Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1170 to 1350
Half of enrolled students at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1350, and one quarter below 1170.
- Average composite
- 1258
- Acceptance rate
- 88.8%
- ACT range
- 28 to 31
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Undergraduates
- 4,948
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT Scores and Admissions
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT scores land in a middle 50 range of 1170 to 1350, and scoring inside that band means you sit right where most admitted students already are. Land near 1170 and you are at the lower edge of the accepted pool. Reach 1350 and you are near the top. The average comes in at 1258, close to the center of that range, so a score in the low 1200s reads as solid here.
Admission is not the hard part at this school. About 88.8% of applicants get in, so a strong SAT works less as a gate and more as a way to stand out and open doors to merit aid. Saint Joseph's is a private nonprofit university in Philadelphia, PA, with roughly 4,948 students enrolled, a mid size campus that keeps things personal. The section splits sit close together: Reading and Writing runs 590 to 680, Math runs 580 to 670. That balance means neither section carries the whole load, and a steady score across both matters more than one standout number. In the most recent federal data, Saint Joseph's is test optional, so you decide whether your score helps your case before you send it.
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Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 590 | 680 |
| Math | 580 | 670 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1170 | 1350 |
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
1170 to 1350
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia'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 Joseph's University Philadelphia by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, based on its reported 1170 to 1350 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1020 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1020 is well below the 1170 to 1350 range at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1120 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1120 falls just short of Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's 25th percentile of 1170. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1260 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1260 sits inside the 1170 to 1350 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1350 | At the 75th percentile | A 1350 matches the 75th percentile at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1380 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1380 beats the 75th percentile at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1170, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1350, 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 1170 | To reach 1350 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +170 points | +350 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +70 points | +250 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +150 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +50 points | 1300 to 1400 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Here is how your score reads against the 1170 to 1350 middle 50. Below 1170 puts you under the 25th percentile. That does not end your chances at a school admitting 88.8% of applicants, but it does mean the rest of your file has to carry more weight. Inside the range, say 1220 to 1300, places you in the heart of the admitted class and near the 1258 average. Above 1350 puts you in the top 25% of scorers and moves you toward merit aid consideration.
The two sections set slightly different bars. Reading and Writing runs 590 to 680, a touch higher than Math at 580 to 670. So the verbal side asks a little more of you here. If you are stronger in one area, closing the gap on Reading and Writing gives you the most room to lift your composite into the upper half of the range.
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Saint Joseph's typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 band. That is a workable target for a school that admits close to 9 out of 10 applicants. Grades in the B and B plus range keep you well in the conversation.
What sits behind the number counts as much as the number itself. Grades earned in rigorous courses carry more weight than the same grades in easier ones, so a 3.3 built on honors and AP work reads stronger than a 3.5 from a lighter schedule. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score in the upper half of the 1170 to 1350 range gives an admissions reader a clear reason to look past a softer transcript. Steady grades and a solid test score together make the strongest case at this school.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT Testing Policy
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 1260, the middle of Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's range. If you are below 1170, 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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.
1260+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1170 to 1260
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 1170
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia. 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia scored between 28 and 31 on the ACT, alongside the 1170 to 1350 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 |
|---|---|
| 31 | 1390 to 1410 |
| 30 | 1360 to 1380 |
| 29 | 1330 to 1350 |
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia
Set your targets against the actual percentiles. Hitting 1170 or better, the 25th percentile, keeps you inside the admitted range. Reaching 1350 or better, the 75th percentile, puts you in the top quarter of scorers and strengthens any merit aid case. A practical goal for most applicants is the 1258 average or a bit above, which lands you in the middle of the pool.
Break that into sections: aim for 590 or higher on Reading and Writing and 580 or higher on Math to clear the 25th percentile on both. Our score plans map out how many points each section needs and which topics move the needle fastest. Start with a diagnostic to see where your current score falls against the 1170 to 1350 band, then build from there. Your next step: take that first practice test this week and measure the gap between your score and 1258.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia admits about 888 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 4,948. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 112 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia's 25th percentile score of 1170 already beats roughly 70% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1350 sits around the 91th 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia | 1170 to 1350 | 88.8% | This page |
| Gettysburg | 1270 to 1460 | 38.9% | Harder to get into than Saint Joseph's University PhiladelphiaSAT about 105 higher |
| Allegheny | 1173 to 1358 | 54.6% | Harder to get into than Saint Joseph's University Philadelphiasimilar SAT range |
| Alvernia | 1093 to 1286 | 58.1% | Harder to get into than Saint Joseph's University PhiladelphiaSAT about 70 lower |
| Penn State | 1240 to 1420 | 60.6% | Harder to get into than Saint Joseph's University PhiladelphiaSAT about 70 higher |
| Muhlenberg | 1250 to 1410 | 72.0% | Similar oddsSAT about 70 higher |
| Grove City | 1141 to 1388 | 72.3% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1170 to 1350. Aim for at least 1170 to be competitive, and 1350 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 1170 a good SAT score for Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
A 1170 sits at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1170 to 1350. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1350 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
The average composite SAT score at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is 1258. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1170 and 1350.
Does Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia require SAT scores?
No. Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia test optional for 2026-2027?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's middle 50 percent ACT range is 28 to 31. Aim for at least 28 to be competitive and 31 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia.
What GPA do you need to get into Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Admitted students at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia's acceptance rate?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia admits about 88.8% 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia admits about 88.8% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1170 to 1350 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1350 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 Joseph's University Philadelphia's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia?
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 Joseph's University Philadelphia superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 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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