 26 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.

ACT Superscoring

Butler University does offer an ACT superscore policy. Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, Butler University will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Butler University forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 26, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on.

Optional Essay Section

Butler University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.

Application Requirements: Beyond GPA and Test Scores

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. In addition to academic performance and standardized test scores (if submitted), Butler University considers several other factors in its admission process:

High School Transcript: Required
High School Rank: Considered but not required
College Prep Courses: Required
Recommendations: Considered but not required
Writing sample, personal statement, or essay; Students should use one of the essay prompts provided in the Common App platform in 650 words or less. Alternatively, you may submit a personal statement or essay on a topic of your choice.
School Report from the high school counseling office.
Official score reports of the SAT and/or ACT.
Original or official certified/attested true copies of transcripts from each secondary school (high school), college, or university attended.
Applicants must meet a minimum level of proficiency in the English language and submit proof of this proficiency to the Office of Admission.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A score of 79 (internet-based test) meets Butler University’s English language proficiency requirements.
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): For the SAT, an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 meets Butler’s English proficiency requirements.
- American College Test (ACT): An English score of 19 meets Butler’s requirements.

Holistic Review

Butler University emphasizes a holistic admission review process. When students decide to apply without scores, the Office of Admission will review their application based on academic performance, curriculum, engagement in and outside of the classroom, and the essay. This means that they evaluate applicants based on a variety of factors, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

Application Deadlines and Important Dates

Application Deadline: Aug. 1
Early-Action Deadline: November 1 (Admission decisions released by mid- to late-December)
Regular Decision Deadline: February 1 (Admission decisions released by mid-March)
Rolling Admission: Students applying after the Regular Decision deadline will receive admission decisions on an ongoing basis.

Students offered admission two weeks prior to May 1 or earlier have until May 1 to decide if they will attend. All application materials become the property of Butler University and are kept on file for a minimum of one year.

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Transfer Students

Butler enrolls about 130 transfer students each year. Transfer admission is done on a rolling basis.

Requirements for Transfer Students

To submit a transfer application, you must have already completed 12 or more credit hours of college coursework at a regionally accredited university after graduating high school, or be seeking a second bachelor’s degree.
Applicants must be in good standing with their previous colleges/universities; a total cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher is preferred for admission consideration for most majors, with no grades below C- in the most recent semester. It is recommended that transfer applicants to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have a B average (3.0/4.0) or greater for admission consideration.
Official transcripts from all colleges attended, sent directly from the schools to the Office of Admission.
Official high school transcript indicating the date of graduation from a secondary school approved by a state or regional accrediting agency is required for transfer students with fewer than 20 college semester credits after high school graduation.
Official AP or CLEP results.
For international students, applicants must meet a minimum level of proficiency in the English language and submit proof of this proficiency to the Office of Admission. Self-reported test scores are required for transfer applicants who have completed fewer than 20 credit hours.

Transfer Scholarships

Transfer scholarships are available to admitted students if their total cumulative GPA is 2.75 or higher, and they range from $7,500/yr. to $14,000/yr. Transfer scholarships are not available for students pursuing their second undergraduate degree.

Deadlines for Transfer Students

Transfer applications for the pre-professional phase of the pharmacy program should be submitted to the Office of Admission by July 15 (fall) or November 1 (spring). Students applying to the professional phase of the program should complete an application through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS: www.pharmcas.org) by April 1 (recommended Butler deadline).

International Students

International applicants must meet a minimum level of proficiency in the English language and submit proof of this proficiency to the Office of Admission.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): A score of 79 (iBT) meets Butler University’s English language proficiency requirements.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): For the SAT, an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 meets Butler’s English proficiency requirements.
American College Test (ACT): An English score of 19 meets Butler’s requirements.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the estimated total cost used on Form I-20 for undergraduates is $77,500 for tuition, room, board, fees, books, health insurance, and incidentals.

Additional Information

Campus Visits

Prospective (and admitted) students and their families are encouraged to visit campus in-person. Our standard on-campus visits are offered at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM on most weekdays, and include an overview of Butler and our admission and financial aid process, led by one of our admission staff members. The visit concludes with a 75-minute student-led tour of campus. We also offer tours of campus on select Saturdays throughout the academic year. For more information and to view all our visit options, go to www.butler.edu/visit.

Financial Aid

Butler encourages students to complete the FAFSA for federal aid and Butler Grant consideration.

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