Barnard College
Barnard College SAT and ACT Requirements
Barnard College is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1470 to 1560 on the SAT and 32 to 34 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Test-Optional
SAT middle 50%
1470–1560
ACT middle 50%
32–34
Acceptance rate
8.8%
Barnard College SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 730 | 770 |
| Math | 740 | 790 |
| Total | 1470 | 1560 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 34 |
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 1470: 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.
- 1470 to 1560: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
- Above 1560: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does Barnard College require the SAT or ACT?
Barnard College is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Barnard's dedicated 'Temporary Test-Optional Policy' page explicitly states: 'Barnard is currently test-optional for students applying for Fall 2027 (First-Year class of 2031), as well as Transfer applicants applying for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027.' This directly and explicitly names the current cycle. The policy is labeled temporary and the page adds 'The test-optional policy will be revisited in the future,' with no specific future cycle or date given for that review.
What SAT score do you need for Barnard College?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1470, half scored between 1470 and 1560, and a quarter scored above 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1470 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for Barnard College?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 32 to 34 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1430 to 1500.
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: Barnard College admissions, verified for 2026-27.
