Dartmouth SAT Scores and ACT Scores: Testing Required (2026)

Dartmouth requires the SAT or ACT again, and it reads every score against your own high school. Here are the latest ranges, the policy for fall 2027, and the test dates still open to Regular Decision applicants.

Dartmouth's enrolled first-years scored 1440 to 1550 on the SAT (middle 50 percent, median 1520) and 32 to 35 on the ACT (median 34), according to Dartmouth's 2025-26 Common Data Set, which covers the students who entered in fall 2025, the Class of 2029. Those are the scores of students who enrolled and submitted a test, not a cutoff. Dartmouth also requires the SAT or ACT from applicants at U.S. high schools, so if you are applying for fall 2027, a score is part of your file whether you like your number or not.

This guide covers what the ranges mean, exactly what the testing policy says, how Dartmouth weighs a score in context, and which SAT and ACT dates still count for a Regular Decision application due January 1.

Dartmouth SAT and ACT Scores at a Glance

Every number in this table comes from section C9 of Dartmouth's 2025-26 Common Data Set. The population is first-time, first-year students enrolled in fall 2025 who submitted that test.

The same report says 69 percent of the class (826 students) submitted SAT scores and 33 percent (392 students) submitted ACT scores. The two add up to more than 100 percent because some students sent both. Dartmouth's Class of 2029 profile puts the share of the class submitting testing at 99 percent, which makes sense: this was the first class admitted after Dartmouth brought the requirement back.

Two things stand out. First, Math runs higher than Reading and Writing at the median (770 vs 750) and the 75th percentile (790 vs 770), so a 700 in Math sits further below the typical enrolled student than a 700 in Reading and Writing. Second, the 25th percentile is not a floor. A quarter of enrolled submitters scored 1440 or lower, and Dartmouth says plainly there is no minimum.

Dartmouth Requires the SAT or ACT for Fall 2027

Dartmouth's testing guidelines open with one sentence: "Standardized testing is a required element of Dartmouth's undergraduate application." Dartmouth announced the change on February 5, 2024, reactivating the requirement beginning with applicants to the Class of 2029, and the Common Data Set lists the SAT or ACT as "required to be considered for admission" for students applying for fall 2027. Here is what the policy says in practice:

• U.S. high school students must submit the SAT or the ACT. Dartmouth has no preference between the two.
• Students at high schools outside the U.S. can meet the requirement in one of five ways: the SAT or ACT, three AP exams, IB Diploma results, British A-Levels, or an equivalent national exam.
• Both tests are superscored automatically. Dartmouth takes your highest section scores across test dates. Our guide to the ACT superscore explains how that works on the ACT side.
• Score Choice is allowed for the SAT, so you decide which test dates to send.
• ACT Writing is optional. Leaving it out does not prevent a full review.
• Self-reporting works. You can enter scores on the application; students who enroll must then send official scores. If you are sending official reports, see how to send SAT scores to colleges.

How Dartmouth Reads Your Score in Context

Dartmouth is unusually open about how it uses a score. Its research found that a test result is most useful when compared with other test takers at the same high school, and its announcement of the requirement says students who score at or above the 75th percentile of test takers at their own school are well prepared to succeed at Dartmouth.

The admitted classes reflect that. In the Early Decision round for the Class of 2028, 94 percent of accepted students who shared testing scored at or above the 75th percentile of test takers at their high school. In the Class of 2029 profile, 90 percent of enrolled students whose file included the figure had an SAT or ACT at or above the 75th percentile of their high school class.

What this means for you: a 1400 from a school where most students score near 1000 can be a strong signal, even though it sits under Dartmouth's 25th percentile. Dartmouth's own announcement makes the same point, describing a score below the class mean but several hundred points above the mean at the student's school as "high." A 1400 from a school where the top quarter scores 1500 tells a different story. Your counselor's school profile is what Dartmouth will read your number against, so ask what the score distribution at your school looks like.

Testing still matters a lot. In the Common Data Set, Dartmouth rates standardized test scores as "very important," the same level as the rigor of your high school record, your GPA, class rank, essays and recommendations. Interviews are "considered" and are not required for any first-year applicant.

Deadlines and the Last Test Dates That Count

Dartmouth has two first-year rounds, listed on its application page:

The Early Decision deadline has passed, so if you applied ED, your November SAT scores will reach Dartmouth when they are ready; Dartmouth says you do not need to rush them. For the Class of 2029, Dartmouth received 3,552 Early Decision applications and admitted 768 students through that plan, out of 1,699 admits in all from 28,230 applications (a 6.0 percent acceptance rate).

If you are applying Regular Decision and want one more attempt, the December dates are your last ones:

• SAT on December 5, 2026. Register by November 20, or by November 24 with a late fee, per College Board. A seven-week plan is in how to study for the December 5 SAT.
• ACT on December 12, 2026. ACT extended the regular deadline to November 9; the late deadline is November 29, per ACT. See how to study for the December 12 ACT.

What Score Should You Aim For at Dartmouth?

There is no official target, so treat these as our reading of the Common Data Set rather than Dartmouth policy:

• 1520 or higher (34 or higher on the ACT): at or above the median of enrolled submitters. Your score is unlikely to be the question in your file.
• 1440 to 1510 (32 to 33): inside the middle 50 percent. Send it; context and the rest of your application carry the decision.
• Below 1440 (below 32): under the 25th percentile. Because testing is required, you send your best score either way. If it is well above the typical score at your high school, Dartmouth's own research says that is a positive signal. If there is time before the December test, a focused retake on your weaker section is usually worth more than a full-length test every weekend.

If you are still building toward this range, how to get a 1500 on the SAT lays out a section-by-section plan, and the score calculator shows how section scores add up. Students choosing between the tests can start with SAT vs ACT.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dartmouth SAT Scores

What SAT score do you need for Dartmouth?

Dartmouth has no minimum. Enrolled first-years in fall 2025 who submitted the SAT scored 1440 to 1550 (middle 50 percent), with a median of 1520, according to Dartmouth's 2025-26 Common Data Set.

Is Dartmouth test optional for 2026-27?

No. Dartmouth requires the SAT or ACT from applicants at U.S. high schools. Students at high schools outside the U.S. can also use AP, IB, A-Level or national exam results.

What ACT score do you need for Dartmouth?

Enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted the ACT scored 32 to 35 (middle 50 percent), with a median of 34. About a third of the class submitted an ACT.

Does Dartmouth superscore the SAT and ACT?

Yes. Dartmouth automatically superscores both tests, taking your highest section scores across test dates. It also allows Score Choice for the SAT.

What is the last SAT date for Dartmouth Regular Decision?

Dartmouth lists December as the last SAT and ACT month for Regular Decision. For this cycle that means the December 5, 2026 SAT or the December 12, 2026 ACT.

If your December test is your last shot at Dartmouth's range, short daily practice on your weakest section beats cramming. Larry Learns has 30,000+ SAT and ACT practice questions on web, iPhone and Android, a score estimate that tracks your progress, and 3 free quizzes a day. Try a free practice quiz, or create a free account to keep your streak going.