Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of Cincinnati reports a middle 50% SAT of 1160 to 1350 (enrolled, fall 2024 CDS 2024-25, C9). We use 1260 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1160 to 1350 (enrolled, fall 2024 CDS 2024-25, C9) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 24 to 29 |
| Acceptance rate | 85.3% (fall 2024 CDS 2024-25, 34,285 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional |
| Type | Public university |
Source: Cincinnati official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Only about 11% of UC's enrolled fall-2024 first-years submitted an SAT score, 31% an ACT score.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | 1440 to 1530 | 35.3% |
| Ohio State University | 1300 to 1440 | 49.2% |
| Denison University | 1270 to 1420 | 19.5% |
| Miami University | 1240 to 1378 | 75.4% |
| University of Dayton | 1210 to 1350 | 66.6% |
| University of Cincinnati | 1160 to 1350 | 85.3% |
| Ohio University | 1130 to 1300 | 85.2% |
| Wright State University | 910 to 1250 | 96.2% |
| Kent State University | 990 to 1230 | 62.7% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Ohio Colleges.
Ohio has no statewide SAT-cutoff cash scholarship; the clearest published SAT-tiered money in the state is Ohio State's own automatic scholarship grid for Ohio residents.
President's Ohio Scholarship Program (Ohio State University): Full cost of attendance, renewable for 8 full-time semesters, for Ohio-resident first-years admitted to the Columbus campus who apply by the Nov 1 priority deadline.
Excellence Scholarship (Ohio State University): Full tuition each year it's renewed (minimum 2.5 GPA required to keep it), for U.S.-citizen Columbus-campus admits.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Ohio SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Beloit College | Wisconsin | 1110 to 1400 |
| James Madison University | Virginia | 1180 to 1330 |
| Iowa State University | Iowa | 1153 to 1360 |
| Belmont University | Tennessee | 1160 to 1360 |
A score that is competitive at Cincinnati lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1160 to 1350. A score at or above 1350 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1160 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. Cincinnati lists its policy as: Test-optional. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
85.3% (fall 2024 CDS 2024-25, 34,285 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
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 Cincinnati? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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