Amherst
Amherst SAT and ACT Requirements
Amherst is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1490 to 1580 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Test-Optional
SAT middle 50%
1490–1580
ACT middle 50%
33–35
Acceptance rate
9%
Amherst SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 740 | 780 |
| Math | 750 | 800 |
| Total | 1490 | 1580 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 35 |
The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.
Where your score puts you
- Below 1490: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
- 1490 to 1580: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
- Above 1580: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does Amherst require the SAT or ACT?
Amherst is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Amherst is test-optional for all first-year applicants (domestic and international); no admissions advantage to submitting scores. Admitted students who submitted self-reported scores and choose to matriculate must send official scores after enrolling, but scores are not used in the admission decision itself if withheld.
What SAT score do you need for Amherst?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1490, half scored between 1490 and 1580, and a quarter scored above 1580. A score at or above 1580 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1490 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for Amherst?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 33 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1460 to 1540.
Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Amherst admissions, verified for 2026-27.
