Admit rate has ranged 59%–79% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Cedarville University is a Baptist-affiliated institution in rural Ohio where faith and academics collide with unusual intensity. Known for its 98% career placement rate and a student body that’s 85% on-campus, Cedarville blends conservative Christian values with surprisingly robust engineering and nursing programs—all while maintaining a 65% acceptance rate that makes it accessible but not a slam dunk.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,024
In-state tuition
$37,150
Out-of-state tuition
$37,150
Top Major
Nursing (10%)
Acceptance Rate
65%
On-Campus Housing
85%
Career Placement Rate
98.17%
4-Year Graduation Rate
62%
6-Year Graduation Rate
72.4%
Median Salary (6 Years Post-Grad)
$47,937
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$55,443
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$20,937
Graduation rate
73%
First-year retention
90%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
87%
Pell (lower-income) share
42%
First-generation share
13%
Endowment / student
$12,670
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Engineering$73,635
Computer Science$69,338
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$67,101
Mechanical Engineering$62,409
Accounting and Related Services$57,318
Finance and Financial Management Services$57,318
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
43.3"
Annual snow
19.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
59
Scholarly works
3,126
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
29%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Cedarville University?
Cedarville University's acceptance rate is approximately 65% (Cedarville, OH), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Cedarville University?
Admitted students at Cedarville University typically score 1130–1360 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Cedarville University cost?
At Cedarville University, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,468 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Cedarville University?
Cedarville University enrolls approximately 4,024 undergraduate students.
Where is Cedarville University located?
Cedarville University is located in Cedarville, OH.
Admissions
Cedarville’s admissions process is moderately selective, with a 65% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. that suggests accessibility but not open doors. Accepted students typically boast SAT scores between 1140–1340 or ACT scores of 23–29, with an average GPA of 3.9. The university superscores both SAT and ACT results, encouraging applicants to submit their best performances. Notably, 62% of female applicants were admitted in recent cycles, slightly below the overall rate.
With over 150 undergraduate and graduate programs, Cedarville emphasizes biblical integration across disciplines—even in its strongest departments. Nursing dominates as the most popular major (10% of students), followed by psychology (6%), mechanical engineering (5%), and computer science (4%). Alumni frequently cite engineering, nursing, and music education as standout programs, with multimedia technologies noted for being innovative. The BA in Liberal Arts caters to students seeking a broad, faith-infused education.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,532
Business Administration, Management and Operations$50,270
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Cedarville revolves around its Christ-centered community: 85% of students live on campus, fostering a tight-knit environment with dorm events, bro-sis activities, and late-night food runs. The Student Life and Christian Ministries Division actively structures spiritual growth through clubs, intramural sports, and leadership opportunities. TikTok tours and student blogs depict a vibrant, if insular, culture where ‘kindness’ is a recurring theme—though the 15% off-campus population suggests some seek breathing room.
Cedarville’s outcomes are its crown jewel: a 98.17% career placement rate within six months of graduation (based on 79% knowledge rate) dwarfs the national 84% average. The six-year graduation rate sits at 72.4%, with 62% finishing in four years—well above national medians. Alumni earn a median salary of $47,937 six years post-graduation, though CollegeSimply reports lower averages ($36,800 after six years). Either way, the university leverages these stats hard, framing them as divine favor meeting practical preparation.
Tuition stings less after aid: the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $43,782, with 64% of students receiving financial aid (average package: $28,674). Incoming residential freshmen can snag renewable academic scholarships ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 annually—potentially slicing $100K off a four-year bill. The university’s net price calculator is aggressively promoted, hinting at transparency (or marketing savvy) in navigating costs that otherwise hover near private-school norms.
Cedarville’s fusion of evangelical fervor and career pragmatism is rare. Its 98% placement rate suggests employers trust its graduates—even as the university unapologetically prioritizes spiritual formation. The 85% on-campus population creates a immersive, almost cloistered vibe, while programs like nursing and engineering deliver secular-market value without compromising piety. For students seeking a bubble where faith governs everything from dorm life to differential equations, it’s a compelling—if singular—choice.
Cedarville University logo · sourceMy Journey to Finding Cedarville - Student Life · sourceCedarville University Campus Map & Building Abbreviations · sourceCedarville University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
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