Kent State University at Kent SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1010 to 1240
Half of enrolled students at Kent State University at Kent scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1240, and one quarter below 1010.
- Average composite
- 1099
- Acceptance rate
- 86.3%
- ACT range
- 18 to 25
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Kent, OH
- Undergraduates
- 19,320
Kent State University at Kent SAT Scores and Admissions
Kent State University at Kent is a public university in Kent, Ohio, with 19,320 undergraduates on its main campus. It admits most applicants: the acceptance rate sits at 86.3%, which means roughly 86 of every 100 students who apply get an offer. So the question is less whether you can get in and more where your scores place you. If you are researching Kent State University at Kent SAT scores, the numbers to know are 1010 and 1240. That is the middle 50 range for the 2024-2025 cycle, meaning half of enrolled students scored between those two marks. A quarter scored below 1010 and a quarter scored above 1240. The average lands at 1099.
By section, Reading and Writing runs 510 to 630 and Math runs 500 to 610. For students taking the ACT instead, the middle 50 runs 18 to 25. Testing is optional in the most recent federal data, so you decide whether your score goes on the application. That choice reshapes strategy: a score above the range works for you, and a score below it can simply stay home. At a school this size, with admission rates this open, a solid score does a different job than it would at a selective school. It strengthens scholarship cases and program placement rather than deciding admission outright.
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Kent State University at Kent SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Kent State University at Kent, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 510 | 630 |
| Math | 500 | 610 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1010 | 1240 |
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
1010 to 1240
Kent State University at Kent Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Kent State University at Kent, 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 Kent State University at Kent'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 Kent State University at Kent by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Kent State University at Kent, based on its reported 1010 to 1240 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 860 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 860 is well below the 1010 to 1240 range at Kent State University at Kent. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 960 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 960 falls just short of Kent State University at Kent's 25th percentile of 1010. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1130 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1130 sits inside the 1010 to 1240 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1240 | At the 75th percentile | A 1240 matches the 75th percentile at Kent State University at Kent, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1270 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1270 beats the 75th percentile at Kent State University at Kent. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Kent State University at Kent's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1010, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1240, 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 1010 | To reach 1240 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +10 points | +240 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +140 points | 1100 to 1300 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +40 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 Kent State University at Kent?
Read your score against the 1010 to 1240 range. Below 1010, you are behind 3 out of 4 enrolled students, and since testing is optional here, that is usually a score to withhold rather than submit. Between 1010 and 1240, you match the middle of the class: submitting helps, especially near the top of that span. Above 1240, you outscore at least 75% of enrolled students, which matters most for merit aid and competitive programs.
The sections are nearly balanced, but Reading and Writing sets the slightly higher bar: its range is 510 to 630 against 500 to 610 for Math. A 620 in Reading and Writing and a 600 in Math both sit near the 75th percentile, so neither section carries the load alone. That balance is worth knowing before you study. If practice tests show one section trailing the other by 60 points or more, the weaker one is where the cheap points live, because the enrolled class does not lean hard on either side. And with an 86.3% acceptance rate, the real competition is not for a seat. It is for the scholarship money and program spots that go to the top of the class.
Kent State University at Kent GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Kent State University at Kent typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That band leaves room for a rough semester or two, but the transcript still has to show you can handle college coursework. A 3.2 earned in honors or AP classes reads better than a 3.4 built on the lightest schedule available, because rigor counts as much as the number itself. The shape of the transcript matters too. An upward trend, weaker early grades followed by stronger junior year grades, tells a better story than the same average moving the other way.
If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. Grades take years to move. A score does not. Landing at or above 1240, the 75th percentile here, gives an admissions reader a concrete reason to look past a 3.0 and signals you are ready for the work. Even a score in the upper half of the 1010 to 1240 range does part of that job, since it puts you ahead of the typical enrolled student while your transcript catches up.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Kent State University at Kent 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.
Kent State University at Kent SAT Testing Policy
Kent State University at Kent 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 1125, the middle of Kent State University at Kent's range. If you are below 1010, 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 Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent 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.
1130+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1010 to 1130
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 1010
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Kent State University at Kent. 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 Kent State University at Kent's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Kent State University at Kent ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Kent State University at Kent scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT, alongside the 1010 to 1240 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Kent State University at Kent 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 |
|---|---|
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
| 19 | 990 to 1020 |
| 18 | 960 to 980 |
| 17 | 920 to 950 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Kent State University at Kent's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Kent State University at Kent
Set two targets. First, 1010, the 25th percentile: at or above it keeps you inside the range Kent State enrolls from, and anything under it should probably stay off an application when testing is optional. Second, 1240, the 75th percentile: at or above it puts you in the top quarter of the class, the zone where scores start working for scholarships instead of just clearing a bar. Per section, that upper mark means about 630 in Reading and Writing and 610 in Math, the 75th percentile for each.
Starting from the 1099 average, the climb to 1240 is roughly 140 points, a realistic season of steady work rather than a long shot. Starting near 1010, plan for a longer runway and give yourself more than one test date. How you close the gap depends on where you start, which is what score plans map out week by week. Before picking one, take the diagnostic to get a current score and see exactly how many points stand between you and 1240. Take it this week, then build your plan from the result.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent admits about 863 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 19,320. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 137 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: Kent State University at Kent's 25th percentile score of 1010 already beats roughly 42% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1240 sits around the 80th 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 Kent State University at Kent: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Kent State University at Kent, 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 Kent State University at Kent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State University at Kent | 1010 to 1240 | 86.3% | This page |
| West Florida | 1020 to 1230 | 58.2% | Harder to get into than Kent State University at Kentsimilar SAT range |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | 1110 to 1350 | 58.4% | Harder to get into than Kent State University at KentSAT about 105 higher |
| Mount St. Joseph | 930 to 1140 | 59.1% | Harder to get into than Kent State University at KentSAT about 90 lower |
| Akron Main Campus | 900 to 1190 | 59.7% | Harder to get into than Kent State University at KentSAT about 80 lower |
| Cedarville | 1130 to 1360 | 65.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 120 higher |
| Capital | 910 to 1180 | 70.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 80 lower |
How Recent Are These Kent State University at Kent 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 Kent State University at Kent 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 Kent State University at Kent's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Kent State University at Kent SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1010 to 1240. Aim for at least 1010 to be competitive, and 1240 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 1010 a good SAT score for Kent State University at Kent?
A 1010 sits at Kent State University at Kent's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1010 to 1240. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1240 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Kent State University at Kent?
The average composite SAT score at Kent State University at Kent is 1099. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1010 and 1240.
Does Kent State University at Kent require SAT scores?
No. Kent State University at Kent 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 Kent State University at Kent test optional for 2026-2027?
Kent State University at Kent 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 Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent'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 Kent State University at Kent.
What GPA do you need to get into Kent State University at Kent?
Admitted students at Kent State University at Kent 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 Kent State University at Kent's acceptance rate?
Kent State University at Kent admits about 86.3% 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 Kent State University at Kent?
Kent State University at Kent admits about 86.3% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1010 to 1240 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1240 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 Kent State University at Kent's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Kent State University at Kent?
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 Kent State University at Kent superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Kent State University at Kent 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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