Auburn University

Auburn is moderately selective, admitting about 46.9% of applicants in its most recent cycle from a pool of roughly 59,000. Selectivity has tightened over the past several years as application volume climbed, so competitive applicants pair a strong GPA, near 4.10 on average, with a demanding course load.

Auburn does not publish a separate out-of-state admit rate in its Common Data Set, so the headline 46.9% rate covers all applicants. As a land-grant flagship, Auburn weighs both state residency and geographical residence as important factors in its review, but strong out-of-state students remain a large part of each entering class. Your GPA and course rigor carry the most weight wherever you live.

Enrolled first-years average about a 4.10 GPA, and roughly 84% reported a high school GPA of 3.75 or above. Academic GPA is rated a very important factor in Auburn's review, so competitive applicants generally carry mostly A's. There is no hard cutoff, but the test-optional pathway specifically requires at least a 3.6 GPA.

A 1350 is competitive at Auburn: it sits in the upper half of enrolled students, between the 50th-percentile score of 1320 and the 75th-percentile of 1370. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1280–1370 on the SAT and 26–31 on the ACT, so a 1350 lands at or above a typical admitted student's score.

Yes, but with a condition. Auburn is test-optional only for applicants with at least a 3.6 high school GPA. Its 2025-2026 Common Data Set lists the SAT and ACT as considered if submitted for Fall 2027, so the optional pathway carries into that cycle. Among recent enrolled students who submitted, the middle 50% scored 1280–1370 on the SAT and 26–31 on the ACT, and scores are weighed as a very important factor.

Annual tuition and required fees run about $13,318 for Alabama residents and $36,022 for out-of-state students. On-campus food and housing add roughly $17,210. About 32% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average need-based package near $14,687, and Auburn meets about 60% of demonstrated need on average.

Business and marketing is the largest field at about 28% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering at roughly 16% and the biological and life sciences at 12%. As a land-grant university, Auburn also confers a notable share of degrees in agriculture, education, and the health professions.

Yes. Auburn rates the application essay as a very important factor, on par with academic GPA and test scores in its review. With admissions growing more competitive, a specific, well-revised essay is a real chance to add context to your grades and stand out in a large applicant pool.

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