Getting in
For Fall 2025, 22,247 first-year students applied to Dayton, 14,814 were admitted and 1,578 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 66.6%.
Source: University of Dayton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. UD's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: University of Dayton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early action. UD has no early decision plan. Its early action plan is not binding and not restrictive (November 1 closing date, December 1 notification in the Common Data Set), and the Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted early, so it gives no early acceptance rate.
Source: University of Dayton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You apply to a major or program, and the admission committee may admit you to a different program than the one you chose. Nursing has its own process:
- Nursing (BSN). A selective program with limited spaces, run with Sinclair Community College: you earn an associate degree in nursing and a BSN in four years. Apply by November 1 with a nursing application essay; notifications come in December, and admitted students confirm by February 1. Fall entry only. To move on to Sinclair's nursing program, students must score at least a 75% composite on the HESI A2 exam within three attempts.
Source: University of Dayton Admission, Nursing Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The general admission page gives March 1 as the nursing confirmation deadline; the nursing page says February 1.
Source: University of Dayton Admission, Application and Admission Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
68 majors across 4 schools. Every bachelor's degree major open to new students in the University of Dayton's 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Co-majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
College of Arts and Sciences36
- Applied Mathematical Economics (B.S.)
- Art Education (B.F.A.)
- Biochemistry (B.S.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Communication (B.A.)
- Criminal Justice and Security Studies (B.A.)
- Earth and Environmental Geosciences (B.S.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Biology (B.S.)
- General Studies (B.G.S.)
- Global Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Human Rights Studies (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.A.)
- Mathematics (B.S.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music Composition (B.M.)
- Music Education (B.M.)
- Music Performance (B.M.)
- Music Therapy (B.M.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Predentistry (B.S.)
- Premedicine (B.S.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Statistics (B.S.)
- Sustainability (B.A.)
- Sustainability (B.S.)
- Theatre, Dance and Performance Technology (B.A.)
- Theology and Religious Studies (B.A.)
- Visual Arts (B.A.)
- Women's and Gender Studies (B.A.)
Source: University of Dayton 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, College of Arts and Sciences, Academic Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Business Administration10
- Accounting (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Business Analytics (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Business Economics (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Cybersecurity Management (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Entrepreneurship (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Finance (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Management (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Management Information Systems (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Marketing (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
- Operations and Supply Chain Management (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration)
Source: University of Dayton 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, School of Business Administration, Academic Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Education and Health Sciences9
- Adolescence to Young Adult Education (BSE)
- Dietetics (BSHS)
- Elementary and Middle Grades Education (BSE)
- Health Science (BSHS)
- Intervention Specialist (Special Education) (BSE)
- Nursing (BSN)
- Secondary Catholic Religion Education (BSE)
- Sport Management (BSSW)
- World Language Education (Multi-Age P-12) (BSE)
Source: University of Dayton 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, School of Education and Health Sciences, Baccalaureate Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Engineering13
- Chemical Engineering (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering)
- Civil Engineering (Bachelor of Civil Engineering)
- Computer Engineering (Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering)
- Computer Information Systems (Bachelor of Science)
- Computer Science (Bachelor of Science)
- Electrical Engineering (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering)
- Electronic Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology)
- Industrial Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology)
- Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering)
- Mechanical Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology)
- Physical Science (Bachelor of Science)
- Physics (Bachelor of Science)
- Systems and Industrial Engineering (Bachelor of Science in Systems and Industrial Engineering)
Source: University of Dayton 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, School of Engineering, Programs of Study (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1 | From November, then rolling | No |
| Regular admission | February 1 | Rolling | No |
The application (Common App or UD's own, free, with an essay) opens August 1. Early action is not binding. UD starts releasing decisions to early action applicants in November and keeps sending decisions on a rolling basis. February 1 is also the priority deadline for the FAFSA, and May 1 is the deadline to confirm enrollment. You are considered for merit scholarships automatically when you apply.
Source: University of Dayton Admission, Application and Admission Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
UD is test-optional: send official ACT or SAT scores only if you want them considered. Scores are never the sole or primary reason for a decision; they are read alongside the rest of the application.
Source: University of Dayton Admission, Application and Admission Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted, with scores due by March 15.
Source: University of Dayton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Dayton's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: University of Dayton Admission, Application and Admission Process (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Dayton, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $51,910 |
|---|---|
| Required fees (health and wellbeing) | $600 |
| Housing (on campus) | $10,140 |
| Food (on-campus meal plan) | $7,050 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Transportation | $1,210 |
| Other expenses | $2,110 |
| Total | $74,020 |
For a full-time first-year student living on campus, fall and spring. The health and wellbeing fee is UD's only fee and applies to students starting in fall 2026 or later.
Source: University of Dayton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1, G3 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $21,736 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $21,595 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $24,155 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $26,871 |
| Over $110,000 | $33,731 |
| All incomes | $29,533 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from UD's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to University of Dayton on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Private75.1% admitted$36,079 average net price
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private78% admitted$31,487 average net price
Adelphi UniversityGarden City, NY · Private65.9% admitted$30,783 average net price
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private54.9% admitted$18,425 average net price
University of the PacificStockton, CA · Private69.1% admitted$25,447 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.