Miami University’s name is somewhat misleading—it’s actually in a city called Oxford. Nope, not the English one: Oxford, Ohio! Once you can correctly locate Miami U. on a map, though, it has a ton to offer. Known as the “Mother of Fraternities,” the school is especially known for its Greek life. Beyond that, though, the school offers a great liberal arts education, with 120+ undergrad programs. Wondering how to get into Miami University? We’ll take a look in this post as we explore Miami University ACT and SAT scores and other key Miami University admissions statistics.
Here’s a quick glance at Miami University admissions. We’ll get into each one of these facts in much more detail below!
| Miami University Admission Rate | 80% |
| Miami University SAT scores (middle 50%) | 1210-1410 |
| Miami University ACT scores (middle 50%) | 26-31 |
| Miami University GPA for admitted freshman (average) | 3.8 |
Overall, Miami University’s acceptance rate is 80%. However, this varies ever-so-slightly according to different demographics. For in-state students, the acceptance rate was 81% overall; for out-of-state students, it was 89%.
In the last admissions cycle, in-state men had an acceptance rate of 83%, while in-state women had an acceptance rate of 80%. However, out-of-state men have an acceptance rate of 89% and out-of-state women had an acceptance rate of 90%.
Note that Miami University admissions skew heavily to early action and early decision. Their acceptance rates through these programs were 89% and 90.9%, respectively. However, excluding their “early” programs, the admissions committee only accepted 56% of students. A big difference!
Before we get into anything else, let’s emphasize this: Miami University went test-optional for fall 2021 admission due to COVID-19. However, this may change moving forward—we’ll keep you posted!
On average, composite Miami University ACT scores were 28 in the last admissions cycle. However, this only tells you so much! Here’s a breakdown of what the scores looked like in more detail.
| Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Math | 25 | 29 |
| English | 25 | 32 |
| Composite | 26 | 31 |
So what do these average ACT scores tell you about Miami University admissions? As you can see, the ACT scores overall (composite scores) were slightly higher than the Math and English scores. This doesn’t mean that the admissions data are wrong—instead, it means that scores in the two unreported sections (Reading and Science) must have been higher to get the score averages this high.
In other words, you can anticipate the Reading/Science scores to start at around 27 for the 25th percentile of students.
If your scores aren’t in the Miami University ACT range and it’s your dream school, what should you do? First of all, try to retake the ACT with a different prep strategy, if there’s time. A few points can make a big difference in the admissions process.
However, if it’s too late to retake the test, it’s important to keep in mind that the school will evaluate all parts of your application. Some parts, like your high school GPA, will be mostly out of your hands by this point, so focus on the parts of it, like the essay, that you can still control!
Just like its ACT scores, Miami University SAT scores are above the national average of 1000 (composite), clocking in at 1308. Here’s how their average SAT score breaks down, from 25th percentile to 75th percentile ranges.
| Section | Average Score | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 638 | 610 | 730 |
| Reading/Writing | 670 | 600 | 680 |
| Composite | 1308 | 1210 | 1410 |
Remember, these percentiles only tell you how the middle 50% of admitted students scored. In other words, 25% of successful applicants students had an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of below 600. On the other hand, 25% had a score above 680.
Similarly, 25% of students admitted to Miami had Math scores below 610—and 25% had math scores above 730 (wow!).
So just what does Miami’s most recent freshman class look like? They come from all around the country—though more than half (60%) are from Ohio, and more than a quarter (28%) are from Butler, Hamilton, or Warren counties within Ohio. Keeping in mind that the school is a public institution, so, this isn’t uncommon; it likely receives a much higher number of applicants from local areas.
However, that doesn’t mean that you need to be an Ohioan to get in! 2.3% of students are international, and 44% of those come from China.
If you had a parent or other relative attend the school, you’d be in good company at Miami: 36% of admitted students this year were legacies.
In addition to taking the ACT or SAT, you’ll need to complete a few more steps to apply to Miami. Here’s what they’re looking for!
With an 80% acceptance rate, it’s not as difficult to get into Miami University as some other schools. Think of it this way: you have a 4 out of 5 chance of getting in.
If Miami’s your dream school, though, consider applying either Early Decision or Early Action. Acceptance rates for both of these programs were much higher than for the general admissions pool!
The most popular programs are Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. US News & World Report placed its business program in the top 50 at national public universities; they ranked its undergraduate engineering program within the top 10, as well.
Academically, Miami’s renowned for its undergraduate liberal arts program. In the previous year, entering freshman had more than 110 declared majors, and there are more than 120 offered at the school! US News & World Report ranked the school’s commitment to undergraduate teaching overall within the top 10 national public universities.
In terms of the social scene, 25% of men and 40% of women in the student body participate in Greek life, so this is something to keep in mind if you’re either super excited about fraternities and sororities or super anti-Greek life!
Yes, they do! Here’s what you need to know about the Common App, including the personal statement.
Yes! 80% of freshman last year filled out a FAFSA form, and 100% of freshmen with financial need received financial aid offers.
If you’re looking for a public research university with a small-town campus vibe, thriving Greek life, and top-notch undergraduate teaching, this Miami of Ohio might be right for you! To get in, make sure you present the best application you possibly can, including polished essays and a recommendation from a teacher or counselor who really knows and appreciates you.
In the meantime, work on boosting your test scores into the Miami University SAT or ACT range (we offer a guaranteed 4 point increase on the ACT and 100 points on the SAT!).
Rachel is a Magoosh Content Creator. She writes and updates content on our High School and GRE Blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our Magoosh ACT Prep Book. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel, THE BALLERINAS, is forthcoming in December 2021 from St. Martin’s Press, while her memoir, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn’t strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook! View all posts
