Franklin and Marshall SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)

The section splits tell you a lot about Franklin and Marshall SAT scores: the middle 50 percent of admitted students land between 660 and 730 in Reading and Writing and between 650 and 733 in Math. Put together, the composite middle 50 runs from 1310 to 1463, with an average of 1392, per 2024-2025 data. Reading and Writing sets a slightly higher floor at the 25th percentile, while Math stretches a bit higher at the top. In practice, admitted students tend to be balanced across both sections rather than carried by one.

The school admits 28.2% of applicants, so fewer than 3 out of 10 who apply get an offer. That selectivity shapes how much a strong score matters. Franklin and Marshall is a private nonprofit university in Lancaster, PA, and its enrollment is small: 1,799 students total. At that scale, each admitted class is tiny, and the admissions office reads applications closely rather than sorting by cutoff. Testing is optional in the most recent federal data, which means the scores you see here come from students who chose to submit. If your number sits inside or above the 1310 to 1463 band, sending it strengthens your file. If it sits below, you have a clear target to train toward.

Below 1310 means you are under the 25th percentile, so at least 3 out of 4 admitted students outscored you. Since testing is optional here, most applicants in that position simply withhold the score and let the rest of the application carry the file. Inside the 1310 to 1463 range puts you with the middle half of the admitted class: competitive, but at a 28.2% admit rate, not decisive on its own. Above 1463 places you in the top quarter of admitted testers, which is a real edge worth submitting.

The section splits sharpen the picture. Reading and Writing runs 660 to 730 while Math runs 650 to 733. The verbal side sets the higher bar at the bottom: a 655 in Reading and Writing is below range while the same 655 in Math clears the 25th percentile. At the top end the order flips slightly, with Math reaching 733. Aim for balance, but know that a soft verbal score stands out faster here than a soft Math score.

Admitted students at Franklin and Marshall typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.6 to 3.9. That band reflects how a school with a 28.2% admit rate reads transcripts: mostly A grades with some B grades mixed in, sustained across all 4 years rather than spiking senior fall.

The number alone is not the whole story. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself, so a 3.7 built on honors and AP classes reads stronger than a 3.9 built on the lightest available schedule. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. Your transcript is fixed by the time you apply, but your score is not. Pushing a composite from the 1392 average toward the 1463 mark at the 75th percentile gives the admissions office a concrete, recent data point that says you can handle the work, and it is something you can still change in a few months of focused practice.

Set 2 targets. First, 1310: scoring at or above the 25th percentile keeps you in range and makes submitting worthwhile at a test optional school. Second, 1463: at or above the 75th percentile puts you in the top quarter of admitted testers and turns your score into an argument for admission rather than a checkbox. By section, that means roughly 730 in Reading and Writing and 733 in Math at the high end.

Work backward from the gap. If you are at 1250, you need about 60 points to reach range and about 210 to reach the top quarter, and those are very different study plans. Our score plans break down how many hours per week each jump typically takes so you can pick a realistic timeline. Before any of that, you need an honest baseline: take a diagnostic to see your current composite and your section split. Do that this week, compare your Reading and Writing and Math numbers against 660 and 650, and start with whichever section is further from its 25th percentile.