Thomas Jefferson University Acceptance Rate 2026: GPA, SAT & Admissions Guide

Thomas Jefferson University Acceptance Rate: Latest Official Statistics

Jefferson’s Common Data Set reports admission information for first-time, first-year undergraduate applicants.

The newest report covers Fall 2025, when the university received 7,561 applications and admitted 6,101 students.

The acceptance rate is calculated by dividing students admitted by applicants:

6,101 ÷ 7,561 × 100 = approximately 80.7%.

How does the latest rate compare with Fall 2024?

Swipe horizontally on mobile to view the complete table.

Applications increased by 479 between Fall 2024 and Fall 2025, or approximately 6.8%.

Admissions offers also increased, from 5,735 to 6,101. The acceptance percentage remained close to 81%.

Enrollment increased from 697 to 929 students, resulting in a higher enrollment yield.

Why do some websites report slightly different figures?

Federal IPEDS reporting and Common Data Set reporting can occasionally use slightly different counting conventions or data snapshots.

For example, federal Fall 2024 figures list 7,087 applicants and 5,738 admitted students, while Jefferson’s 2024–25 Common Data Set lists 7,082 applicants and 5,735 admitted.

Both produce an admission rate close to 81%, but their underlying counts are not identical.

The approach used here is to rely on Jefferson’s current Common Data Set for a consistent first-year trend.

Does an 80.7% acceptance rate make Jefferson a safety school?

Not automatically.

A student with appropriate academic preparation may have a realistic chance of general undergraduate admission.

But applicants interested in Nursing, an accelerated healthcare pathway, or another academically demanding program should review the specific requirements before classifying Jefferson as a safety.

University-wide statistics cannot tell you the acceptance rate of a selective program unless the program provides its own applicant and admission counts.

Why Thomas Jefferson University Has Two Main Philadelphia Campuses

An important part of understanding Jefferson is its history.

Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University merged on July 1, 2017.

The combined institution brought together traditions in medicine, health sciences, architecture, design, engineering, textiles and professional education.

Today, students may encounter two main Philadelphia campus locations:

The campus associated with a student’s program matters because clinical education, residence halls, schedules and transportation needs may be different.

Jefferson also has educational facilities beyond these two Philadelphia locations, including Dixon in Horsham and sites in New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley.

Official source: Jefferson campus locations.

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Thomas Jefferson University?

Jefferson does not publish a universal minimum high school GPA for every general first-year undergraduate program.

However, its latest Common Data Set provides a clear benchmark for the academic preparation of students who enrolled.

The Fall 2025 first-year class had an average reported high school GPA of 3.75.

The Common Data Set indicates that GPA information was reported for the incoming cohort.

How were Fall 2025 entering GPAs distributed?

Jefferson’s Common Data Set reports a GPA distribution with a substantial share of students earning grades in the A range.

The published percentages are rounded, so they are best used as general indicators rather than precise admission probabilities.

Approximate shares reflect rounded Common Data Set entries. They describe enrolled students, not the percentage of applicants admitted at each GPA.

Can you get into Jefferson with a 3.5 GPA?

Yes, it is possible.

Students with GPAs between 3.50 and 3.74 appear in the university’s most recent reported first-year GPA distribution.

But whether a 3.5 is competitive for a specific applicant depends on course rigor, program choice, academic trends and other materials.

A student applying to Graphic Design or Business may need a different set of academic and creative strengths from an applicant seeking a highly structured healthcare pathway.

What about a 3.0 GPA?

A 3.0 can fall within Jefferson’s reported entering-student academic distribution, but admission is not guaranteed.

The strongest next step is to identify the exact major or program and check whether its admissions requirements are stricter than the general undergraduate requirements.

Nursing and the accelerated Physician Assistant pathway are especially important examples.

Thomas Jefferson University SAT and ACT Requirements in 2026–27

Thomas Jefferson University is test-optional for standard undergraduate admissions.

Its current first-year application page states that standardized testing is no longer required for programs where it was previously mandatory.

Students may still choose to submit SAT or ACT results.

Jefferson states that the absence of standardized test results will not disadvantage an applicant in the admission review.

What SAT and ACT scores have Jefferson students reported?

The latest official Common Data Set provides Fall 2025 admission and GPA information, but its public 2025–26 testing table does not provide a complete usable set of SAT and ACT score percentiles.

Therefore, the following benchmark comes from the earlier, clearly reported Fall 2024 enrolled score-submitting students.

These are historical test-score percentiles among students who submitted results and enrolled.

They are not Jefferson’s minimum required scores and should not be presented as the Fall 2026 or Fall 2027 admissions cutoffs.

How many students submitted test scores?

In Fall 2024, approximately 23% of entering students submitted SAT scores and about 2% submitted ACT scores under the university’s reported testing profile.

This means the score distribution describes only a subset of the entering class.

Students applying without SAT or ACT results are not represented in that distribution.

Should you submit a 1100, 1250 or 1400 SAT?

A 1400 is above the Fall 2024 reported 75th percentile and may help demonstrate academic preparation.

A 1250 is close to the historical median and can also provide useful evidence.

A score around 1100 falls below the reported 25th percentile, but does not automatically disqualify a student.

Whether to submit a particular score depends on the full academic record and whether the score strengthens the application.

Is Jefferson’s Early Action round also test-optional?

Yes. The current general test-optional policy applies to first-year applicants choosing Early Action or Regular Decision.

Students pursuing a special accelerated or professional degree pathway should still review that program’s additional standards.

What Does Thomas Jefferson University Look for in Applicants?

Jefferson emphasizes a holistic admissions process.

Its current application instructions identify academic aptitude, motivation, problem-solving, leadership potential and life experiences as elements reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

For a professionally focused university, this makes sense. Students must be prepared for academic work, but many programs also require collaboration, communication, practical reasoning and long-term commitment.

Five parts of the application worth preparing carefully

What high school subjects are particularly useful?

Jefferson’s Common Data Set identifies college-preparatory coursework in English, mathematics, sciences, social sciences and other academic subjects.

Students considering Engineering should pursue strong mathematics and physics preparation.

Prospective Nursing or Physician Assistant students should take biology, chemistry and mathematics seriously.

Students interested in Architecture, Industrial Design or Graphic Design may also benefit from creative projects, visual problem-solving and relevant artistic coursework.

These suggestions describe useful preparation. They are not a substitute for the exact prerequisite and application rules of a chosen program.

Is Jefferson More Selective for Nursing, Engineering, Architecture or Medicine?

The university-wide 80.7% acceptance rate describes first-year undergraduate applicants across Jefferson’s reporting population.

It does not establish an 80.7% acceptance rate for individual majors, professional healthcare programs or Sidney Kimmel Medical College.

A reliable program-specific acceptance rate requires the number of applicants and offers for that exact program and admission cycle.

Those counts are not published comprehensively for every program in Jefferson’s current public materials.

Major-specific considerations

Thomas Jefferson University Nursing Acceptance Rate and GPA Requirements

Nursing is one of the most frequently misunderstood areas of Jefferson admissions.

The university has several Nursing pathways, including the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, pre-nursing preparation and accelerated programs for students who already have college experience.

These are not identical entry routes.

How does the pre-nursing pathway work?

Jefferson’s East Falls pre-nursing program combines foundational coursework in health sciences with later professional Nursing education.

Students complete courses that can include:

• Biology with laboratory.
• Chemistry with laboratory.
• Anatomy and Physiology.
• Microbiology.
• Psychology.
• Nutrition.
• Statistics.
• Healthcare-related coursework.

Students who meet the specified progression criteria are guaranteed a seat in the professional BSN phase, according to the university’s current published pathway.

What GPA is required for Nursing progression?

These numbers are progression requirements within a specific program, not Jefferson’s general university-wide high school admission cutoff.

The separate pre-nursing application guidance also identifies a minimum cumulative and science high school GPA of 3.0 for its applicable applicant process.

Meeting a published minimum does not guarantee initial admission to every Nursing pathway.

Where is the professional Nursing phase offered?

Jefferson states that the professional BSN phase is offered at its Center City and Dixon campuses.

Students should confirm the campus attached to their particular Nursing track, as clinical and commuting requirements can differ.

What about the accelerated BSN?

Jefferson also offers Accelerated BSN Plus pathways for qualified students with prior college education.

Those programs have their own admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, interviews and tuition structures.

They should not be confused with the direct high school-to-college experience.

Official references: Jefferson pre-nursing pathway and College of Nursing admissions FAQs.

Jefferson’s Six-Year Physician Assistant Dual-Degree Program

One of Jefferson’s distinctive undergraduate-entry opportunities is the 4+2 Health Sciences BS / Physician Assistant Studies MS pathway.

It is designed for students who decide early that they want to pursue a Physician Assistant career.

The pathway combines four years of undergraduate study with two years of graduate Physician Assistant education.

Does this route guarantee graduate PA admission?

Jefferson states that students accepted into the dual-degree program are assured a seat in the graduate portion provided they meet the required progression criteria.

That is a conditional assurance, not unconditional admission regardless of academic performance.

Key progression standards

The university also restricts the undergraduate-entry option for students who already have more than 15 college credits under its published policy.

Transfer students with additional prior credits should discuss other available Health Sciences or graduate PA routes.

Official 4+2 Physician Assistant pathway and progression requirements.

Thomas Jefferson University Application Deadlines for Fall 2027

Jefferson offers nonbinding Early Action and Regular Decision for general first-year undergraduate admission.

The university’s current first-year admissions page confirms that Fall 2027 applications are open.

Does Jefferson offer binding Early Decision?

No. The latest Common Data Set identifies a nonbinding Early Action plan but no general first-year Early Decision program.

This distinction matters because Early Action lets admitted students consider other options before the enrollment decision.

Does Jefferson review applications after March 1?

Jefferson’s institutional reporting identifies rolling admission and a March 1 priority date.

Some later applications may be considered while enrollment capacity remains available, but that does not mean scholarships or program places remain equally available.

The university’s Common Data Set separately lists a later final application closing date.

Students should treat March 1 as the meaningful published priority deadline rather than relying on late-cycle space.

Official first-year application dates and admission decision schedule.

How to Apply to Thomas Jefferson University

Jefferson offers two application platforms for traditional first-year applicants:

• The Common Application.
• The MyJefferson Application.

The standard application fee is $50, and eligible students can request a fee waiver.

Applicants should choose one application route and review the requirements of the intended program before submitting.

Application preparation checklist

Where should supporting documents be sent?

Thomas Jefferson University Transfer Acceptance Rate and Requirements

Transfer admissions follow a separate process from first-year admissions.

Jefferson’s latest Common Data Set reports 2,874 transfer applicants, 1,260 admitted students and 747 enrolled transfers for Fall 2025.

That produces a calculated 43.8% transfer acceptance rate.

The two percentages describe different admission populations and cannot be used interchangeably.

What GPA is required for transfer admission?

Jefferson’s latest Common Data Set identifies a 2.50 minimum college GPA for transfer applicants under its general institutional reporting.

Some healthcare and professional programs require stronger academic performance or specific prerequisites.

A general transfer GPA threshold should not be treated as a guarantee of admission into Nursing or another restricted degree.

Transfer application deadlines

The institutional Common Data Set also reports a later Fall 2027 closing date in its transfer admissions data.

Because admission deadlines and program availability may differ, applicants should use the current transfer admissions page and confirm whether their specific program has an earlier deadline.

Will all college credits transfer?

No. Jefferson evaluates whether college coursework is eligible and applicable to the intended degree.

Its Common Data Set lists C as the lowest transferable course grade under its general transfer-credit reporting.

The institution also requires a minimum number of credits to be completed at Jefferson to earn a bachelor’s degree.

For many traditional bachelor’s programs, the published academic residency requirement is 60 credits, with additional rules for major and core coursework.

Official Jefferson transfer application and deadlines.

Thomas Jefferson University International Student Admission Requirements

Jefferson accepts international undergraduate applications and provides separate guidance for students whose educational records were issued outside the United States.

The latest overall 80.7% acceptance rate is not an international-specific acceptance rate.

The official materials reviewed do not establish a current standalone Fall 2026 international first-year admission percentage.

Typical international application materials

• Completed Common Application or MyJefferson Application.
• Official secondary-school transcripts.
• Appropriate certified English translations.
• English proficiency documentation when required.
• Relevant international credential documentation.
• Financial and immigration documents required for enrollment after admission.
• Additional program-specific materials where applicable.

English proficiency scores

Jefferson’s current undergraduate application page publishes the following English-language proficiency options.

The university may also accept certain qualifying academic coursework or alternative examination evidence under its published exemption policy.

Scores must normally be dated within two years of application submission.

International merit scholarships

Jefferson states that international first-year applicants are automatically considered for an International Merit Scholarship when their application is reviewed.

Current published awards range from $15,000 to $26,000.

The amount and conditions of an award are communicated in the student’s admission letter.

Applicants should not assume that every international student receives the maximum amount.

What should students from India know?

Applicants presenting CBSE, CISCE or state-board educational records should ensure that their academic documents are complete, legible and submitted through the appropriate official channels.

Students should also check whether their English-medium education qualifies them for a proficiency-test waiver under Jefferson’s current rules.

A waiver should not be assumed without confirmation from the university.

Official Jefferson international undergraduate admissions.

Philadelphia-Specific Tips for Thomas Jefferson University Applicants

Jefferson offers a location advantage that many applicants initially overlook.

Its East Falls Campus has a relatively green, traditional college atmosphere, while Center City provides an urban healthcare and professional setting.

Understanding the difference is important when choosing a program, planning campus visits, considering housing and estimating transportation costs.

1. Visit the correct admissions center

These two addresses refer to the same East Falls campus area, but visitors should use the specific check-in or parking location provided for their event.

2. Know the difference between East Falls and Center City

Most traditional first-year students begin at East Falls, which Jefferson describes as a park-like campus with extensive academic buildings, studios, residence halls and athletic facilities.

Center City includes Jefferson’s major healthcare and medical education facilities.

The campuses are not interchangeable, and a visit to one does not necessarily show the facilities used by a student in the other.

3. East Falls has access to SEPTA Regional Rail

Jefferson’s official campus directions identify the nearby Queen Lane Regional Rail station as an important public transportation option.

SEPTA bus routes also serve the surrounding area.

Families traveling from another part of Philadelphia or its suburbs should plan the entire journey from their starting location to the admissions building.

Check the current SEPTA schedule before traveling. Rail and bus services can change because of weekends, construction or seasonal adjustments.

4. Official visitors have designated parking options

Jefferson identifies several visitor parking locations on the East Falls campus:

• Visitor parking outside White Corners.
• Search Hall Lot.
• Gallagher Center Parking Garage.
• Downs Hall Lot.
• Ravenhill Lot, where available.

The university advises registered daily campus-tour visitors to follow the parking instructions sent with their visit confirmation.

Free visitor parking is identified at White Corners and Search Hall for qualifying admissions visitors.

5. Use Jefferson’s actual campus PDF

The university’s official East Falls Campus Map identifies major facilities, including:

• Building 40: White Corners, Admissions Visit Center.
• Building 34: Search Hall.
• Building 20: Kay and Harold Ronson Health and Applied Science Center.
• Building 24: Paul J. Gutman Library.
• Building 19: Kanbar Campus Center.
• Building 12: Gallagher Athletic, Recreation and Convocation Center.
• Building 4: Architecture and Design Center.
• Building 17: Independence Plaza student residences.

View the official East Falls Campus Map (PDF).

6. Housing rules depend partly on how far you live from campus

Jefferson’s updated April 2026 East Falls housing policy contains a particularly important local rule.

Incoming full-time first-year students whose primary residence is more than 15 miles from East Falls are generally required to live in university housing for their first two years.

Students whose primary residence is within 15 miles may choose to participate in the residency requirement.

Transfer students are generally exempt from this specific two-year requirement.

Appeals are available under the published residence-life policy.

Official April 2026 East Falls residential requirement.

7. Consider proximity to Wissahickon Valley Park

Jefferson’s East Falls campus sits near Wissahickon Valley Park, which offers extensive walking, biking and outdoor recreation opportunities.

This makes East Falls different from a college campus located entirely within Philadelphia’s dense Center City streets.

Students who want access to green space while remaining in the city may appreciate that setting.

However, the campus experience should still be evaluated in person where possible.

8. Use the visit to research your academic program

Jefferson offers information sessions and campus tours, as well as program-specific opportunities.

Students interested in Architecture or Design may benefit from seeing studios and understanding portfolio expectations.

Engineering applicants should ask about laboratory access, research projects and the academic sequence.

Prospective healthcare students should investigate prerequisite requirements and how later clinical placements are organized.

Official Jefferson undergraduate campus visits.

Thomas Jefferson University Tuition, Scholarships and Financial Aid

Jefferson is a private university with different tuition structures for certain professional and accelerated programs.

That distinction is important because the published general undergraduate price may not equal the amount charged for a Nursing, accelerated or specialized program.

2026–27 general undergraduate tuition

Program-specific fees and exceptions

Program fees, credit requirements and summer enrollment may increase the total cost.

Students should consult their academic department before assuming the standard full-time tuition is the complete price of the degree.

2026–27 East Falls housing and meal plan charges

Example: What might a traditional East Falls student pay?

Consider a hypothetical full-time East Falls undergraduate student paying the standard tuition and general fee, living in a residence hall charged at $8,086 annually and choosing the $3,084-per-semester meal plan.

Does Jefferson offer academic scholarships?

Yes. Jefferson automatically considers eligible first-year applicants for academic scholarships as part of the admission review.

The university’s current admissions promotion states that incoming first-year academic scholarships can reach $26,000 per year.

Award amounts depend on academic qualifications and the applicable scholarship program.

Jefferson says students who apply by the March 1 Regular Decision priority deadline receive priority academic scholarship consideration.

Scholarships are generally included with the admission offer.

Jefferson FAFSA school code

Financial aid office locations

Official sources: 2026–27 tuition, fees and room rates, first-year academic scholarships, and FAFSA and financial aid offices.

Is Jefferson a Good Match for Your Academic and Career Goals?

The most useful way to evaluate Jefferson is to consider the education you actually want.

Its professional focus and combination of healthcare, design, technology and business can be attractive to students interested in applying classroom knowledge to real projects.

But the experience differs by major.

A design student may spend substantial time in studios, while a future healthcare student may focus heavily on science prerequisites, clinical preparation and professional standards.

What should admitted students ask?

• Which campus will be my main academic location each year?
• Does my intended major have progression or continuation GPA requirements?
• Will I need to apply again for a professional phase of the program?
• Are internships, clinical placements or research opportunities guaranteed or competitive?
• What additional fees or equipment expenses should I budget for?
• How often must students travel between campuses?
• What is the typical time to completion for my specific degree?
• How does the two-year housing requirement apply to my address?

The answers can help prevent the kind of surprise that an acceptance-rate calculator would never reveal.

Official Thomas Jefferson University Sources and Research Documents

The admission statistics and requirements in this guide were researched using Jefferson’s institutional reports, official undergraduate admissions pages, academic program descriptions, tuition publications and campus visitor resources.

The college publishes its Common Data Set in spreadsheet format. The official East Falls campus map is available as a separate PDF.

Research methodology: Acceptance rate is calculated by dividing admitted first-year applicants by all first-year applicants for the same cohort. Enrollment yield is enrolled students divided by admitted students. The Fall 2025 admission and GPA figures come from Jefferson’s 2025–26 Common Data Set. SAT and ACT percentiles are explicitly labeled Fall 2024 because the newer public report does not provide a complete usable testing percentile distribution. Transfer admission, Nursing progression and Physician Assistant progression are separately identified to avoid mixing their standards with general first-year admissions.