M
#6 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

McNeese Admission Requirements

Lake Charles, Louisiana

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Your chances of getting into McNeese State University

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

71.2%
Admission Difficulty for McNeese State University
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Easy 
Applicant Competition Low 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at McNeese is 71.2%.  Its admission rate is the 9th lowest in Louisiana.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into McNeese and can you get accepted?

McNeese is a moderately competitive school to get into. You have a strong chance of acceptance if you meet the criteria. Last year, 2,532 out of the 3,554 who applied were admitted.

McNeese State University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.36. 42% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into McNeese?

71% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Calculate your admission chances

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to McNeese State University you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.36 or better
  • Earn B+ grades in high school
  • Score 1080 on the SAT
  • Score 21 on the ACT

McNeese GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.36*

Typical High School Grades 

B+

What GPA do you need to get into McNeese State University?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into McNeese are to have around a 3.36 high school GPA. You are required to have above average high school grades.

If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as McNeese accepts 71% of students who apply.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at McNeese is 3.36 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #11 in Louisiana for highest average GPA.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.4 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.36 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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McNeese SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

970-1180

Applicants Submitting SAT 

12%
SAT Scores for McNeese State University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 470
Math 25th Percentile 500
Composite 25th Percentile 970
SAT Scores for McNeese State University
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 570
Math 75th Percentile 610
Composite 75th Percentile 1180
Average SAT Score 1080

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to McNeese State University?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at McNeese is 1080 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 970-1180. Students who get into McNeese State University score in the top 66 percent of all SAT test takers..  McNeese ranks #12 in the state of Louisiana for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1080 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. McNeese regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 970 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 970, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 860, but scores this low are outside the normal range. 12 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1080 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1075, you have around a 71% chance of being admitted. A 1180 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 82% chance of getting in.

McNeese State University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1180 and Above Good >82%
1075 to 1180 Avg + 71%-82%
970 to 1075 Avg - 56%-71%
865 to 970 Reach 40%-56%
Less than 865 Low <40%
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McNeese ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

18-24 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

88%
ACT Scores for McNeese State University
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 18
Math 25th Percentile 17
Composite 25th Percentile 18
ACT Scores for McNeese State University
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 24
Math 75th Percentile 23
Composite 75th Percentile 24
Average ACT Score 21

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into McNeese?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to McNeese is 21, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 18 and 24.  The school ranks #11 in Louisiana for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 21. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 18 and score in the score in the top 62 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 15.

Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 88 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to McNeese State University.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into McNeese for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 21 score has around 71% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 82% with a 24 ACT score.

McNeese State University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
24 and Above Good >82%
21 to 24 Avg + 71%-82%
18 to 21 Avg - 56%-71%
15 to 18 Reach 40%-56%
Less than 15 Low <40%
Calculate My Chances 

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

McNeese State University admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 2,253 1,301 3,554
Accepted 1,547 985 2,532
Acceptance Rate 69% 76% 71%
Enrolled 610 444 1,054
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 39% 45% 42%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to McNeese State University is $20.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to McNeese State University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

McNeese State University Application Requirements
Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at McNeese State University
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences Yes

Admission Requirements Summary

Because McNeese is moderately competitive, you have a strong chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.36 GPA, you have a very good likelihood of getting in. A 1080 on the SAT and 21 on the ACT will further lock in your application.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to McNeese State University often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=159717 IPEDS survey data for McNeese State University.

Last updated February 24, 2024

FAQs

Does McNeese State University prefer SAT or ACT?

12% of students submit their SAT scores to McNeese. 88% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into McNeese State University?

71% of those who apply are granted admission to McNeese. Admission competition is low and the college has easy admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.

What SAT score is required for McNeese State University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 970 and 1180. The average SAT score is 1075. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.

What ACT score is required for McNeese State University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 18 and 24. The average ACT score is 21. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.