NYU

NYU SAT and ACT Requirements

NYU is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1480 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1480–1560

ACT middle 50%

34–35

Acceptance rate

7.7%

NYU SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	720	760
Math	760	800
Total	1480	1560
ACT Composite	34	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 1480: 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.
1480 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.

Other colleges where a 1480 is in range Other colleges where a 1560 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me NYU's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does NYU require the SAT or ACT?

NYU is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. NYU confirms on its official site: 'NYU will continue to remain test-optional through the 2027-2028 application cycle.' If scores are submitted, only one testing format is used; SAT, ACT, APs, IB, A-Levels, and other exams are all accepted flexibly.

What SAT score do you need for NYU?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1480, half scored between 1480 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 1480 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for NYU?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 34 to 35 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1500 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: NYU admissions, verified for 2026-27.