John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Arkansas · Private · 1,471 undergraduates · jbu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
76%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1070 to 1340
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$49,600Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at John Brown 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
76% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$49,600
a year in 2027-28, from a $49,600 sticker price
What to do with your 1210
Send your score
About 50% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1000, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
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.
- Doesn't superscore: it uses the scores from one test date.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- CLT accepted (assured admission with 2.5-2.99 GPA and 20 ACT, 1020 SAT or 63 CLT).
Source: Applying to JBU as a First-Time College Student · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Jan1Other deadline · January 1, 2027
- May1Priority deadline · May 1, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
76%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1070 to 1340
Reading and Writing 550 to 690
Math 520 to 650
ACT composite 21 to 28
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
$49,600
a year
- Tuition$35,040
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$22,353
- $30,001 to $48,000$18,572
- $48,001 to $75,000$17,028
- $75,001 to $110,000$24,748
- Over $110,000$25,725
Financial aidEstimate
73%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
99%
of freshmen receive grants
$23,173
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Arkansas programs for residents
Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Single tier; Graduating HS senior; FAFSA; apply by March 1; 12 hrs first semester then 15/semester at one institution
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (traditional students)
$2,000 to $5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, Pathway: HS GPA 3.00 or higher (test score on record, no minimum); Standardized test score (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or equivalent) on record; FAFSA; apply by July 1; full-time enrollment
- 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, Pathway: HS GPA below 3.00 with qualifying test score; FAFSA; apply by July 1; enroll full-time (12 hrs first fall, 15/semester after)
Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program (Achievement)
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Pathway: highest-scoring student in county (ACT/SAT + GPA + class rank); Top-scoring eligible student in county by ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA and class rank; must apply for Academic Challenge to be considered; FAFSA; deadline July 1, an application, essay or interview
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
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
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
38 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,500Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | 3 credit hour ART elective |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | 3 credit hour ART elective |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | HST 3263 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 2233 |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | BIO 1002, BIO 1001 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIO 1123, BIO 1121 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MTH 1163 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MTH 1163 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MTH 1163, MTH 1173 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHM 1013, CHM 1011 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHM 1123, CHM 1121 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1513 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1513, LS 1523 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POL 2213 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CS 1113 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS Elective Credit |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 1243 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | EGL 1013 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | EGL 1023 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | 3 credit hour GSC elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | GSC 2003 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HST 1023 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1213 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1213, LS 1223 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1313 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1313, LS 1323 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | ED 1143 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1513 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1513, LS 1523 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1513 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1513, LS 1523 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LS 1413 |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | LS 1413, LS 1423 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECN 2123 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECN 2113 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | 3 credit hour MUS elective |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | 3 credit hour MUS elective |
| Music Theory | 5 | 3 | MUS 1103 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3 | GSC 1023 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHY 1113, PHY 1111 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3 | GSC 1023 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHY 1123, PHY 1121 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHY 2313, PHY 2311 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHY 2213, PHY 2211 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MTH 1113 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MTH 1113, MTH 1122 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 1013 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 1113 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 1113, LS 1123 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | LS 2113 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | LS 2113, LS 2123 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MTH 1003, MTH 2103, BUS 2193, or PSY 2383 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POL 1013 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HST 2113 or HST 2123 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HST 2113, HST 2123 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HST 1013 or HST 1023 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | HST 1013, HST 1023 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
77%
Come back for a second year
81%
Typical earnings
$58,769
a year, 10 years after starting here
- John Brown University$70,748
- All colleges$71,390
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 John Brown University. The John Brown University logo is a trademark of the college.