Daemen University

Amherst, NY · Private · 1,643 undergrads

Admit rate: 68.3% (3,041 applicants)
Undergraduates: 1,643 (2.0% international)
Average net price: $18,693 (per year after aid)
Graduation rate: 59% (within 6 years)

Deadlines

Early Action: Nov. 1, 2026
Rolling: Rolling; review starts Aug. 1, 2026

Essays

Option 1

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Option 2

Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Option 3

Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Option 4

Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

Option 5

A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a university community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Editor's notes

The CDS rates your essay and recommendations very important, alongside rigor and GPA. Since most majors need no letters, the essay carries much of the personal side of your file. Write it with care, even at 250 words.
If you want a shot at a Trustee Scholarship, apply early. You must be admitted by Jan. 8, 2027 to be nominated, and the Nov. 1 early action date gets you a decision by Dec. 15.