Cornell is the only New York flagship that requires the SAT or ACT for Fall 2027; Columbia goes test-required starting Fall 2028, while NYU, the SUNY schools, and Fordham stay test-optional. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.
The table covers 7 colleges New York families apply to most, from the most selective to the large public universities. Read each cohort note before comparing numbers. The bottom rows show the score-based money New York families can earn: University at Buffalo Presidential Scholarship and NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence.
| School | SAT profile / cohort | ACT | Acceptance rate | Testing, fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | 1510-1560 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1540); 50% submitted SAT | Not published | 4.9% · fall 2025 | Optional (required starting the 2027-28 cycle) |
| Cornell University | 1490-1550 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1530); 1, 639 enrollees submitted SAT | Not published | 8.4% · fall 2025 | Required (SAT or ACT) |
| New York University | 1480-1550 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1520); 27% submitted SAT | Not published | 9.1% · fall 2025 | Optional through the 2027-28 cycle |
| Binghamton University | 1320-1480 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1410); 43% submitted SAT | Not published | 37.3% · fall 2025 | Optional |
| Stony Brook University | 1350-1470 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1410); 38% submitted SAT | Not published | 48.2% · fall 2025 | Optional |
| Fordham University | 1355-1470 · enrolled, Fall 2026 admissions profile (admitted range 1380-1490); 70.1% of enrollees sent no scores | Not published | 47% · fall 2026 | Optional ("for the foreseeable future") |
| University at Buffalo | Not published | 27-31 | 80.6% · fall 2025 | Optional |
| University at Buffalo Presidential Scholarship | Not required (test-optional this year) | See program rules | ~$60,000 NY residents / up to ~$88,000 out-of-state over 4 years | $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 | Not score-tied; based on Regents exam grades | See program rules | up to $6,000 over 4 years | $1,500 or $500 a year for up to 4 years at a NYS college, based on high-school nomination from Regents performance |
Cohort notes: Columbia: Columbia stays optional through 2026-27 but requires testing starting the 2027-28 cycle. Cornell: Cornell reinstated its testing requirement starting with Fall 2026 entry and beyond. NYU: 27% of NYU's enrollees submitted an SAT score; NYU superscores and lets AP/IB/A-Level scores substitute. Binghamton: 43% of Binghamton's enrollees submitted an SAT score, and the test choice can't be changed after applying. Stony Brook: 38% of Stony Brook's enrollees submitted an SAT score; only official scores count, with no self-reporting. Fordham: This Fall 2026 figure comes from Fordham's own admissions page, not a CDS, since the CDS is behind a SharePoint login. Buffalo: Most of Buffalo's admitted test submitters score 1170 or above on the SAT, per UB's own admissions page. These are not interchangeable measures.
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Find my teen's target scoreColumbia reports a 1510 to 1560 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1540); 50% submitted SAT). It admitted 4.9% of 59,611 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional (required starting the 2027-28 cycle). Columbia stays optional through 2026-27 but requires testing starting the 2027-28 cycle.
Cornell reports a 1490 to 1550 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1530); 1, 639 enrollees submitted SAT). It admitted 8.4% of 72,523 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Required (SAT or ACT). Cornell reinstated its testing requirement starting with Fall 2026 entry and beyond.
NYU reports a 1480 to 1550 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1520); 27% submitted SAT). It admitted 9.1% of 114,125 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional through the 2027-28 cycle. 27% of NYU's enrollees submitted an SAT score; NYU superscores and lets AP/IB/A-Level scores substitute.
Binghamton reports a 1320 to 1480 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1410); 43% submitted SAT). It admitted 37.3% of 61,188 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional. 43% of Binghamton's enrollees submitted an SAT score, and the test choice can't be changed after applying.
Stony Brook reports a 1350 to 1470 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1410); 38% submitted SAT). It admitted 48.2% of 64,197 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional. 38% of Stony Brook's enrollees submitted an SAT score; only official scores count, with no self-reporting.
Fordham reports a 1355 to 1470 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, Fall 2026 admissions profile (admitted range 1380-1490); 70.1% of enrollees sent no scores). It admitted 47% of 53,599 applicants (fall 2026). Testing for fall 2027: Optional ("for the foreseeable future"). This Fall 2026 figure comes from Fordham's own admissions page, not a CDS, since the CDS is behind a SharePoint login.
Buffalo does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 80.6% of 45,637 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 27-31. Testing for fall 2027: Optional. Most of Buffalo's admitted test submitters score 1170 or above on the SAT, per UB's own admissions page.
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: Not required (test-optional this year). $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: Not score-tied; based on Regents exam grades. $1,500 or $500 a year for up to 4 years at a NYS college, based on high-school nomination from Regents performance.
No income limit applies to the Scholarships for Academic Excellence, but recipients must attend a NYS college full-time the fall after graduation and file the FAFSA and TAP application each year. UB's Presidential Scholarship is a separate, competitive application due in early January.
NYU, Binghamton, Stony Brook and Fordham are test optional for fall 2027, so many families assume the score is irrelevant. The ranges above come from the students who chose to send one, and they sit well above the overall class. Columbia and Cornell still require a score. A strong score is one more reason for a school to say yes, and a weak one can simply stay home.
Yes. Since the Fall 2026 entering class, every first-year applicant to every Cornell undergraduate college must submit the SAT or ACT. Scores can be self-reported, and enrolling students then send official scores.
No. There is no SAT-cutoff state scholarship. Excelsior covers SUNY/CUNY tuition for families earning $125,000 or less, Scholarships for Academic Excellence pay $500 to $1,500 a year based on Regents grades, and the STEM Incentive goes to the top 10% of a class.
In NYC public schools, yes. Every 11th grader can take the SAT free on a spring school day and gets 4 free score sends. A weekend SAT costs $68.
No. SUNY has temporarily suspended the SAT/ACT requirement, and Binghamton, Stony Brook, and Buffalo are all test-optional. Scores can still be required for select programs, some merit scholarships, and NCAA Division I athletes.
Not for students applying this year (2026-27, Fall 2027 entry). Testing becomes required starting with the 2027-28 cycle, so today's 10th graders applying for Fall 2028 will need the SAT or ACT.
No. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not an admission cutoff. Some rows describe enrolled students or score submitters only, as labeled. A position within a range does not guarantee admission or merit aid.
University and state sources: Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Binghamton, Stony Brook, Fordham, Buffalo, University at Buffalo Presidential Scholarship, NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence. Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.
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