The SAT and ACT scores in the table below signify the most current reported scores available. You can use these new ranges to fully understand the typical test scores of enrolled students.
These scores should not be viewed as cutoffs or qualifying scores. These are just listed to give you a better idea of what you should expect. It has the SAT and ACT scores of most schools and the acceptance rate too.
Students who choose not to submit test scores when applying to colleges will be evaluated holistically. In the absence of a test score, admissions officers might bring an even greater focus to the student’s academic achievements. Students should endeavor to do very well in school and maintain the strongest possible GPA in classes that challenge them appropriately.
This article is intended as a broad picture of the competitive scene of college admission. Students taking a holistic approach to their college search will undoubtedly consider many other wonderful colleges not included in this list.
GEORGIA
The University System of Georgia has publicized that all institutions will recommence test scores as an admission requirement beginning with the Spring semester of 2022. Any student applying to a University System of Georgia school in 2022 and beyond will have to submit an SAT or ACT test score.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The accepted SAT range is 1380-1520 and for the ACT, it is 31-35. The school has a 21.34% acceptance rate.
University of Georgia
The accepted SAT range is 1120-1390 and for the ACT, it is 27-32. The school has a 48.35% acceptance rate.
Georgia State
The accepted SAT range is 970-1150 and for the ACT, it is 20-26. The school has a 66.65% acceptance rate.
University of North Georgia
The accepted SAT range is 1050-1200 and for the ACT, it is 21-26. The school has a 77.19% acceptance rate.
Georgia Southern University
The accepted SAT range is 1000-1158 and for the ACT, it is 18-24. The school has a 91.17% acceptance rate.
Kennesaw State University
The accepted SAT range is 1050-1220 and for the ACT, it is 20-26. The school has a 75.22% acceptance rate.
FLORIDA
University in Florida requires either the SAT or ACT as part of its admission requirements. It does not entail the optional ACT Writing Test.
Florida State University
The accepted SAT range is 1230-1350 and for the ACT, it is 27-31. The school has a 32.45% acceptance rate.
University of Florida
The accepted SAT range is 1320-1450 and for the ACT, it is 28-33. The school has a 36.58% acceptance rate.
University of Central Florida
The accepted SAT range is 1170-1340 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 44.36% acceptance rate.
University of South Florida
The accepted SAT range is 1170-1310 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 49.25% acceptance rate.
Florida International
The accepted SAT range is 1120-1260 and for the ACT, it is 23-29. The school has a 57.86% acceptance rate.
New College of Florida
The accepted SAT range is 1190-1365 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 69.97% acceptance rate.
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology requires either the SAT or ACT. It generally does not require the optional ACT Writing Test, but it may be required for some applicants.
The accepted SAT range is 1150-1320 and for the ACT, it is 23-30. The school has a 70.37% acceptance rate.
MILITARY
United States Air Force Academy
USAFA requires either the SAT or ACT. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
The accepted SAT range is 1220-1420 and for the ACT, it is 29-33. The school has a 13.43% acceptance rate.
United States Coast Guard Academy
USCGA requires either the SAT or ACT, completed without accommodations. Nevertheless, candidates that have submitted all other required application items, but have not been able to complete an SAT or ACT exam by February 15, will be reviewed after Regular Admission. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
The accepted SAT range is 121-1400 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 20.31% acceptance rate.
United States Military Academy
West Point has approved a one-year test-flexible policy, which permits students who are unable to submit SAT or ACT scores to apply without them. However, these students are required to submit PSAT scores and must also provide information supporting their inability to test.
The accepted SAT range is 1160-1380 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 10.27% acceptance rate.
United States Naval Academy
USNA has approved a one-year test flexible policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle. Students looking for consideration for admission without college entrance examinations will be asked to provide supporting information regarding test availability, cancellation, etc.
The accepted SAT range is 1250-1510 and for the ACT, it is 27-34. The school has a 9.08% acceptance rate.
Other Popular Colleges in the us
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for first-year applicants, both domestic and international, in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1015-1230 and for the ACT, it is 21-28. The school has a 61.48% acceptance rate.
Biola University
Biola University has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for first-year applicants in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1070-1290 and for the ACT, it is 22-29. The school has a 64.12% acceptance rate
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1280-1430 and for the ACT, it is 28-33. The school has a 54.97% acceptance rate.
CUNY—Hunter
The CUNY system has approved a one-year Test Free policy for students applying to the Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters.
The accepted SAT range is 1150-1350 and for the ACT, it is -. The school has a 35.17% acceptance rate.
CUNY—Baruch College
The CUNY system has adopted a one-year Test Free policy for students applying to the Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters.
The accepted SAT range is 1130-1330 and for the ACT, it is -. The school has a 43.40% acceptance rate.
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University requires either the SAT or ACT. However, they are also offering applicants in the 2020-21 cycle two online assessments; the Questar Mathematics Test and the Degrees of Reading Power (DRP), that can be taken in place of the ACT or SAT. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
The accepted SAT range is 785-985 and for the ACT, it is 14-19. The school has a 61.22% acceptance rate.
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for first-year applicants, both domestic and international, in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1060-1320 and for the ACT, it is 20-27. The school has a 57.43% acceptance rate.
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying to enter in Spring and Fall 2021.
The accepted SAT range is 1275-1465 and for the ACT, it is 29-32. The school has a 36.01% acceptance rate.
Howard University
Howard University has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1140-1260 and for the ACT, it is 22-26. The school has a 38.64% acceptance rate.
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for applicants in the 2020-21 admission cycle. Test optional applicants must have an interview with their admissions counselor and submit an essay.
The accepted SAT range is 1120-1290 and for the ACT, it is 24-29. The school has a 56.93% acceptance rate.
Milwaukee School of Engineering
MSOE has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1190-1350 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 60.09% acceptance rate.
Morehouse College
Morehouse has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1010-1210 and for the ACT, it is 20-25. The school has a 57.88% acceptance rate.
Pratt Institute
The Pratt Institute has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying for the Fall 2021 semester.
The accepted SAT range is 1190-1410 and for the ACT, it is 25-30. The school has a 48.72% acceptance rate.
San Diego State University
The Cal State system has extended its temporary test-free policy (meaning they will not consider standardized test scores) to the 2021-22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1110-1290 and for the ACT, it is 22-29. The school has a 36.70% acceptance rate.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1120-1310 and for the ACT, it is 23-29. The school has a 61.40% acceptance rate.
Texas Lutheran University
Texas Lutheran University has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for domestic first-year applicants, in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 990-1160 and for the ACT, it is 20-24. The school has a 55.73% acceptance rate.
Thomas Aquinas College
Thomas Aquinas College requires that applicants take the SAT, the ACT, or the CLT. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
The accepted SAT range is 1050-1390 and for the ACT, it is 26-31. The school has a 78.92% acceptance rate.
Truman State University
Truman State University has approved a one-year Test Flexible policy, which means that while they prefer students to submit SAT or ACT scores, applications will still be evaluated without them for students who couldn’t submit. Students applying without test scores must submit an essay and may be asked to provide additional information.
Though it should be noted that Test scores are required to qualify for some scholarships or programs.
The accepted SAT range is 1150-1350 and for the ACT, it is 24-31. The school has a 62.61% acceptance rate.
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii has approved a one-year, test-optional policy for applicants in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1060-1260 and for the ACT, it is 20-26. The school has a 62.44% acceptance rate.
University of Texas—Austin
Austin has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1220-1450 and for the ACT, it is 26-33. The school has a 31.95% acceptance rate.
University of Miami
The University of Miami has extended its temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1260-1400 and for the ACT, it is 28-32. The school has a 33.09% acceptance rate.
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa has extended its temporary test-optional policy to Fall 2022.
The accepted SAT range is 1090-1360 and for the ACT, it is 24-31. The school has a 35.84% acceptance rate.
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute has approved a one-year test-optional policy for applicants in the 2020-21 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1070-1260 and for the ACT, it is 22-28. The school has a 59.88% acceptance rate.
Westmont College
Westmont College has approved a one-year test-optional policy for students applying to the Spring and Fall 2021 semesters.
The accepted SAT range is 1110-1330 and for the ACT, it is 21-30. The school has a 63.83% acceptance rate.
Elite Schools
Harvard College
Harvard has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1460-1580 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 5.01% acceptance
Stanford University
Stanford has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1420-1550 and for the ACT, it is 31-35. The school has a 5.19% acceptance rate.
Princeton University
Princeton has extended its temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1470-1560 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 5.78% acceptance rate.
Columbia University
Columbia has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1500-1560 and for the ACT, it is 34-35. The school has a 6.35% acceptance rate.
Yale University
Yale has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1470-1560 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 6.53% acceptance rate.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT has extended its temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1510-1570 and for the ACT, it is 34-36. The school has a 7.26% acceptance rate.
Brown University
Brown has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1440-1550 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 7.67% acceptance rate.
Duke University
Duke has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1480-1570 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 7.69% acceptance rate.
University of Pennsylvania
UPenn has extended its temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admissions cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1460-1570 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has an 8.98% acceptance rate.
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins has extended their temporary test-optional policy to the 2021–22 admission cycle.
The accepted SAT range is 1470-1570 and for the ACT, it is 33-35. The school has a 9.74% acceptance rate.
FAQ on SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for Popular Colleges in the US
What is the minimum SAT score requirement in the USA?
The SAT uses a scale of 400-1600 but it’s advised you have a minimum target of 1000.
Can I be admitted to Harvard with a new SAT score of 1290?
No. The accepted SAT range is 1460-1580 and for the ACT, it is 33-35.
How much can a high SAT score help in college admissions?
A strong SAT score can raise your chances of getting into a particular college. While there’s no standard for a “good” SAT score, it’s best to aim for at least 1200. More importantly, aim for an SAT score that’s within or higher than your school’s middle 50%
What college will you get into with a 1,550 SAT score?
All colleges. You will have to make a choice.