Montclair State SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
910 to 1210
Half of enrolled students at Montclair State scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1210, and one quarter below 910.
- Average composite
- 1070
- Acceptance rate
- 87.9%
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Montclair, NJ
- Undergraduates
- 18,376
- School type
- Public university
Montclair State SAT Scores and Admissions
The Montclair State SAT scores middle 50 runs from 910 to 1210, with an average around 1070 in the 2024-2025 federal data. Land anywhere inside that band and your score looks like most admitted students at Montclair State. The 87.9% acceptance rate matters here: out of every 100 applicants, about 88 get an offer. This is a school that admits nearly 9 out of 10 people who apply, so a solid score does real work rather than fighting long odds. The practical question is not whether you can get in. It is whether your score strengthens your file or quietly sits it out.
Testing is optional in the 2024-2025 cycle, and that changes the strategy. Nobody is forced to send a number, so the only scores admissions ever sees are ones applicants chose to share. That nudges the reported range upward, and it means a score inside the band is a genuine plus rather than a formality.
Montclair State University is a public university in Montclair, NJ, with 18,376 students, so it operates at real scale. The section splits tell you where the range comes from: Reading and Writing sits at 480 to 620 while Math sits at 430 to 590. Both ends of those ranges sit 50 points apart, which means verbal scores run noticeably higher than math among admitted students here.
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Montclair State SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Montclair State, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 480 | 620 |
| Math | 430 | 590 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 910 | 1210 |
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 1210
Montclair State Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Montclair 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 Montclair 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 Montclair State by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Montclair State, based on its reported 910 to 1210 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 760 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 760 is well below the 910 to 1210 range at Montclair State. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 860 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 860 falls just short of Montclair State's 25th percentile of 910. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1060 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1060 sits inside the 910 to 1210 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1210 | At the 75th percentile | A 1210 matches the 75th percentile at Montclair State, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1240 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1240 beats the 75th percentile at Montclair State. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Montclair State's Range
The two targets that matter here are 910, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1210, 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 910 | To reach 1210 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +210 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +110 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 Montclair State?
Below 910, you are under the 25th percentile, meaning at least 3 out of 4 admitted students outscored you. With an 87.9% acceptance rate that is rarely fatal, and because testing is optional in the most recent federal data, a score below the range can simply be withheld. That is the quiet advantage of the policy: a rough test day costs you nothing but time.
Inside 910 to 1210, your score is doing its job. It matches the typical admit, sits near the 1070 average, and supports the rest of your application without having to carry it. Above 1210, you beat 3 out of 4 admitted students, which can shift the conversation from admission to merit aid and honors options, and at a public university those dollars are often tied directly to numbers.
Note the section asymmetry. Reading and Writing runs 480 to 620 against Math's 430 to 590, so the verbal section sets the higher bar. A 600 in Reading and Writing lands in the middle of its range here, while a 600 in Math is already above the 75th percentile. Same number, very different meaning.
Montclair State GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Montclair State typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That is a band most students with steady grades can reach, and it fits a school admitting 87.9% of applicants. You do not need a spotless transcript. You need one without a downward slide, because a dip in junior year is the one pattern that raises questions even at a school this open.
Rigor still counts. A 3.3 built on honors and AP coursework reads stronger than a 3.5 built on the lightest schedule available, and readers at a public university this size see thousands of transcripts a year, so the difference is easy for them to spot.
If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, a strong SAT is the fastest offset. Transcripts take years to change. A score in the upper half of the 910 to 1210 range can be built in a few months, and it gives the file a second data point in your favor. Because testing is optional, you also control whether that number ever appears: send it when it helps, hold it when it does not.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Montclair State 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.
Montclair State SAT Testing Policy
Montclair State 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 1060, the middle of Montclair State'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 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Montclair State?
Montclair State 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.
1060+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
910 to 1060
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 Montclair State. 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 Montclair State's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
How to Get Into Montclair State
Set two targets. At or above 910 keeps you in range, and 1210 or higher puts you in the top quarter of admitted students. The exact numbers matter: 910 is the 25th percentile, 1210 is the 75th, and the 1070 average sits roughly in the middle. Given the section splits, a balanced 1100 might mean 590 verbal and 510 math, both comfortably inside their bands.
Start with a diagnostic to see where you actually stand before picking a number. Guessing your baseline wastes the first month of prep. From there, our score plans map the point gap to a week by week schedule, and closing 100 points is a realistic project over a few months, not a moonshot.
If math is your weaker section, remember it carries the lower bar here: a 550 in Math already beats the 25th percentile by 120 points, while the same 550 in Reading and Writing clears its floor by only 70. Next step: take the diagnostic this week, then commit to a target of 1210 or better.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Montclair State?
Montclair State admits about 879 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 18,376. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 121 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: Montclair State's 25th percentile score of 910 already beats roughly 23% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1210 sits around the 75th 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 Montclair State: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Montclair 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 Montclair State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair State | 910 to 1210 | 87.9% | This page |
| William Penn | 880 to 1110 | 51.9% | Harder to get into than Montclair StateSAT about 65 lower |
| CUNY Lehman | 850 to 1150 | 56.6% | Harder to get into than Montclair StateSAT about 60 lower |
| Hawaii at Hilo | 945 to 1175 | 60.6% | Harder to get into than Montclair Statesimilar SAT range |
| College of New Jersey | 1140 to 1340 | 62.3% | Harder to get into than Montclair StateSAT about 180 higher |
| Texas Wesleyan | 1020 to 1100 | 69.2% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | 1130 to 1300 | 70.6% | Similar oddsSAT about 155 higher |
How Recent Are These Montclair 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 Montclair 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 Montclair State's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Montclair State SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Montclair State?
Montclair State's middle 50 percent SAT range is 910 to 1210. Aim for at least 910 to be competitive, and 1210 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 Montclair State?
A 910 sits at Montclair State's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 910 to 1210. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1210 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Montclair State?
The average composite SAT score at Montclair State is 1070. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 910 and 1210.
Does Montclair State require SAT scores?
No. Montclair State 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 Montclair State test optional for 2026-2027?
Montclair State 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 Montclair State?
Admitted students at Montclair State 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 Montclair State's acceptance rate?
Montclair State admits about 87.9% 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 Montclair State?
Montclair State admits about 87.9% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 910 to 1210 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1210 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 Montclair State's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Montclair 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 Montclair State superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Montclair 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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