Freshman Profile

Admission to Towson University is competitive. If you're wondering how your application will stack up, it might help to know a little bit about what we look for.

2016 Freshman Class 

Applications: 12,067
Admitted: 8,757
Enrolled: 2,746
Average Weighted GPA: 3.59
Average Old SAT (Reading, Math, Writing): 1603
Average New SAT(Reading, Math): 1150
Average ACT composite score: 23
In State: 77.3%
Out-of-State: 22.7%
Minority: 43.3%

What We Look For

Your grades and test scores are the greatest factors in our decision making process, but we seek students who are also well-rounded and involved outside of the classroom. The following five criteria are the components of our admission decision.

  1. Course Work
    Required high school courses: 4 years of English, 4 years of Math, 3 years of Lab Science, 3 years of Social Science, and 2 years of the same Foreign Language. Your cumulative weighted high school GPA is one of the most important aspects of your application. Based on each school’s GPA calculations and grading scale, some GPAs are recalculated to equally compare applicants.  Course rigor and improvement are also considered when reviewing a student’s high school transcript.
  2. SAT or ACT Scores
    We require our applicants to take either the SAT or ACT. The average SAT score is an 1150(2-part) and the average composite ACT score is a 23. SAT/ACT scores are important and we evaluate your test scores in correlation with your cumulative weighted high school GPA.  The Writing section is not required for the SAT or ACT exam.
  3. College Essay
    The essay allows you to show us what makes you exceptional. We enjoy reading essays that present an honest and thoughtful picture of you.  Please be sure to answer the specific essay prompt on your application.
  4. Send your ZeeMee link (optional).  At TU we want to get to know our applicants better. That’s why we’ve partnered with ZeeMee, a free service that lets you easily add short videos and photos to your college application. Just create your free profile at www.zeemee.com and paste your link into your application. 
  5. Letters of Recommendation (optional)
    A student with a strong letter of recommendation can have a critical advantage in the final stages of the competitive admission process.  We will accept a maximum of 2 letters of recommendation.
  6. Extracurricular Activities list (optional)
    We look for well-rounded students who will enhance the university both inside and outside the classroom. An individual who participates in clubs, sports and activities in high school demonstrates that he or she is just this type of student. Choose clubs wisely and don't try to do too much — we want you to remain focused on your academics. If you choose to submit an activities list or resume, you may upload the document within the admissions application.