Princeton
Princeton SAT and ACT Requirements
Princeton is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1510 to 1580 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT.
2026-27 policy
Test-Optional
SAT middle 50%
1510–1580
ACT middle 50%
34–35
Acceptance rate
4.6%
Announced change: required from 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 entry)
Princeton SAT scores by section
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 740 | 780 |
| Math | 770 | 800 |
| Total | 1510 | 1580 |
| 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 1510: 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.
- 1510 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 Princeton require the SAT or ACT?
Princeton is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Princeton remains test-optional for the CURRENT 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry): 'Students who opt to apply to Princeton in the 2026-27 cycle without an ACT or SAT score will not be at a disadvantage.' Princeton will require SAT/ACT scores beginning with the 2027-28 admission cycle (fall 2028 entry).
What SAT score do you need for Princeton?
The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1510, half scored between 1510 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 1510 works against you.
What ACT score do you need for Princeton?
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: Princeton admissions, verified for 2026-27.
