Paine College Requirements for Admission

What are Paine College's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

  • GPA requirements
  • Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
  • Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Paine College and build a strong application.

School location: Augusta, GA


Admissions Rate: 32%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Paine College is 32%. For every 100 applicants, 32 are admitted.

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This means the school is very selective. If you meet Paine College's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.


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Paine College GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 2.58

The average GPA at Paine College is 2.58.

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(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 2.58, Paine College accepts students with below-average GPAs. You might have a mix of B's and C's in your high school record. It's best to avoid D's and F's, since application readers might question your commitment to studying and ability to succeed in college.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 2.58, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.


SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.

You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Paine College. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.

Paine College SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 830

The average SAT score composite at Paine College is a 830 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Paine College Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.

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Paine College SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 740, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 930. In other words, a 740 on the SAT places you below average, while a 930 will move you up to above average.

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
Math410360460
Reading + Writing420380470
Composite830740930

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.


Paine College ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Paine College likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 16

The average ACT score at Paine College is 16. This score makes Paine College Competitive for ACT scores.

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The 25th percentile ACT score is 14, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 18.

Even though Paine College likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 14 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 16 and above that a 14 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 18 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Paine College, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 18.


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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.

Paine College considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.


SAT Subject Test Requirements

Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.

We did not find information that Paine College requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.



Final Admissions Verdict

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Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 930 SAT or a 18 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as Paine College, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 930 SAT or a 18 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.


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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

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Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at Paine College?
Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Pick your test: SAT ACT

SAT Score
Your GPA

Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
  • 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
  • 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
  • 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
  • 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
  • 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Paine College here.

Application Requirements Overview

  • Common Application Not accepted
  • Universal Application Not accepted
  • Electronic Application Available
  • Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
  • Letters of Recommendation 3
  • Interview Not required
  • Application Fee $35
  • Fee Waiver Available? Available
  • Other Notes Score of 500 on each Georgia high school exit exam recommended for some freshmen

Testing Requirements

  • SAT or ACT Required
  • SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
  • SAT Subject Tests
  • Scores Due in Office July 1

Coursework Requirements

  • Subject Required Years
  • English
  • Math
  • Science
  • Foreign Language
  • Social Studies
  • History
  • Electives

Deadlines and Early Admissions

  •  
    • Offered? Deadline Notification
  • Regular Admission
    • Yes July 1 Rolling
  • Early Action
    • No
  • Early Decision
    • No

Admissions Office Information


Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Paine College, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Paine College.


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Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Paine College. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School Name Location SAT Avg ACT Avg
Post University Waterbury, CT 990 19
Southern Vermont College Bennington, VT 970 18
Saint Elizabeth University Morristown, NJ 950 16
Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT 940 24

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Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Paine College, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

School Name Location SAT Avg ACT Avg
Texas Southern University Houston, TX 910 17
California State University Dominguez Hills Carson, CA 900 18
Pine Manor College Chestnut Hill, MA 870 15
University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA 850 23
Paul Quinn College Dallas, TX 840 16
Wiley College Marshall, TX 830 16
Albany State University Albany, GA 830 16

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Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Paine College, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Paine College is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

School Name Location SAT Avg ACT Avg
Medgar Evers College (City University of New York) Brooklyn, NY 820 14
Livingstone College Salisbury, NC 820 15
Rust College Holly Springs, MS 810 15
Lane College Jackson, TN 780 15

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Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Get Into Your Top Choice School

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