Saint Ambrose SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
930 to 1170
Half of enrolled students at Saint Ambrose scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1170, and one quarter below 930.
- Average composite
- 1093
- Acceptance rate
- 77.3%
- ACT range
- 20 to 25
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Davenport, IA
- Undergraduates
- 1,916
Saint Ambrose SAT Scores and Admissions
Saint Ambrose University sits in Davenport, Iowa, a private nonprofit school with about 1,916 students on campus. If you are checking Saint Ambrose SAT scores before you apply, the middle 50 percent of admitted students land between 930 and 1170. The average comes in at 1093. That range covers the middle half, so 1 in 4 enrolled students scored below 930 and 1 in 4 scored above 1170.
Admission here is not a long shot. About 77.3% of applicants get in, which puts Saint Ambrose among the more open doors in Iowa. A score inside the 930 to 1170 band keeps you squarely in the pool the school already admits. The small enrollment matters too. With under 2,000 students, class sizes stay tight, and your application gets read closely rather than sorted by a machine. In the most recent federal data, Saint Ambrose lists testing as optional, so you can decide whether a score helps your case or sits it out. If your number lands near or above 1093, sending it usually works in your favor.
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Saint Ambrose SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Saint Ambrose, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 490 | 580 |
| Math | 440 | 590 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 930 | 1170 |
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
930 to 1170
Saint Ambrose Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Saint Ambrose, 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 Saint Ambrose'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 Saint Ambrose by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Saint Ambrose, based on its reported 930 to 1170 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 780 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 780 is well below the 930 to 1170 range at Saint Ambrose. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 880 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 880 falls just short of Saint Ambrose's 25th percentile of 930. 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 930 to 1170 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1170 | At the 75th percentile | A 1170 matches the 75th percentile at Saint Ambrose, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1200 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1200 beats the 75th percentile at Saint Ambrose. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Saint Ambrose's Range
The two targets that matter here are 930, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1170, 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 930 | To reach 1170 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +170 points | 1000 to 1200 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +70 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 Saint Ambrose?
Here is how to read your score against the numbers. A 930 marks the 25th percentile, so anything below that puts you under the middle half and asks the rest of your application to do more. A score from 930 to 1170 lands you inside the range Saint Ambrose already admits, which is comfortable ground given the 77.3% acceptance rate. Clear 1170 and you sit in the top quarter of enrolled students.
The section splits tell a sharper story. Reading and Writing runs from 490 to 580, while Math runs from 440 to 590. Math has the wider spread and the higher ceiling at 590, so a strong Math score can lift your total fast. Reading and Writing carries the higher floor at 490, which means the school expects steadier verbal work at the low end. If you are deciding where to put your study hours, weak Math costs you the most room in the total, but a soft Reading and Writing score stands out against that higher floor.
Saint Ambrose GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Saint Ambrose typically present an unweighted GPA in the range of 3.0 to 3.5. That band reflects the school's 77.3% admission rate, which leaves room for a mix of records rather than a wall of near perfect transcripts.
The number on your report is only part of the read. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the figure itself, so a B in an honors or AP class can carry more weight than an easy A. 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 near or above the 1093 average tells the admissions office you can handle college level work, even if a rough semester pulled your average down. Steady grades across your junior and senior years also help, since they show a line that is moving up rather than sliding.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Saint Ambrose 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.
Saint Ambrose SAT Testing Policy
Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose's range. If you are below 930, 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 Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose 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.
930 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 930
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Saint Ambrose. 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 Saint Ambrose's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Saint Ambrose ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Saint Ambrose scored between 20 and 25 on the ACT, alongside the 930 to 1170 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Saint Ambrose 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 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Saint Ambrose's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Saint Ambrose
Set your targets against the real numbers. Hitting 930 or higher keeps you at or above the 25th percentile, which holds you inside the range Saint Ambrose admits. Reach 1170 or higher and you move into the top 1 in 4 of enrolled students, where merit aid conversations get easier. A safe middle goal is the 1093 average, since it signals you match the typical admit without needing a perfect day.
Break that total into sections. If Math is your soft spot, the 440 to 590 spread gives you the most room to gain points, so start there. Our score plans map a week by week path to the number you pick. Before you lock in a target, take a diagnostic to see where your Reading and Writing and Math scores stand right now. Once you have that baseline, set a goal at or above 1093 and build a study schedule around the section that needs the most work.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose admits about 773 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,916. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 227 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: Saint Ambrose's 25th percentile score of 930 already beats roughly 27% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1170 sits around the 70th 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 Saint Ambrose: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Saint Ambrose, 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 Saint Ambrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Ambrose | 930 to 1170 | 77.3% | This page |
| West Alabama | 860 to 1120 | 42.6% | Harder to get into than Saint AmbroseSAT about 60 lower |
| William Penn | 880 to 1110 | 51.9% | Harder to get into than Saint AmbroseSAT about 55 lower |
| Coe | 1070 to 1290 | 64.0% | Similar oddsSAT about 130 higher |
| Dordt | 1070 to 1330 | 68.5% | Similar oddsSAT about 150 higher |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 875 to 1105 | 75.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
| Wartburg | 930 to 1200 | 75.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 15 higher |
How Recent Are These Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Saint Ambrose SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose's middle 50 percent SAT range is 930 to 1170. Aim for at least 930 to be competitive, and 1170 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 930 a good SAT score for Saint Ambrose?
A 930 sits at Saint Ambrose's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 930 to 1170. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1170 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Saint Ambrose?
The average composite SAT score at Saint Ambrose is 1093. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 930 and 1170.
Does Saint Ambrose require SAT scores?
No. Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose test optional for 2026-2027?
Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose's middle 50 percent ACT range is 20 to 25. Aim for at least 20 to be competitive and 25 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Saint Ambrose.
What GPA do you need to get into Saint Ambrose?
Admitted students at Saint Ambrose 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 Saint Ambrose's acceptance rate?
Saint Ambrose admits about 77.3% 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 Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose admits about 77.3% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 930 to 1170 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1170 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 Saint Ambrose's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Saint Ambrose?
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 Saint Ambrose superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Saint Ambrose 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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