Brown SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1510 to 1580
Half of enrolled students at Brown scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1580, and one quarter below 1510.
- Average composite
- 1546
- Acceptance rate
- 5.4%
- ACT range
- 34 to 35
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Providence, RI
- Undergraduates
- 7,226
Brown SAT Scores and Admissions
The section split tells the real story behind Brown SAT scores: the Math middle 50 runs 770 to 800, while Reading and Writing runs 740 to 780. Put together, admitted students land between 1510 and 1580 on the composite, with an average of 1546. A perfect 800 in Math is not an outlier at Brown. It is the 75th percentile. That means at least 1 out of 4 enrolled students got every Math question right, or close to it. Very few schools in the country post a Math ceiling that high.
The rest of the picture is just as tight. Brown admits about 5.4% of applicants, so roughly 1 out of 19 who apply gets in. The undergraduate class is small too, around 7,226 students on the Providence, RI campus, which keeps seats scarce even in strong application years. Brown is a private nonprofit university, and in the most recent federal data its testing policy is optional. Optional does not mean scores stop mattering here. When the middle 50 starts at 1510, a submitted score in that range is one of the clearest signals an applicant can send. The numbers on this page come from the 2024-2025 cycle, the latest federal reporting year available.
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Brown SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Brown, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 740 | 780 |
| Math | 770 | 800 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1510 | 1580 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1510 to 1580
Brown Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Brown, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Brown's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Brown by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Brown, based on its reported 1510 to 1580 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 1360 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1360 is well below the 1510 to 1580 range at Brown. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1460 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1460 falls just short of Brown's 25th percentile of 1510. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1550 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1550 sits inside the 1510 to 1580 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. At this acceptance rate the score keeps you in the pool; the rest of the application decides. |
| 1580 | At the 75th percentile | A 1580 matches the 75th percentile at Brown, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1600 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1600 beats the 75th percentile at Brown. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Brown's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1510, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1580, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1510 | To reach 1580 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +510 points | +580 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +410 points | +480 points | All score plans |
| 1200 | +310 points | +380 points | All score plans |
| 1300 | +210 points | +280 points | 1300 to 1600 plan |
| 1400 | +110 points | +180 points | 1400 to 1600 plan |
| 1500 | +10 points | +80 points | 1500 to 1600 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Brown?
Below 1510 puts you under the 25th percentile of enrolled Brown students. It is not an automatic no, since about 1 out of 4 admits scored there, but every other part of the application has to carry more weight. Inside the 1510 to 1580 range means your score matches the middle 50 of the class. That keeps you competitive on testing, though at a 5.4% admit rate it guarantees nothing on its own. Above 1580 puts you past 3 out of 4 enrolled students, and the score question is fully answered.
Math sets the higher bar by a clear margin. Its middle 50 of 770 to 800 sits 30 points above the Reading and Writing range of 740 to 780 at the low end, and 20 points above it at the top. Even 1 or 2 missed Math questions can drop you below 770, so precision matters more than pace. A 780 in Math reads as ordinary at Brown. In Reading and Writing, that same 780 clears the 75th percentile.
Brown GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Brown typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.9 to 4.0. At a school that turns away roughly 94.6% of its applicants, transcripts near the top of the scale are the norm, not the exception. Most students who get in have earned an A in nearly every class across all 4 years of high school.
The number alone is not the whole test, though. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself. An A in a demanding course tells Brown more than an A in an easy one, so course selection matters as much as the letter grades attached to it. And if your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.9 to 4.0 band, a strong SAT is the fastest offset available. Grades take years to move. A score can jump in months, and a composite near 1546, the Brown average, does real work balancing a transcript that is strong but not spotless.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Brown typically present a GPA in the 3.9 to 4.0 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Nearly every admitted student carries an almost unbroken A record in the hardest courses their high school offers.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Brown SAT Testing Policy
Brown considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1545, the middle of Brown's range. If you are below 1510, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Brown?
Brown was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1550+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1510 to 1550
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1510
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Brown. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Brown's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Brown ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Brown scored between 34 and 35 on the ACT, alongside the 1510 to 1580 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Brown states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 35 | 1530 to 1560 |
| 34 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1450 to 1480 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Brown's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Brown
Set 1510 as your floor. At or above that 25th percentile mark keeps you inside the range Brown actually enrolls. If you can reach 1580 or higher, you sit in the top quarter of the class and your score becomes an asset instead of a checkbox. Section targets matter too: aim for 770 or better in Math, since that is where Brown's admitted students cluster, and 740 or better in Reading and Writing.
Getting there starts with knowing your current number. Take a diagnostic to find your baseline and see exactly how far you are from 1510. From there, our score plans map the gap into weekly targets, so a 1390 today becomes a concrete path to 1510 or beyond rather than a vague hope. Do not wait for a convenient week that never comes. Sit for the diagnostic this week, write down your gap to 1510, and pick the plan that closes it before your test date.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Brown?
Brown admits about 54 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 7,226. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 946 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Brown's 25th percentile score of 1510 already beats roughly 98% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1580 sits around the 99th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Brown: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Brown, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Brown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 1510 to 1580 | 5.4% | This page |
| Stanford | 1510 to 1580 | 3.6% | Harder to get into than Brownsimilar SAT range |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 1510 to 1580 | 4.0% | Harder to get into than Brownsimilar SAT range |
| Chicago | 1510 to 1580 | 4.5% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Johns Hopkins | 1520 to 1570 | 6.4% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Rhode Island School of Design | 1396 to 1530 | 18.7% | Better odds than BrownSAT about 82 lower |
| Providence | 1250 to 1390 | 50.9% | Better odds than BrownSAT about 225 lower |
How Recent Are These Brown SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Brown disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Brown's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Brown SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Brown?
Brown's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1510 to 1580. Aim for at least 1510 to be competitive, and 1580 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1510 a good SAT score for Brown?
A 1510 sits at Brown's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1510 to 1580. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1580 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Brown?
The average composite SAT score at Brown is 1546. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1510 and 1580.
Does Brown require SAT scores?
No. Brown was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Brown test optional for 2026-2027?
Brown was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Brown?
Brown's middle 50 percent ACT range is 34 to 35. Aim for at least 34 to be competitive and 35 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Brown.
What GPA do you need to get into Brown?
Admitted students at Brown typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.9 to 4.0 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Brown's acceptance rate?
Brown admits about 5.4% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective. A strong SAT score helps your application stand out in a pool this competitive.
What are my chances of getting into Brown?
Brown admits about 5.4% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1510 to 1580 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.9 to 4.0. A score above 1580 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Brown's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Brown?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Brown superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Brown does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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