Middle Tennessee State SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1010 to 1230
Half of enrolled students at Middle Tennessee State scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1230, and one quarter below 1010.
- Average composite
- 1121
- Acceptance rate
- 69.1%
- ACT range
- 20 to 26
- Test policy
- Required
- Location
- Murfreesboro, TN
- Undergraduates
- 16,301
Middle Tennessee State SAT Scores and Admissions
Roughly 69 out of every 100 applicants get into Middle Tennessee State University. The exact figure is 69.1% in the 2024-2025 federal data. So if you are researching Middle Tennessee State SAT scores, the picture is encouraging: most students who apply are admitted, and the score bar reflects that. Put it in applicant terms. In a pool of 1,000 applicants, about 691 get an offer and about 309 do not. The admissions office is not hunting for reasons to reject you. It is checking that you clear a bar.
The middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1010 and 1230 on the SAT, with an average of 1121. On the ACT, the middle 50 runs from 20 to 26. MTSU is a public university in Murfreesboro, TN with 16,301 undergraduates, big enough to feel like a full campus but well short of a flagship in size.
One thing sets it apart from many peers right now: testing is required in the 2024-2025 cycle, so you cannot skip the SAT or ACT here. There is no optional lane. Your score will be read on every application, and that changes your prep math. A good score actively works for you rather than sitting unused, and a weak one cannot be hidden.
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Middle Tennessee State SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Middle Tennessee State, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 520 | 630 |
| Math | 490 | 600 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1010 | 1230 |
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 1230
Middle Tennessee State Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Middle Tennessee State, 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 Middle Tennessee State'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 Middle Tennessee State by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Middle Tennessee State, based on its reported 1010 to 1230 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 1230 range at Middle Tennessee State. 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 Middle Tennessee State's 25th percentile of 1010. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1120 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1120 sits inside the 1010 to 1230 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1230 | At the 75th percentile | A 1230 matches the 75th percentile at Middle Tennessee State, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1260 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1260 beats the 75th percentile at Middle Tennessee State. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Middle Tennessee State's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1010, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1230, 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 1230 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +10 points | +230 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +130 points | 1100 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 Middle Tennessee State?
Here is how to read your score against MTSU's range. Below 1010, you are under the 25th percentile, meaning at least 3 out of 4 admitted students scored higher than you did. With a 69.1% acceptance rate that is not fatal, but since scores are required here, a number that low pulls against you on every read. Between 1010 and 1230, you sit inside the middle 50 and look like a typical admit. The average of 1121 lands almost exactly at the center of that band, so a score near it puts you in the thickest part of the class. Above 1230, you outscore at least 75% of the incoming class, which makes the rest of your application easier to say yes to.
The section splits tilt slightly. Reading and Writing runs 520 to 630 while Math runs 490 to 600, so the verbal side sets a bar about 30 points higher at both ends. A 560 in each section reads differently: comfortable in Math, closer to the floor in Reading and Writing. If your composite looks fine but your sections are lopsided, check each one against these ranges on its own.
Middle Tennessee State GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Middle Tennessee State typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. That is a solid record in the B plus to A minus range, not a perfect transcript. There is real room in that band, which matches what a 69.1% acceptance rate implies about the applicant pool: MTSU admits students with ordinary high school records, not just the top of the class.
The number on its own is not the whole story. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself. A 3.4 built on honors and AP classes reads stronger than a 3.6 built on the lightest schedule available, because it shows you chose the harder path and held up. And because MTSU requires test scores, a strong SAT is the fastest offset if your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band. A 1230 or above, which clears the 75th percentile of admitted students, can do a lot of the talking for a 3.3 transcript. The reverse also holds: a high GPA paired with a score under 1010 raises a question you do not want on your file.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Middle Tennessee State 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.
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.
Middle Tennessee State SAT Testing Policy
Middle Tennessee State required SAT or ACT scores 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.
Last verified July 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Middle Tennessee State?
Middle Tennessee State required SAT or ACT scores in the most recent federal data, so this decision is made for you: a score goes in either way. The real question is whether your current score helps or hurts, and what to do about it before the deadline.
1230+
Submit with confidence
At or above the 75th percentile your score is an asset. Stop retaking and put the time into essays.
1010 to 1230
You are in range
Inside the middle 50 the score does its job. Closer to 1230 is stronger, but this range is what admitted students look like.
Below 1010
The score needs work
Since submission is mandatory, a score below the 25th percentile is a real cost. A retake with focused prep is usually worth more than any other hour you can spend on this application.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Middle Tennessee State's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Middle Tennessee State ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Middle Tennessee State scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT, alongside the 1010 to 1230 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Middle Tennessee State 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 |
|---|---|
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 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 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Middle Tennessee State's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Middle Tennessee State
Set two concrete targets. First, get to 1010 or above. That is the 25th percentile for admitted students, and staying at or above it keeps you in range at a school where scores are required and will be read on every file. Second, if you can push to 1230 or beyond, you land in the top quarter of admitted students, and at a 69.1% acceptance rate that score makes admission close to expected. The gap between those 2 numbers is 220 points, so be honest about which target fits your timeline before you commit to it.
By section, aim for roughly 630 in Reading and Writing and 600 in Math to clear both 75th percentiles. The verbal bar sits higher here, so budget more prep hours there if your section scores are close to even.
If you are not sure where you stand, take a diagnostic to get a real baseline instead of guessing. Then pick one of our score plans matched to the gap between that baseline and your MTSU target. Your next step is simple: sit for a full timed practice test this week and score it honestly.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Middle Tennessee State?
Middle Tennessee State admits about 691 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 16,301. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 309 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: Middle Tennessee State's 25th percentile score of 1010 already beats roughly 42% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1230 sits around the 78th 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 Middle Tennessee State: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Middle Tennessee State, 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 Middle Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee State | 1010 to 1230 | 69.1% | This page |
| Vanderbilt | 1500 to 1570 | 5.9% | Harder to get into than Middle Tennessee StateSAT about 415 higher |
| Tennessee Knoxville | 1200 to 1370 | 41.6% | Harder to get into than Middle Tennessee StateSAT about 165 higher |
| Georgia State | 940 to 1180 | 55.4% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
| Memphis | 915 to 1180 | 72.0% | Similar oddsSAT about 72 lower |
| Tennessee Technological | 1048 to 1310 | 76.1% | Similar oddsSAT about 59 higher |
| Tennessee Chattanooga | 1013 to 1210 | 81.1% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Middle Tennessee State 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 Middle Tennessee State 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 Middle Tennessee State's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Middle Tennessee State SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Middle Tennessee State?
Middle Tennessee State's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1010 to 1230. Aim for at least 1010 to be competitive, and 1230 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 Middle Tennessee State?
A 1010 sits at Middle Tennessee State's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1010 to 1230. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1230 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Middle Tennessee State?
The average composite SAT score at Middle Tennessee State is 1121. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1010 and 1230.
Does Middle Tennessee State require SAT scores?
Yes. Middle Tennessee State required SAT or ACT scores in the most recent federal data. Confirm the current 2026-2027 requirement on the school's admissions site before you apply.
Is Middle Tennessee State test optional for 2026-2027?
Middle Tennessee State required test scores in the most recent federal data, so it was not test optional. Verify the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's site, since these policies change year to year.
What ACT score do you need for Middle Tennessee State?
Middle Tennessee State's middle 50 percent ACT range is 20 to 26. Aim for at least 20 to be competitive and 26 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Middle Tennessee State.
What GPA do you need to get into Middle Tennessee State?
Admitted students at Middle Tennessee State 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 Middle Tennessee State's acceptance rate?
Middle Tennessee State admits about 69.1% 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 Middle Tennessee State?
Middle Tennessee State admits about 69.1% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1010 to 1230 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. A score above 1230 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 Middle Tennessee State's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Middle Tennessee State?
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 Middle Tennessee State superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Middle Tennessee State 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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