Purdue

Purdue SAT and ACT Requirements

Purdue is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1200 to 1480 on the SAT and 27 to 34 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1200–1480

ACT middle 50%

27–34

Acceptance rate

50%

Purdue SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	600	720
Math	600	760
Total	1200	1480
ACT Composite	27	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 1200: 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.
1200 to 1480: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1480: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1200 is in range Other colleges where a 1480 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Purdue'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 Purdue require the SAT or ACT?

Purdue is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. Purdue accepts SAT, ACT, or CLT scores if submitted, with no preference on which test, and evaluates them as one holistic factor when provided — scores are not mandated for review.

What SAT score do you need for Purdue?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1200, half scored between 1200 and 1480, and a quarter scored above 1480. A score at or above 1480 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1200 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Purdue?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 27 to 34 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1280 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: Purdue admissions, verified for 2026-27.