NYU SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: April 25, 2026

Key Takeaways

• NYU's admitted-student SAT middle 50 is approximately 1530 to 1570 and ACT middle 50 is 33 to 35. Among enrolled students, the median SAT is 1520 and median ACT is 34.
• NYU is test-optional through the 2026-2027 application cycle, with one of the most flexible testing policies in higher education. Applicants choose one of: SAT, ACT, three AP exams, IB Diploma or three Higher-Level IB exams, A-Level, or other recognized international qualifications. Or they apply with no test.
• Only 28 percent of enrolled NYU students submitted SAT scores. Only 10 percent submitted ACT. Most NYU applicants now go test-optional or use AP/IB/A-Level alternatives.
• NYU received over 120,000 applications for the Class of 2029 and admitted just 7.7 percent. Three colleges within NYU (Arts & Science, Stern, Nursing) admit at under 5 percent.
• NYU superscores both the SAT and ACT across test dates. The application requires only one letter of recommendation. Early Decision is binding and offers a substantial admit-rate advantage.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for NYU?

NYU does not publish a minimum and uses a deeply holistic review. What it does publish, through the NYU Undergraduate Admissions office and Common Data Set, are middle 50 percent ranges for admitted students who submitted scores:

Among score submitters, half of NYU's admits scored inside 1530 to 1570 (SAT) or 33 to 35 (ACT). Practical target: aim for a 1550 SAT or a 34 ACT to land in the middle of the score-submitting admit pool. A 1530 or 33 keeps you competitive. A 1570 or 35 puts you at or above most admits.

These ranges look elite because they are. NYU's SAT 25th percentile (1530) is at or above the 75th percentile of most flagship state universities, including Penn State, Auburn, and Clemson. The applicants who submit scores to NYU tend to be the strongest test-takers in the pool.

NYU Has the Most Flexible Testing Policy in American Higher Education

NYU's test-optional policy continues through the 2026-2027 application cycle, but the more interesting feature is what counts as a "test" if you do submit. NYU accepts any one of the following:

• SAT or ACT. Standard option. Must be taken within 5 years of application and officially sent.
• Three AP exam scores. Must cover one humanities, one math/science, and one elective. Stern (business) and Tandon (engineering) applicants must include math among the three.
• IB Diploma program completion or three IB Higher Level exam scores.
• A-Level or other recognized international qualifications (CAPE, French Bac, German Abitur, etc.).
• No test at all. NYU explicitly states that test-optional applicants are not at a disadvantage in review.

You only submit one form of testing. If you have both SAT and AP scores, you choose which to send. NYU does not require or expect multiple test types from the same applicant.

Should You Submit Test Scores to NYU?

Because only 28 percent of enrolled NYU students submitted SAT scores and only 10 percent submitted ACT, the test-optional pathway is genuinely the dominant choice. But the framework for whether you should submit comes down to whether your scores match the admitted profile:

• SAT 1530 or higher, or ACT 33 or higher. Submit. You are at or above the 25th percentile of submitters. Scores strengthen the file.
• SAT 1480 to 1520, or ACT 32. Judgment call. You are below the admitted 25th percentile but not by much. If your AP scores are strong (5s on 3+ exams), submit AP scores instead of the SAT or ACT. If you have only the SAT or ACT and the rest of your file is exceptional, you can submit, but going test-optional is also reasonable.
• SAT 1470 or lower, or ACT 31 or lower. Go test-optional. Submitting below NYU's admitted 25th percentile is a net negative at NYU's 7.7 percent admit rate.
• If you have strong AP or IB scores instead. Submit those. NYU treats AP and IB submissions as equivalent signals, and they often differentiate an applicant whose SAT is borderline.

NYU Class of 2029: By the Numbers

NYU's Class of 2029 was the most selective in the university's history. Headline figures from NYU Admissions and the most recent Common Data Set:

Two things stand out. First, NYU's admit rate has fallen below most Ivy peers in raw terms. A 7.7 percent admit rate puts NYU below Cornell and Dartmouth in selectivity by application volume. Second, the affordability story matters: NYU now offers full tuition coverage for families earning under $100,000 per year, which has driven the application surge.

NYU Schools Have Different Admission Rates

Unlike most universities, NYU admits to specific undergraduate schools, and the gap between schools is wider than at any other selective US university. The NYU school you apply to shapes both the bar and the type of evidence the reader is looking for:

• College of Arts & Science (CAS): NYU's liberal arts core. Class of 2029 admit rate well under 5 percent. Strong essays, intellectual depth, and a clear academic direction matter.
• Stern School of Business: Admit rate under 5 percent. Quantitative strength is essential. Stern's expectation of math evidence (whether through SAT Math, ACT Math, AP Calculus, or IB Math HL) is more rigid than other schools at NYU.
• Tandon School of Engineering: Slightly more accessible than CAS or Stern, but still highly selective. Math evidence required. Tandon admits often have AP Calculus AB or BC scores or A-Level Mathematics.
• Tisch School of the Arts: Admission depends heavily on a creative portfolio or audition for performance disciplines. Academic profile matters less than the artistic submission, though the academic floor is still high.
• Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development: Generally more accessible than CAS or Stern. Admission rates closer to NYU's overall 7.7 percent than to the under-5 percent schools.
• Rory Meyers College of Nursing: Admit rate under 5 percent. Highly competitive, with a strong science profile expected.
• Liberal Studies Program: A two-year core followed by transition into NYU's degree-granting schools. Slightly higher admit rate than direct CAS admission.
• Gallatin School of Individualized Study: Self-designed concentration. Admission emphasizes the strength of the proposed concentration.

NYU Early Decision: Substantial Boost, Binding Commitment

NYU offers two binding Early Decision rounds and Regular Decision. ED admit rates are not officially published but, per NYU Admissions, "historically more than double" the overall rate, suggesting roughly 15 percent for ED applicants versus 7.7 percent overall.

Two practical notes on NYU ED:

• ED I and ED II both bind. If admitted, you must enroll. The release condition is demonstrated financial need that NYU's aid offer does not meet, in which case you can be released from the agreement.
• ED II is genuine second-chance ED. Some students use ED II after a deferral or rejection from a different ED I school. The January 1 deadline aligns with most Regular Decision deadlines, so ED II can be submitted at the same time as RD apps elsewhere.
• Financial aid is honored at ED. NYU's "no-tuition for under $100K family income" policy applies to admitted students at any decision round. The CSS Profile and FAFSA must be submitted by November 1 for ED I.

What NYU Weighs Beyond Test Scores

At a 7.7 percent admit rate with most applicants going test-optional, NYU's reader is leaning hard on non-test signals. In rough order:

1. Academic record and rigor. Transcripts are read carefully, and course choice (especially in the intended major area) carries strong weight.
2. School-specific fit. A Stern application without quantitative evidence reads differently than a Tisch application without an audition tape. Apply to the right school within NYU.
3. Common App essay and NYU supplement. NYU asks a "why NYU" question that should not be generic. Specific programs, courses, faculty, or NYC-specific opportunities matter.
4. Activities and demonstrated impact. One or two areas of sustained, deep commitment beat a long list of shallow involvements. NYU rewards specialization.
5. Letter of recommendation. NYU requires only one. Choose a teacher who can speak specifically to your intellectual engagement, not the most senior or famous one.
6. Test scores or AP/IB equivalents, if submitted. Confirm the academic profile when in range.
7. Demonstrated interest. NYU does not formally track demonstrated interest, but ED I or ED II is a strong commitment signal in itself.

NYU vs Peer Selective Universities

NYU's applicant pool overlaps heavily with Ivy-plus schools, top private universities, and selective publics in the Northeast. How NYU compares:

NYU's admitted score profile sits at Ivy-peer levels (similar to Cornell and Northwestern). NYU's admit rate (~7.7 percent) runs slightly tighter than Cornell's (~8.5 percent) and Northwestern's (~7 percent). The single biggest differentiator is the testing flexibility — NYU is the only university on this list that fully accepts AP exams or A-Levels in lieu of SAT or ACT. Cornell and BU have both returned to required testing for Fall 2026 entry, while Columbia is now the only Ivy League with a permanent test-optional policy.

A Realistic Prep Plan for NYU-Level Scores

If NYU is on your list and your current practice SAT is 1380 or ACT is 31, here is a reasonable pathway:

1. Sophomore spring. Take one timed official SAT (Bluebook) and one ACT. Pick the higher percentile test and commit. If you are on a strong AP track, also note which APs you can target for 5s.
2. Junior fall. Structured prep. Four to five hours per week plus a full timed test every two weeks. Focus on your weakest section first.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. NYU superscores, so build the composite across multiple sittings rather than chasing a single perfect date.
4. Junior spring AP exams. Take three or more AP exams in May, including one humanities, one math/science, and one elective. Strong AP scores are a viable substitute for SAT or ACT submission at NYU.
5. Summer before senior year. Heavy prep window. Aim for mastery of the hardest question types in your weakest section.
6. Senior fall. Second and possibly third sitting. Get scores back by mid-October for ED I (Nov 1) or by mid-December for ED II / RD (Jan 1 / Jan 5).

For NYU, the key score targets are 1530 SAT or 33 ACT (admitted 25th percentile) and 1570 SAT or 35 ACT (admitted 75th percentile). For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you, see our SAT vs ACT guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About NYU SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for NYU?

Approximately 1550 for admitted score submitters, based on a middle 50 of 1530 to 1570. Among enrolled students who submitted SAT, the median is 1520. Only 28 percent of enrolled students submitted SAT scores.

What is the average ACT score for NYU?

Approximately 34 composite, with a middle 50 of 33 to 35. Only 10 percent of enrolled students submitted ACT scores.

What are NYU's SAT requirements?

NYU is test-optional. No SAT score is required. If you submit, the admitted middle 50 is 1530 to 1570. NYU superscores the SAT across test dates. NYU also accepts ACT, three AP exams, IB Diploma or three IB HL exams, A-Levels, or other recognized international qualifications as alternatives.

What are NYU's ACT requirements?

NYU is test-optional. No ACT score is required. If you submit, the admitted ACT middle 50 composite is 33 to 35. NYU superscores the ACT across test dates.

Does NYU require the SAT or ACT?

No. NYU is test-optional through the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. You can apply with no test scores at all, or with one of: SAT, ACT, three AP exams, IB Diploma or three IB Higher Level exams, A-Level, or recognized international qualifications.

Does NYU accept AP exams instead of the SAT?

Yes. Three AP exam scores (one humanities, one math/science, one elective) qualify as a complete testing submission. Stern and Tandon applicants must include a math AP among the three.

Does NYU superscore the SAT?

Yes. NYU combines your highest Reading & Writing and your highest Math scores across all SAT sittings into a new superscore.

Does NYU superscore the ACT?

Yes. NYU uses the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science subscores across dates to build a superscored composite.

What GPA do I need for NYU?

NYU does not publish a formal GPA minimum. The average admitted high school GPA is 3.81. Practically, admitted students generally have unweighted GPAs of 3.85 or higher in a rigorous AP, IB, or honors-loaded curriculum.

What is NYU's acceptance rate?

Approximately 7.7 percent for the Class of 2029, based on more than 120,000 applications. Three undergraduate schools at NYU (Arts & Science, Stern, Nursing) admit at under 5 percent. Tandon, Steinhardt, and Liberal Studies are slightly more accessible.

When is the NYU application deadline?

Early Decision I is November 1, with decisions in mid-December. Early Decision II is January 1, with decisions in mid-February. Regular Decision is January 5, with decisions in late March or early April. ED I and ED II are both binding; RD is not.

Is NYU Early Decision binding?

Yes. Both ED I and ED II are binding. If admitted, you must enroll at NYU and withdraw all other applications. The release condition is demonstrated financial need that NYU's aid offer does not meet.

Does NYU offer financial aid for low-income families?

Yes. NYU now meets full demonstrated financial need for admitted students, and families earning under $100,000 annually pay no tuition. The CSS Profile and FAFSA are required for aid consideration.

Does NYU require letters of recommendation?

One letter of recommendation is required, from a teacher, counselor, coach, supervisor, or other authority figure who can speak to your character and abilities. NYU's single-letter requirement is lighter than most peer selective schools, which typically require two teacher letters plus a counselor.

How does NYU compare to Cornell or Columbia?

NYU's admitted-student profile is comparable to Cornell's and slightly below Columbia's. Cornell returned to test-required for Fall 2026; Columbia is permanently test-optional; NYU is test-optional through the 2026-2027 cycle. NYU's overall admit rate (~7.7 percent) is close to Cornell (~8.5 percent) and well above Columbia (~4 percent). NYU's testing flexibility is unique on this tier — the option to apply with three AP scores instead of an SAT or ACT does not exist at any Ivy-peer school.