College of Staten Island CUNY SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
890 to 1250
Half of enrolled students at College of Staten Island CUNY scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1250, and one quarter below 890.
- Average composite
- 1040
- Acceptance rate
- 92.3%
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Staten Island, NY
- Undergraduates
- 9,657
- School type
- Public university
College of Staten Island CUNY SAT Scores and Admissions
The College of Staten Island CUNY is a public university in Staten Island, NY, with 9,657 students, and the College of Staten Island CUNY SAT scores that matter most are the middle 50 range of 890 to 1250. As part of the CUNY system, it serves a borough campus where most applicants get in: the acceptance rate sits at 92.3% in the 2024-2025 data. In plain terms, that means roughly 9 of every 10 applicants receive an offer. The question here is less whether you get in and more how you position yourself once you apply.
That wide 360 point spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles tells you the school admits students across a broad range of testing profiles. The average SAT is 1040, which lands closer to the lower half of the range than the top. The section numbers behind that total run 460 to 620 in Reading and Writing and 430 to 630 in Math. Testing is optional here in the most recent federal data, so a score is a tool you choose to use, not a hurdle. If your number strengthens your file, send it. If it does not, you can hold it back without penalty, and the rest of your application carries the decision.
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College of Staten Island CUNY SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at College of Staten Island CUNY, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 460 | 620 |
| Math | 430 | 630 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 890 | 1250 |
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
890 to 1250
College of Staten Island CUNY Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into College of Staten Island CUNY, 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 College of Staten Island CUNY'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 College of Staten Island CUNY by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at College of Staten Island CUNY, based on its reported 890 to 1250 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 740 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 740 is well below the 890 to 1250 range at College of Staten Island CUNY. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 840 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 840 falls just short of College of Staten Island CUNY's 25th percentile of 890. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1070 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1070 sits inside the 890 to 1250 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1250 | At the 75th percentile | A 1250 matches the 75th percentile at College of Staten Island CUNY, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1280 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1280 beats the 75th percentile at College of Staten Island CUNY. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to College of Staten Island CUNY's Range
The two targets that matter here are 890, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1250, 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 890 | To reach 1250 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +250 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +150 points | 1100 to 1300 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +50 points | 1200 to 1300 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 College of Staten Island CUNY?
Read the middle 50 as 3 zones. Below 890, you are under the 25th percentile, and since testing is optional, most applicants in that position should simply not submit. Inside 890 to 1250, you match the middle half of enrolled students, and a score in the upper part of that range, say 1150 or higher, actively helps. Above 1250, you outscore 3 out of 4 students on campus, which makes submitting an easy call. Because the acceptance rate is 92.3%, none of these zones will keep you out on their own. They decide how strong your file looks, not whether it survives.
The section splits are worth a look. Reading and Writing runs 460 to 620 while Math runs 430 to 630. Math has the lower floor but the higher ceiling, so a 630 Math score clears the 75th percentile exactly, while Reading and Writing tops out at 620. Strong math students have a slight edge at the top of the range here. A weaker Math section is also more forgivable at the bottom, since its floor sits 30 points below the Reading and Writing floor.
College of Staten Island CUNY GPA Requirements
Admitted students at the College of Staten Island CUNY typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That band reflects how a school with a 92.3% acceptance rate evaluates transcripts: solid, consistent grades matter more than a spotless record. Nobody here expects 4 years of perfect marks. What readers look for is steadiness, a transcript that holds its level or trends upward from 9th grade through senior year.
Rigor counts as much as the number itself. A 3.2 earned in honors or AP coursework reads differently than a 3.2 in the lightest schedule available, so admissions readers weigh what you took alongside what you earned. If your GPA sits near the bottom of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. A score at or above the 1040 average, submitted under the optional policy, gives the file a second data point working in your favor. A score near 1250 does even more, because it places you at the 75th percentile of enrolled students no matter what the transcript says.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at College of Staten Island CUNY typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
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.
College of Staten Island CUNY SAT Testing Policy
College of Staten Island CUNY 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 1070, the middle of College of Staten Island CUNY's range. If you are below 890, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to College of Staten Island CUNY?
College of Staten Island CUNY 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.
1070+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
890 to 1070
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 890
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at College of Staten Island CUNY. 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 College of Staten Island CUNY's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
How to Get Into College of Staten Island CUNY
Set 2 targets. Scoring at or above 890 keeps you inside the admitted range, and 1250 or higher puts you in the top quarter of the class. By section, that means aiming past 460 in Reading and Writing and 430 in Math at minimum, with 620 and 630 as the stretch marks. The gap between the floor and the ceiling is 360 points, so pick the target that fits your timeline: the 890 floor if you test next month, the 1250 ceiling if you have a semester to train. Our score plans break those totals into section goals you can work against week by week.
Because the College of Staten Island CUNY is test optional, your real decision is whether your score helps. Find out where you stand first: take a diagnostic and compare your result against the 890 to 1250 window. If you land above the 1040 campus average, submitting already works in your favor. Then decide whether to prep toward 1250 or apply without a score. Start with the diagnostic this week so the choice rests on data, not a guess.
How Hard Is It to Get Into College of Staten Island CUNY?
College of Staten Island CUNY admits about 923 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 9,657. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 77 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: College of Staten Island CUNY's 25th percentile score of 890 already beats roughly 20% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1250 sits around the 81th 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 College of Staten Island CUNY: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside College of Staten Island CUNY, 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 College of Staten Island CUNY |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Staten Island CUNY | 890 to 1250 | 92.3% | This page |
| CUNY Lehman | 850 to 1150 | 56.6% | Harder to get into than College of Staten Island CUNYSAT about 70 lower |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 930 to 1220 | 57.1% | Harder to get into than College of Staten Island CUNYsimilar SAT range |
| CUNY Brooklyn | 950 to 1340 | 58.4% | Harder to get into than College of Staten Island CUNYSAT about 75 higher |
| Farmingdale State | 1040 to 1240 | 63.3% | Harder to get into than College of Staten Island CUNYSAT about 70 higher |
| CUNY Queens | 1010 to 1290 | 64.3% | Harder to get into than College of Staten Island CUNYSAT about 80 higher |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | 900 to 1140 | 80.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 50 lower |
How Recent Are These College of Staten Island CUNY 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 14, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for College of Staten Island CUNY 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 College of Staten Island CUNY's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
College of Staten Island CUNY SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into College of Staten Island CUNY?
College of Staten Island CUNY's middle 50 percent SAT range is 890 to 1250. Aim for at least 890 to be competitive, and 1250 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 890 a good SAT score for College of Staten Island CUNY?
A 890 sits at College of Staten Island CUNY's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 890 to 1250. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1250 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at College of Staten Island CUNY?
The average composite SAT score at College of Staten Island CUNY is 1040. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 890 and 1250.
Does College of Staten Island CUNY require SAT scores?
No. College of Staten Island CUNY 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 College of Staten Island CUNY test optional for 2026-2027?
College of Staten Island CUNY 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 GPA do you need to get into College of Staten Island CUNY?
Admitted students at College of Staten Island CUNY typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 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 College of Staten Island CUNY's acceptance rate?
College of Staten Island CUNY admits about 92.3% of applicants, which makes it less 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 College of Staten Island CUNY?
College of Staten Island CUNY admits about 92.3% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 890 to 1250 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1250 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 College of Staten Island CUNY's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for College of Staten Island CUNY?
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 College of Staten Island CUNY superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and College of Staten Island CUNY 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 14, 2026.
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