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Capital SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)

By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026

SAT middle 50 percent

910 to 1180

Half of enrolled students at Capital scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1180, and one quarter below 910.

Average composite
1068
Acceptance rate
70.2%
ACT range
18 to 25
Test policy
Test optional
Location
Columbus, OH
Undergraduates
1,585

Capital SAT Scores and Admissions

Admitted students at Capital land between 450 and 590 in Reading and Writing and between 460 and 590 in Math, a nearly even split with Math edging just 10 points higher at the 25th percentile. Anyone researching Capital SAT scores should start with those two ranges, because together they produce a composite middle 50 of 910 to 1180 and an average of 1068. The ACT picture matches: the middle half of admits scored 18 to 25. In the most recent federal data, testing is optional here, so those numbers describe students who chose to send scores rather than everyone who enrolled.

Capital University admits 70.2% of applicants, so roughly 7 out of 10 students who apply get in. That makes the SAT less of a gate and more of a sorting tool: it shapes merit consideration and placement more than it decides yes or no. The school is a private nonprofit university in Columbus, OH, with 1,585 students, which is small enough that a strong application actually gets read. If your practice tests already sit near 1068, you are in the middle of the admitted pool. If you are closer to 1180, you are ahead of about 3 out of 4 admits.

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Capital SAT Score Breakdown by Section

Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Capital, from the federal College Scorecard.

Section25th percentile75th percentile
Reading and Writing450590
Math460590
CompositeTotal SAT9101180
Average composite SAT1068

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

910 to 1180

400National average near 10501600

Capital Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?

Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Capital, 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 Capital'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 Capital by SAT Score

Here is what specific scores mean at Capital, based on its reported 910 to 1180 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 scoreWhere it landsThe honest read
760Well below the 25th percentileA 760 is well below the 910 to 1180 range at Capital. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority.
860Just below the 25th percentileA 860 falls just short of Capital's 25th percentile of 910. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application.
1050Inside the middle 50 percentA 1050 sits inside the 910 to 1180 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here.
1180At the 75th percentileA 1180 matches the 75th percentile at Capital, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level.
1210Above the 75th percentileA 1210 beats the 75th percentile at Capital. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking.

How to Raise Your SAT Score to Capital's Range

The two targets that matter here are 910, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1180, 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 scoreTo reach 910To reach 1180The plan
1000Already there+180 points1000 to 1200 plan
1100Already there+80 points1100 to 1200 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 Capital?

Below 910, you are under the 25th percentile of admitted students. Since Capital is test optional in the most recent federal data, a score down there usually helps you more in the drawer than on the application. Withhold it and let your GPA and coursework speak.

Inside the 910 to 1180 range, you match the middle half of the class and a submitted score works for you, especially above the 1068 average. Note the section shape: Math's floor is 460 against 450 for Reading and Writing, but both sections top out at 590, so neither one sets a dramatically higher bar. That balance means a lopsided scorer, say 620 Math and 480 verbal, still produces a composite that reads well here.

Above 1180, you outscore roughly 3 out of 4 admitted students. At a school that takes 70.2% of applicants, that score stops being about admission and starts being about money and placement. Send it, and expect it to strengthen your case for merit consideration at this private nonprofit.

Capital GPA Requirements

Admitted students at Capital University typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. That band covers most of the incoming class, and a transcript in the mid 3s puts you on solid footing at a school that admits 70.2% of applicants. Below 3.3 you are not shut out, but the rest of the file has to carry more weight.

The number alone is not the whole story. A 3.5 earned in honors and AP courses reads differently than a 3.5 built on the easiest available schedule, and admissions readers weigh the rigor behind the grades as much as the grades themselves. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. Grades took 4 years to accumulate and cannot be revised. A test score can move 100 points in a few months of focused work, and a composite above Capital's 1068 average signals you can handle college coursework even if a rough semester dented your transcript.

Typical admitted GPA

3.3 to 3.7Moderately competitive

Admitted students at Capital typically present a GPA in the 3.3 to 3.7 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Solid grades with a clear upward trend read well, especially paired with a strong test score.

AccessibleExtremely competitive

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.

Capital SAT Testing Policy

Test optionalGuidance for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle

Capital 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 1045, the middle of Capital's range. If you are below 910, 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 Capital?

Capital 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.

1050+

Submit

At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.

910 to 1050

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 910

Usually hold it

Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Capital. 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 Capital's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.

Capital ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?

The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Capital scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT, alongside the 910 to 1180 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Capital 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 compositeSAT equivalent
251200 to 1220
241160 to 1190
231130 to 1150
221100 to 1120
211060 to 1090
201030 to 1050
19990 to 1020
18960 to 980
17920 to 950

SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Capital's ACT middle 50 percent.

How to Get Into Capital

Set 2 concrete targets. First, get to 910 or above, which keeps you inside the range Capital admits from. Second, push toward 1180, the 75th percentile, which puts you in the top quarter of the class. Per section, that means moving each of Reading and Writing and Math toward 590, the shared 75th percentile mark. Because the sections are balanced at this school, split your prep time evenly unless one section clearly lags.

Start by finding out where you actually stand. Take a timed diagnostic and compare your composite against the 910 to 1180 window. Wherever it lands, build one of our score plans around the gap: a student at 850 needs a different schedule than one at 1100 chasing 1180 for merit purposes. With an average of 1068, gains of 60 to 100 points are realistic on a normal prep timeline. Your next step: sit the diagnostic this week, note your section split, then pick from the score plans the one matched to your starting score.

How Hard Is It to Get Into Capital?

Capital admits about 702 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,585. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 298 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: Capital's 25th percentile score of 910 already beats roughly 23% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1180 sits around the 71th 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 Capital: Reach, Match, and Safety Options

Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Capital, 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.

SchoolSAT middle 50 percentAcceptance rateOdds vs Capital
Capital910 to 118070.2%This page
Mount St. Joseph930 to 114059.1%Similar oddssimilar SAT range
Akron Main Campus900 to 119059.7%Similar oddssimilar SAT range
Madonna880 to 108063.4%Similar oddsSAT about 65 lower
Eastern Illinois880 to 109065.3%Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower
Saginaw Valley State920 to 117072.1%Similar oddssimilar SAT range
Ashland1035 to 120876.4%Similar oddsSAT about 77 higher

How Recent Are These Capital 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 Capital 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 Capital's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.

Capital SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions

What SAT score do you need to get into Capital?

Capital's middle 50 percent SAT range is 910 to 1180. Aim for at least 910 to be competitive, and 1180 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 910 a good SAT score for Capital?

A 910 sits at Capital's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 910 to 1180. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1180 makes your application stronger.

What is the average SAT score at Capital?

The average composite SAT score at Capital is 1068. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 910 and 1180.

Does Capital require SAT scores?

No. Capital 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 Capital test optional for 2026-2027?

Capital 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 Capital?

Capital's middle 50 percent ACT range is 18 to 25. Aim for at least 18 to be competitive and 25 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Capital.

What GPA do you need to get into Capital?

Admitted students at Capital typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.3 to 3.7 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 Capital's acceptance rate?

Capital admits about 70.2% of applicants, which makes it moderately selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.

What are my chances of getting into Capital?

Capital admits about 70.2% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 910 to 1180 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. A score above 1180 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 Capital's real numbers.

How can I raise my SAT score for Capital?

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 Capital superscore the SAT?

Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Capital 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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