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New York University

Middle 50% SAT
1480
to
1550
Acceptance
9.1% (fall 2025, 114,125 applicants)
Typical GPA

Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.

New York University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1480 to 1550 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1520; 27% submitted SAT). We use 1520 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.

The numbers

Middle 50% SAT1480 to 1550 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1520; 27% submitted SAT)
Acceptance rate9.1% (fall 2025, 114,125 applicants)
Testing for 2026-27Optional through the 2027-28 cycle
TypePrivate university

Source: NYU official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.

27% of NYU's enrollees submitted an SAT score; NYU superscores and lets AP/IB/A-Level scores substitute.

Where NYU sits among New York colleges

SchoolMiddle 50% SATAcceptance
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering1510 to 15604.9%
Cornell University1490 to 15508.4%
New York University1480 to 15509.1%
Binghamton University1320 to 148037.3%
Stony Brook University1350 to 147048.2%
Fordham University1355 to 147047%

Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for New York Colleges.

Scholarship money tied to the SAT in New York

New York has no SAT-cutoff state scholarship; score-tied money comes from competitive campus merit awards like UB's Presidential Scholarship and from HESC's Regents-based Scholarships for Academic Excellence.

University at Buffalo Presidential Scholarship: $15,000/year for NY residents, up to $22,000/year for out-of-state or international students, through the Honors College, capped at cost of attendance.

NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence: $1,500 or $500 a year for up to 4 years at a NYS college, based on high-school nomination from Regents performance.

The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our New York SAT prep page.

Colleges in other states with a similar SAT range

CollegeStateMiddle 50% SAT
Brown UniversityRhode Island1470 to 1550
Emory UniversityGeorgia1480 to 1540
Williams CollegeMassachusetts1490 to 1550
Yale UniversityConnecticut1480 to 1560

A score that is competitive at NYU lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.

More for New York families

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Quick answers

What SAT score do you need for NYU?

There is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1480 to 1550. A score at or above 1550 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1480 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.

Is NYU test-optional?

Yes. NYU lists its policy as: Optional through the 2027-28 cycle. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.

What is NYU's acceptance rate?

9.1% (fall 2025, 114,125 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.

Does a score above the range guarantee admission?

No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.

Want to know what your teen needs for NYU? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.

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