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University of Dayton
Most applicants get into University of Dayton — 65.5% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of Dayton sits in Dayton proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $116,356 four years out. Faculty pay averages $116,388 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,682 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 89.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1195 and 1370 — above the OH middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Dayton's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to University of Dayton without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1195 and 1370; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 600 | 640 | 680 |
| SAT Math | 595 | 650 | 690 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 28 | 31 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Dayton received 22,747 applications and admitted 14,023 (61.6%), with 1,904 enrolling.
How University of Dayton compares
| University of Dayton | Ohio median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 65.5% | 76.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $49,140 | $29,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $75,537 | $52,356 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Dayton student earns $75,537 — 44% above the Ohio median of $52,356 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
University of Dayton lists tuition at $49,140 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. University of Dayton's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $49,140 as the ceiling, not the bill.
University of Dayton enrolls 7,682 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Dayton's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
80.2% of University of Dayton students finish a bachelor's within six years — 25.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $49,140 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Dayton
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $116,356 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $109,604 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $107,354 |
| Computer Science | $102,468 |
| Chemical Engineering | $97,184 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $95,925 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,595 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $92,317 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $90,314 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,339 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $84,595 |
| International Business | $84,485 |
| Civil Engineering | $83,460 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $82,332 |
| Marketing | $80,677 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $80,475 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $77,318 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $76,475 |
| Political Science and Government | $68,731 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $68,196 |
| Biology, General | $67,414 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $67,231 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $66,679 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $63,592 |
| Economics | $61,502 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $60,873 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,583 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $57,868 |
| History | $57,218 |
| Psychology, General | $54,909 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $53,448 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $51,389 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,775 |
| Sociology | $47,745 |
Median earnings for these 34 University of Dayton programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $75,537 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional University of Dayton programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Dayton?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1195–1370 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 65.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Dayton's acceptance rate?
61.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 14,023 admitted from 22,747 applicants.
How much does University of Dayton cost?
At University of Dayton, published tuition is $49,140 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is University of Dayton's ceiling, not a quote.
What do University of Dayton graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $75,537 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Ohio
- The University of Findlay — 83.4% admitted
- Columbus College of Art & Design — 67.7% admitted
- Gods Bible School and College — 75.3% admitted
- Cleveland Institute of Art — 61.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.