Sarah Lawrence SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1240 to 1430
Half of enrolled students at Sarah Lawrence scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1430, and one quarter below 1240.
- Average composite
- 1366
- Acceptance rate
- 61.7%
- ACT range
- 28 to 31
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Bronxville, NY
- Undergraduates
- 1,530
Sarah Lawrence SAT Scores and Admissions
Sarah Lawrence SAT scores split into a Reading and Writing middle 50 of 650 to 740 and a Math middle 50 of 590 to 690. Put those together and the full SAT middle 50 runs 1240 to 1430, with an average score of 1366. So half of admitted students land inside that window, 1 in 4 come in below it, and 1 in 4 sit above it. Reading and Writing carries the higher bar here, which tracks with a school known for writing and the humanities.
About 61.7% of applicants get in, so this is a school that reads the whole file rather than cutting on numbers alone. The campus is small. Enrollment sits near 1,530 students in Bronxville, NY, a short train ride north of New York City. Sarah Lawrence is a private nonprofit university, and in the most recent federal data its testing policy is test optional. That means you can apply without an SAT score, but a score inside the 1240 to 1430 band still works in your favor. If your number lands near the top of that range, sending it gives the reader one more concrete reason to say yes. The ACT middle 50 runs 28 to 31 for anyone who prefers that test.
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Sarah Lawrence SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Sarah Lawrence, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 650 | 740 |
| Math | 590 | 690 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1240 | 1430 |
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
1240 to 1430
Sarah Lawrence Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Sarah Lawrence, 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 Sarah Lawrence'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 Sarah Lawrence by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Sarah Lawrence, based on its reported 1240 to 1430 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1090 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1090 is well below the 1240 to 1430 range at Sarah Lawrence. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1190 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1190 falls just short of Sarah Lawrence's 25th percentile of 1240. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1340 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1340 sits inside the 1240 to 1430 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1430 | At the 75th percentile | A 1430 matches the 75th percentile at Sarah Lawrence, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1460 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1460 beats the 75th percentile at Sarah Lawrence. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Sarah Lawrence's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1240, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1430, 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 1240 | To reach 1430 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +240 points | +430 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +140 points | +330 points | All score plans |
| 1200 | +40 points | +230 points | 1200 to 1500 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +130 points | 1300 to 1500 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 Sarah Lawrence?
Here is how to read your score against Sarah Lawrence. Below 1240 puts you under the 25th percentile, so you are in the bottom quarter of admitted students and the score is not helping you. Inside 1240 to 1430 puts you in the middle 50, right where most admits sit. Above 1430 puts you in the top quarter, and at a test optional school a number that high is worth sending.
The two sections set different bars. Reading and Writing runs 650 to 740, while Math runs 590 to 690. That 60 point gap on the low end means the reading and writing score is the harder one to hit, so a strong verbal result carries real weight here. If your Math is closer to 590 but your Reading and Writing clears 700, you still land inside the composite window. Aim to be at or above 650 on Reading and Writing and 590 on Math to stay in range across both.
Sarah Lawrence GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Sarah Lawrence typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.3 to 3.7 band. That range fits a 61.7% admit rate: strong grades, but not a wall of straight A marks. Getting into the middle of that band or higher keeps your academics from being the thing that holds the application back.
Grades matter, and so does where they came from. A 3.5 earned in honors and AP courses reads stronger than a 3.7 in an easier load, because the reader is checking whether you pushed yourself. If your GPA sits at the lower edge, near 3.3, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score in the upper half of the 1240 to 1430 range, closer to 1430, tells admissions you can handle college level work even if a few grades slipped. One number will not erase a transcript, but it shifts how the rest of the file gets read.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Sarah Lawrence 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.
Sarah Lawrence SAT Testing Policy
Sarah Lawrence 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 1335, the middle of Sarah Lawrence's range. If you are below 1240, 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 Sarah Lawrence?
Sarah Lawrence 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.
1340+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1240 to 1340
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 1240
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Sarah Lawrence. 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 Sarah Lawrence's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Sarah Lawrence ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Sarah Lawrence scored between 28 and 31 on the ACT, alongside the 1240 to 1430 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Sarah Lawrence
Set your targets off the middle 50. A 1240 total, which is the 25th percentile, keeps you in range. A 1430, the 75th percentile, puts you in the top quarter of admits and makes an easy case for sending your score at a test optional school. The average of 1366 is a solid interim goal on the way there. By section, aim for at least 650 on Reading and Writing and 590 on Math to match the 25th percentile on each.
Start by finding out where you stand now. Take a full length diagnostic to see your current Reading and Writing and Math split, then compare each against the 650 and 590 floors. From there, our score plans map the point gap into weekly work, with more time on whichever section trails. Your next step: sit the diagnostic this week, write down both section scores, and pick the section that needs the most points first.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Sarah Lawrence?
Sarah Lawrence admits about 617 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,530. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 383 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: Sarah Lawrence's 25th percentile score of 1240 already beats roughly 80% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1430 sits around the 95th 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 Sarah Lawrence: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Sarah Lawrence, 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 Sarah Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Lawrence | 1240 to 1430 | 61.7% | This page |
| Skidmore | 1340 to 1480 | 21.1% | Harder to get into than Sarah LawrenceSAT about 75 higher |
| Union (NY) | 1310 to 1480 | 43.9% | Harder to get into than Sarah LawrenceSAT about 60 higher |
| Stony Brook | 1330 to 1500 | 49.0% | Similar oddsSAT about 80 higher |
| St Lawrence | 1255 to 1420 | 54.3% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Fordham | 1320 to 1480 | 59.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 65 higher |
| Touro | 1218 to 1453 | 60.8% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Sarah Lawrence SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Sarah Lawrence?
Sarah Lawrence's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1240 to 1430. Aim for at least 1240 to be competitive, and 1430 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 1240 a good SAT score for Sarah Lawrence?
A 1240 sits at Sarah Lawrence's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1240 to 1430. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1430 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Sarah Lawrence?
The average composite SAT score at Sarah Lawrence is 1366. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1240 and 1430.
Does Sarah Lawrence require SAT scores?
No. Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence test optional for 2026-2027?
Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence?
Sarah Lawrence'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 Sarah Lawrence.
What GPA do you need to get into Sarah Lawrence?
Admitted students at Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence's acceptance rate?
Sarah Lawrence admits about 61.7% 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 Sarah Lawrence?
Sarah Lawrence admits about 61.7% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1240 to 1430 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. A score above 1430 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 Sarah Lawrence's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Sarah Lawrence?
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 Sarah Lawrence superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Sarah Lawrence 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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