Radford SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
940 to 1160
Half of enrolled students at Radford scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1160, and one quarter below 940.
- Average composite
- 1060
- Acceptance rate
- 89.5%
- ACT range
- 19 to 26
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Radford, VA
- Undergraduates
- 6,038
Radford SAT Scores and Admissions
Radford SAT scores split into two sections that tell you where you stand. The Reading and Writing middle 50 runs from 490 to 600, and the Math middle 50 sits a little lower at 450 to 560. Put both together and the full SAT middle 50 lands between 940 and 1160, with an average score of 1060. That average is a useful anchor. If your practice tests hover near 1060, you are right in the heart of the admitted pool at Radford University.
Admission here is not the tight squeeze you see at big name schools. Radford accepts about 89.5% of applicants, so the SAT is less a gate and more a way to show your reach. The school is a public university in Radford, Virginia, with roughly 6038 students enrolled, which keeps the campus mid sized rather than sprawling. In the most recent federal data, Radford lists its testing policy as optional, so you decide whether a score helps your case. If your number sits inside or above that 940 to 1160 band, sending it usually works in your favor. If it falls short, you can lean on grades and the rest of your file instead.
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Radford SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Radford, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 490 | 600 |
| Math | 450 | 560 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 940 | 1160 |
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
940 to 1160
Radford Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Radford, 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 Radford'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 Radford by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Radford, based on its reported 940 to 1160 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 790 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 790 is well below the 940 to 1160 range at Radford. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 890 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 890 falls just short of Radford's 25th percentile of 940. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1050 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1050 sits inside the 940 to 1160 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1160 | At the 75th percentile | A 1160 matches the 75th percentile at Radford, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1190 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1190 beats the 75th percentile at Radford. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Radford's Range
The two targets that matter here are 940, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1160, 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 940 | To reach 1160 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +160 points | 1000 to 1200 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +60 points | 1100 to 1200 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 Radford?
Here is how to read your score against Radford's numbers. Below 940 puts you under the 25th percentile, which means most admitted students scored higher than you did. You can still get in given the 89.5% acceptance rate, but the SAT is not helping your case at that level. Land inside the 940 to 1160 band and you look like a typical admit, right where the middle 50 sits. Clear 1160 and you are scoring above 3 out of 4 people who got in.
The two sections set different bars. Math starts its middle 50 at 450 and tops out at 560, while Reading and Writing runs from 490 to 600. Reading and Writing is the stronger section for admitted students, so a higher verbal score is closer to the norm here than a matching math score. If you are deciding where to spend study time, know that a 560 in Math already reaches the 75th percentile for that section, while you would need a 600 in Reading and Writing to hit the same mark.
Radford GPA Requirements
Radford does not publish a single magic GPA, but the pattern for a school with this acceptance rate is clear. Admitted students typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range. That is a B student who has kept things steady, not a wall of straight A grades. A transcript in that band, paired with a score near the 1060 average, reads as a solid application.
Grades matter, and so does what you took to earn them. A 3.3 built from honors and tougher classes carries more weight than a 3.3 from the easiest schedule on offer. Colleges read rigor alongside the number. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.0 to 3.5 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score above 1160 can pull an application that looked borderline back into range, since it shows you can handle college level work even if a few semesters ran cold.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Radford 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.
Radford SAT Testing Policy
Radford 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 1050, the middle of Radford's range. If you are below 940, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Radford?
Radford 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.
1050+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
940 to 1050
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 940
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Radford. 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 Radford's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Radford ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Radford scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT, alongside the 940 to 1160 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Radford 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 |
| 18 | 960 to 980 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Radford's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Radford
Set your targets against the percentiles. A score at or above the 25th percentile, so 940 or higher, keeps you inside the admitted range. Reaching the 75th percentile, a 1160, puts you in the top quarter of Radford's pool and makes an optional score clearly worth sending. Section by section, aim for at least 490 in Reading and Writing and 450 in Math to stay in the band, then push toward 600 and 560 to reach the top quarter.
The smartest move is to start from where you are today. Take a full length diagnostic to see your current Reading and Writing and Math splits, then compare them to the 940 to 1160 target. From there, our score plans map out which sections to drill and by how much to close the gap. Your next step is simple: sit one timed practice test this week, mark your two section scores, and set a target that clears 1160.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Radford?
Radford admits about 895 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 6,038. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 105 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: Radford's 25th percentile score of 940 already beats roughly 29% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1160 sits around the 68th 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 Radford: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Radford, 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 Radford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | 940 to 1160 | 89.5% | This page |
| Virginia's College at Wise | 945 to 1120 | 28.5% | Harder to get into than RadfordSAT about 17 lower |
| Regent | 990 to 1250 | 38.1% | Harder to get into than RadfordSAT about 70 higher |
| Lynchburg | 980 to 1230 | 43.0% | Harder to get into than RadfordSAT about 55 higher |
| Averett | 926 to 1143 | 56.6% | Harder to get into than RadfordSAT about 15 lower |
| Hampton | 790 to 1090 | 62.3% | Harder to get into than RadfordSAT about 110 lower |
| Emory & Henry | 1051 to 1223 | 83.7% | Similar oddsSAT about 87 higher |
How Recent Are These Radford 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 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Radford 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 Radford's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Radford SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Radford?
Radford's middle 50 percent SAT range is 940 to 1160. Aim for at least 940 to be competitive, and 1160 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 940 a good SAT score for Radford?
A 940 sits at Radford's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 940 to 1160. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1160 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Radford?
The average composite SAT score at Radford is 1060. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 940 and 1160.
Does Radford require SAT scores?
No. Radford 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 Radford test optional for 2026-2027?
Radford 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 Radford?
Radford's middle 50 percent ACT range is 19 to 26. Aim for at least 19 to be competitive and 26 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Radford.
What GPA do you need to get into Radford?
Admitted students at Radford 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 Radford's acceptance rate?
Radford admits about 89.5% 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 Radford?
Radford admits about 89.5% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 940 to 1160 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1160 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 Radford's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Radford?
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 Radford superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Radford 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 15, 2026.
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