Montclair State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

An aerial view of a campus with red brick roofs, green quad, and paved pathways
An aerial view of Montclair State University.

Mike Peters/Montclair State University

Montclair State University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 76%. Established in 1908, Montclair State is located 14 miles from New York City on a 264-acre campus in Montclair, New Jersey. The university's 11 schools and colleges offer students 300 majors, minors, and concentrations. Among undergraduates, business administration, psychology, science, and visual and performing arts are the most popular majors. On the athletic front, the MCU Red Hawks compete in the NCAA Division III New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).

Considering applying to Montclair State University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Montclair State University had an acceptance rate of 76%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 76 students were admitted, making Montclair State's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 12,729
Percent Admitted 76%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 32%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Montclair State University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Montclair State may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 44% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 500 590
Math 490 580
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Montclair State's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Montclair State scored between 500 and 590, while 25% scored below 500 and 25% scored above 590. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 490 and 580, while 25% scored below 490 and 25% scored above 580. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1170 or higher is competitive for Montclair State University.

Requirements

Montclair State University does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Montclair State participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Montclair State does not require the optional essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Montclair State University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Montclair State may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. Montclair State does not provide data on the number of admitted students who submitted ACT scores or the ACT scores of admitted students.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of Montclair State University's incoming freshmen class was 3.27. This data suggests that most successful applicants to Montclair State have primarily B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Montclair State University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
Montclair State University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Montclair State University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Montclair State University, which accepts just over three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions pool. However, Montclair State also has a holistic admissions process and is test optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside Montclair State University's average range.

Note that students applying to programs in animation and illustration, dance, music, music therapy, musical theatre, theatre, visual arts, and visual communication design have additional admission requirements.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that the great majority of students who were accepted to Montclair State had GPAs of a 3.0 or better, an ACT composite score above 19, and a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of above 1000. Note that Montclair State is test-optional, so test scores are less important than other criteria in the admissions process.

If You Like Montclair State University, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Montclair State University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Montclair State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/montclair-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786554. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 29). Montclair State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/montclair-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786554 Grove, Allen. "Montclair State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/montclair-state-university-gpa-sat-act-786554 (accessed March 28, 2024).