Cornell
Cornell SAT and ACT Requirements
Cornell requires SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1500 to 1570 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Required
SAT middle 50%
1500–1570
ACT middle 50%
33–35
Acceptance rate
8.8%
Cornell SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 730 | 770 |
| Math | 770 | 800 |
| Total | 1500 | 1570 |
| 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 1500: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here.
- 1500 to 1570: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
- Above 1570: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does Cornell require the SAT or ACT?
Cornell requires SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 cycle. Cornell's official policy page states: 'Effective for Fall 2026 and beyond, first-year applicants are required to submit the SAT or ACT.' This applies uniformly across all Cornell undergraduate colleges/schools (no college-specific testing exceptions) and is already in effect for the current 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry), since 'fall 2026 and beyond' includes it.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1500, half scored between 1500 and 1570, and a quarter scored above 1570. A score at or above 1570 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1500 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for Cornell?
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: Cornell admissions, verified for 2026-27.
