Olivet Nazarene SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)

Reading and Writing runs higher than Math here. The middle 50 percent of admitted students who report Olivet Nazarene SAT scores land between 490 and 620 on Reading and Writing, while Math sits at 460 to 600. Put together, the composite middle 50 runs 950 to 1220, and the average SAT comes out to 1117. If you are researching Olivet Nazarene SAT scores to size up your chances, that 20 point gap between the sections tells you the verbal side carries slightly more weight in the admitted pool. On the ACT, the middle 50 spans 19 to 26.

Olivet Nazarene University is a private nonprofit university in Bourbonnais, Illinois, with 2,603 students enrolled. That is a small campus by any measure, which means the admissions office reads a manageable stack of applications rather than sorting tens of thousands. About 55.9% of applicants get in, based on 2024-2025 data, so a bit more than half of students who apply receive an offer. Testing is optional in the most recent federal data, but a composite near or above that 1117 average still gives the committee a concrete reason to say yes, especially if your transcript has a soft spot.

The middle 50 works like a map with 3 regions. Below 950, you are under 3 out of 4 admitted students, and since Olivet Nazarene is test optional in the most recent federal data, a score down there is usually one to withhold rather than send. Inside 950 to 1220, you look like a typical admit, and the closer you sit to the 1117 average, the more your score simply confirms you belong. Above 1220, you outscore at least 3 out of 4 students who got in, which turns your SAT from a checkbox into an argument.

The section splits sharpen the picture. Reading and Writing sets the higher bar at 490 to 620, while Math runs 460 to 600. A student with a 610 verbal and a 520 math fits the admitted profile cleanly. Flip those numbers and the math score looks excellent for this pool while the verbal sits mid range. Check both sections against their own bands, not just the composite against 950 to 1220.

Admitted students at Olivet Nazarene typically show up with an unweighted GPA somewhere around 3.3 to 3.7. That band follows from the 55.9% acceptance rate: the school says yes to more than half of its applicants, so it does not demand a perfect transcript, but a string of Cs will raise questions. Most students in the admitted pool earned mostly As and Bs across 4 years.

The number on its own is only half the story. A 3.4 built on honors and AP coursework reads stronger than a 3.6 built on the lightest schedule your high school offers, because rigor tells the committee you chose the harder path when you had the option. If your GPA sits near the bottom of that 3.3 to 3.7 range, the fastest fix is not retaking old classes. It is posting an SAT score above the 1117 average, ideally pushing toward 1220. A strong test result is the one credential you can still improve on a short timeline.

Set 2 targets before you plan anything else. First, 950: matching the 25th percentile keeps you inside the range where most admitted students score, and clearing the 1117 average makes your application straightforward. Second, 1220: at or above the 75th percentile, you land in the top quarter of the admitted pool, which matters at a private university of 2,603 where individual applications get real attention. Section goals help too: aim for 620 on Reading and Writing and 600 on Math to hit the top of each band.

Start by finding out where you stand today. Take a diagnostic to get a current composite and a section by section readout, then compare each number against the bands above. From there, pick one of the score plans that matches your gap, whether that is 40 points or 200. Your concrete next step: sit for a full length practice test this week and write down your Reading and Writing and Math scores next to 620 and 600.