Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana · Private · 4,317 undergraduates · butler.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
82%
of 11,139 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1163 to 1330
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$78,080Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Butler University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
82% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$78,080
a year in 2027-28, from a $78,080 sticker price
What to do with your 1250
Send your score
About 51% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1130, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Test-Optional Admission | Butler University · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
82%
of applicants were admitted: 9,144 of 11,139 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/20.
Early Decision
Binding. 85% of early applicants were admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 38% of them sent SAT scores and 14% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1163 to 1330
Reading and Writing 590 to 680
Math 570 to 660
ACT composite 26 to 31
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160012%
- 1200 to 139955%
- 1000 to 119931%
- 800 to 9991.4%
- 600 to 7990.4%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.84
- 4.042%
- 3.75 to 3.9921%
- 3.50 to 3.7416%
- 3.25 to 3.4910%
- 3.00 to 3.246%
- 2.50 to 2.993.1%
- Below 2.501.9%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$78,080
a year
- Tuition$52,890
- Fees$1,030
- Food and housing$18,440
- Books and supplies$1,140
- Transportation and other$4,580
Butler University published $75,080 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$30,817
- $30,001 to $48,000$29,151
- $48,001 to $75,000$32,800
- $75,001 to $110,000$38,123
- Over $110,000$43,200
Financial aid
72%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$32,295
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
40%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $28,187 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 1-Dec
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
- Aid deadline: NA
- The last day to send aid forms.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 39
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,290Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | 100-level art elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | 100-level art elective |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ART 105 |
| Biology | 4 | 5 | NW 204-BI |
| Biology | 4 | 5 | BI 105, if in College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MA 106 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MA 106, 107 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 4 | MA 106 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CH 105 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | 300-level Chinese skills elective |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PO 151 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CS 142 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | AR 220 CS |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | Art 100-level elective |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | EN 200-level elective |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | EN 200-level elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 5 | NW 201-BI |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 5 | ENV 200-level elective |
| European History | 4 | 3 | 100-level history elective |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | 300-level French skills elective |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | 300-level German skills elective |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GE 109 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | Refer to Department Chair | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | Refer to Department Chair | |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | LT 204 (must begin in 300-level LT course or above) |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 232 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | SW 220 EC or elective |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | EC 231 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | SW 220 EC or EC elective |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | MT 101 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 5 | NW 262 PH |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PH 107 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PH 108 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 5 | NW 262 PH |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | NW 262 PH or PH elective |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PH 107 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | NW 262-PH or elective |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PH 107 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | MA 102 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | SW 250-PS |
| Research | 4 | 3 | General elective 100-level |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | General elective 100-level |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | 300-level Spanish skills elective |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | 300-level Spanish skills elective |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MS 264 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MA 162 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | SW 242-PO |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PO 131 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | History elective 100-level |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
77%
Come back for a second year
87%
Typical earnings
$83,535
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Butler University$74,822
- All colleges$74,459
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 8 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Butler University. The Butler University logo is a trademark of the college.