Admissions Requirements

There were more than 2,000 first-year applicants for fall 2020, culminating in 232 new students who entered college during the pandemic. Students are from 32 states and territories and more than 40 percent were in the top 25 percent of their class. For more information, see this infographic on the Class of 2024 (PDF).

The composition of the new first-year class is illustrated, in part, by the following profile:

GPA Middle 50% (Unweighted, 4.0 Scale)	2.80-3.60
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Middle 50%	550-660
SAT Math Middle 50%	500-600
ACT Composite Middle 50%	23-29
Self-Identified Students of Color	38%
Varisty Student-Athletes	96

The quantity and quality of academic coursework is heavily weighted in the admissions review process. Sound preparation includes at minimum 16 units¹ of academic courses, though most successful applicants will exceed the unit minimum.

Since Goucher requires students to explore subjects over a wide range of academic fields, the applicant's high school program should include the following:

English	4 units
Mathematics	4 units, including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry
Laboratory Sciences	3 units, preferably including Biology and Chemistry
Social Studies	3 units
Foreign Language	2 units of the same language

^{1 Each unit is equivalent to one year of study.}

Applicants are reviewed within the context of the offerings of their school. Given this, the Admissions Committee may allow credit for work in subjects not listed above or may accept a student whose school program does not include the usual number of entrance units.

In addition to honors programs, the following courses also carry more weight than standard coursework in the admissions process:

• Advanced Placement (AP)— Goucher generally accepts scores of 4 or 5 on AP exams for placement and credit. Course placement is determined by the individual academic program.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)— Goucher will grant credit for IB exam scores of at least 5 in higher-level subject areas. Course placement is determined by the individual academic program.

For more information on credit for AP and IB coursework, please visit the Academic Catalogue.

Since 2006, Goucher has made the submission of SAT/ACT scores optional for admission and merit scholarship consideration.

To aid students in determining whether to submit their scores, we created an FAQ on our Test Optional Policy. 

Goucher allows students to submit screenshots or PDF score reports downloaded from the College Board or ACT website.

If submitting a screenshot, it must include your name, test date, and all score values.

Test scores can be uploaded directly into the Admissions & Financial Aid Status Portal to which you will be granted access after you submit your application. 

For applicants from Puerto Rico, we accept scores from the Prueba de Aptitud Académica (PAA) for the application review process. Scores can be submitted to admissions@goucher.edu by you or by your College Counselor.

Please visit our international students website for specific requirements. 

International Students Admissions

International Transfer students who have attended or who are currently attending a U.S. post-secondary institution must submit official transcripts from all institutions. Students who have completed post-secondary academic coursework outside of the United States at a non U.S. accredited institution must submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation from an organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A member list is available on the NACES website. The evaluation must be sent to the Admissions Office directly or emailed to Admissions@goucher.edu.

SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for Goucher College that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here.

*Transfer students who have completed less than 30 college-level academic credits (as determined by Goucher College) are required to submit an official final high school transcript as part of the review process.