University of Miami admits approximately 18.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 5 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the university in the highly selective category, with admission rates between 10-25%. The peer median admission rate of 69.4% highlights the significant difference between University of Miami's selectivity and typical private universities. Even among selective private institutions, University of Miami's acceptance rate positions it as notably competitive. This level of selectivity means that well-qualified students face meaningful uncertainty in the admission process, and many students who would succeed at the university do not receive admission due to limited enrollment capacity. Students should approach University of Miami as a reach school regardless of their academic credentials, building comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable outcomes. The university's selectivity reflects both its academic reputation and geographic appeal in South Florida. For this reason, applicants should consider the alternative schools outlined below that deliver similar career outcomes with more accessible admission processes.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students typically score 1330-1470 on the SAT, with a median of 1416, placing most enrolled students well above national averages. The middle 50% SAT Math range spans 670-750, while SAT Verbal scores range from 660-720, indicating strength across both quantitative and verbal reasoning. ACT scores range from 30-33 with a median of 32, reflecting similar high academic preparation. University of Miami's median SAT score of 1416 exceeds the peer median of 1378 by 38 points, positioning it among the more academically competitive institutions within its peer group. These ranges represent the 25th to 75th percentile of enrolled students, meaning 25% of students score below 1330 and 25% score above 1470. Students scoring below the 25th percentile face competitive disadvantage but are not automatically excluded from consideration. The ACT median of 32 corresponds to the 97th percentile nationally, indicating that most admitted students rank among the top 3% of test-takers. Students should consider whether their academic profile aligns with these ranges when building their college list, recognizing that test scores represent only one component of the holistic evaluation process. Those with scores within or above these ranges are academically competitive for admission, while those below should emphasize other application strengths.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Miami enrolls 15.4% Pell-eligible students and 20.1% first-generation students, indicating a student body that combines students from diverse economic backgrounds with those from more privileged circumstances. While these shares are lower than at public flagships or access-focused institutions, they demonstrate the university does admit students across economic strata alongside its academically competitive profile. The 19.0% transfer share indicates moderate openness to transfer students, providing pathways for students beginning at community colleges or other four-year institutions. The combination of high academic credentials and moderate economic diversity suggests admission processes that weight academic preparation heavily while maintaining some commitment to socioeconomic access. Geographic diversity is strong given the university's location in South Florida, attracting students from across the United States and internationally. The student composition reflects the institution's positioning as a selective private university that balances academic selectivity with limited economic diversity. First-generation students should note that roughly 1 in 5 enrolled students share their background, providing peer networks for navigating the university experience. Students from lower-income families should consider the 15.4% Pell share when assessing cultural and financial fit within the campus community.
Given University of Miami's 18.5% acceptance rate and competitive academic profile, most applicants face significant admission uncertainty. The schools below deliver comparable career outcomes with more accessible admission processes.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
University of Miami demonstrates strong retention and completion outcomes for enrolled students. 92.2% of freshmen return for sophomore year, exceeding the peer median of 81.3% by 11 percentage points, indicating effective first-year support systems and student satisfaction. The six-year graduation rate reaches 84.2%, substantially higher than the peer median of 63.5%, reflecting the university's ability to support students through degree completion. Pell-eligible students graduate at 75.9%, creating an 8.3 percentage point gap between overall and Pell completion rates. This gap indicates that while low-income students succeed at high rates in absolute terms, they face additional challenges compared to their higher-income peers. The retention and completion rates demonstrate that students who gain admission typically thrive in the academic environment, with the vast majority persisting through graduation. The relatively modest Pell gap compared to many selective institutions suggests reasonable support systems for lower-income students, though room for improvement remains. Students who gain admission can expect strong institutional support for degree completion, with graduation rates well above national averages. Prospective students should view these retention and completion rates as indicators of the supportive academic environment and student success infrastructure they will experience if enrolled.
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