8 schools · SAT 1380–1560

Selective Private University SAT Score Requirements

The short answer

These eight selective private universities admit a middle 50% between 1380 and 1560. NYU sets the highest floor at a 1470 25th percentile; Boston University is the most reachable at 1380. This is the tier where a strong-but-not-perfect score — somewhere in the 1450–1520 range — genuinely moves the needle rather than merely clearing a bar.

All 8 schools compared

School	25th	75th	Average	Math	R&W	GPA	Accept
NYUNew York, NY	1470	1560	1515	750–790	720–770	3.85	8.0%
Notre DameNotre Dame, IN	1460	1550	1505	740–790	720–770	4.06	12.0%
TuftsMedford, MA	1460	1540	1500	740–790	720–760	4.04	9.7%
EmoryAtlanta, GA	1450	1530	1490	740–790	710–760	3.92	11.0%
USCLos Angeles, CA	1440	1540	1490	730–790	700–760	3.88	9.9%
GeorgetownWashington, DC	1420	1540	1480	720–780	700–770	4.01	12.0%
BCChestnut Hill, MA	1420	1530	1475	720–780	700–760	3.96	15.0%
BUBoston, MA	1380	1510	1445	710–780	670–740	3.88	10.7%

25th and 75th percentile composite scores of admitted students, with Math and Reading & Writing section ranges. Sorted most selective first. Percentiles describe the admitted class, not a cutoff.

How to read these numbers

The strategic value of this tier is that the score still does work. At the Ivy and elite-private level, nearly every applicant has a high score and admissions turn on other factors. Here, with acceptance rates from 8% to 15%, moving from a 1420 to a 1500 measurably changes your position in the pool.

NYU and Boston University are the two worth reading carefully, because both admit across a very wide range of programs with materially different bars. A composite that looks comfortable against the university-wide numbers can be well below the standard for a specific competitive school within it — Tisch, Stern, and similar programs operate on their own terms.

Georgetown is the outlier on process rather than score. It has historically required applicants to submit all sittings of the SAT rather than superscoring a best-of, which changes how you should plan test dates: retaking carries visible downside there that it does not carry at a school which superscores.

School by school

New York University

1470–1560 · 8.0% accepted

The middle 50% SAT range at NYU is 1470 to 1560. Admitted students average 1515, with Stern School of Business admits averaging 1530+.

NYU admissions has become intensely competitive with an acceptance rate around 8%. Submitting a 1500+ score gives applicants a substantial edge.

Testing policy

Test-optional / Test-flexible

Stern applicants should focus on 760+ Math and data interpretation mastery.

University of Notre Dame

1460–1550 · 12.0% accepted

The middle 50% SAT range at the University of Notre Dame is 1460 to 1550 (Math: 740–790, Reading & Writing: 720–770).

Notre Dame evaluates applicants holistically with an emphasis on character and academic rigor. Scores above 1500 stand out.

Testing policy

Test-optional through 2025–2026

Mendoza College of Business applicants should target 760+ Math.

Tufts University

1460–1540 · 9.7% accepted

Tufts University admitted students report a middle 50% SAT score range of 1460 to 1540 (Math: 740–790, Reading & Writing: 720–760).

Tufts looks for global perspective and active citizenship. Submitting a score above 1500 bolsters your application profile.

Testing policy

Test-optional through 2025–2026

Focus on vocabulary in context and concise grammar rules.

Emory University

1450–1530 · 11.0% accepted

The middle 50% SAT score range at Emory University is 1450 to 1530 (Math: 740–790, Reading & Writing: 710–760). Admitted students average a 1490 composite.

Located in Atlanta, Emory is renowned for liberal arts and pre-health programs. A 1500+ composite places applicants in Emory's top tier.

Testing policy

Test-optional through 2025–2026

Pre-health applicants should aim for 750+ on both Math and R&W.

University of Southern California

1440–1540 · 9.9% accepted

The middle 50% SAT score range at USC is 1440 to 1540 (Math: 730–790, Reading & Writing: 700–760).

USC attracts students worldwide for cinema, business (Marshall), and engineering (Viterbi). Scores above 1500 stand out in admissions.

Testing policy

Test-optional through 2026–2027

Target 740+ on both sections to place in USC's top quartile.

Georgetown University

1420–1540 · 12.0% accepted

Georgetown University requires all applicants to submit official SAT or ACT scores from all test dates, with admitted students posting a 1420 to 1540 middle 50% range.

Georgetown does not participate in Score Choice; you must submit all sittings. A 1500+ is competitive for Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Testing policy

Standardized testing strictly required (All scores must be submitted)

Prepare thoroughly for your first sitting since Georgetown requests all score reports.

Boston College

1420–1530 · 15.0% accepted

The middle 50% SAT range at Boston College is 1420 to 1530 (Math: 720–780, Reading & Writing: 700–760).

Located in Chestnut Hill, BC's Carroll School of Management and Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences look for 1480+ test scores.

Testing policy

Test-optional

Carroll School of Management applicants should prioritize 750+ Math.

Boston University

1380–1510 · 10.7% accepted

The middle 50% SAT score range at Boston University is 1380 to 1510 (Math: 710–780, Reading & Writing: 670–740).

BU has become highly selective with an acceptance rate near 10%. Scores above 1480 place you in the top quartile of admitted applicants.

Testing policy

Test-optional through Fall 2026

Aim for a 730+ on SAT Math to strengthen STEM applications at BU.

Frequently asked questions

What SAT score do you need for NYU?

NYU’s middle 50% is 1470–1560 with an 8% acceptance rate. Target 1520+. Note that competitive individual schools within NYU, such as Stern, admit at a higher bar than the university-wide range suggests.

Is a 1450 a good score for these schools?

Yes. A 1450 sits inside the middle 50% at Emory, Georgetown, USC, Boston College and Boston University, and just below it at Notre Dame, Tufts and NYU. It is a genuinely competitive score across most of this tier.

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