Southern University and A&M SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
790 to 1020
Half of enrolled students at Southern University and A&M scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1020, and one quarter below 790.
- Average composite
- 942
- Acceptance rate
- 35.1%
- ACT range
- 15 to 19
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Undergraduates
- 5,519
Southern University and A&M SAT Scores and Admissions
Southern University and A & M College sits in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and enrolls roughly 5,519 students as a public university. If you are checking Southern University and A&M SAT scores, the middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 790 and 1020 in the 2024-2025 data year. That band covers the middle half of enrolled test takers. So 1 in 4 came in below 790, and 1 in 4 came in above 1020. The reported average was 942, which lands just under the center of that range.
Admission is not a long shot here. About 35.1% of applicants were accepted, so a little more than 1 in 3 got in. The ACT tells a similar story, with a middle 50 of 15 to 19 for students who submitted that test instead. Baton Rouge is the state capital, and this is a historically Black public university with a student body just over 5,500, small enough that your file gets a real read rather than a quick sort. The score bands are wide, which means a student sitting near 900 is squarely in the mix rather than reaching. In the most recent federal data, testing was listed as optional, so scores are one part of the picture rather than a gate.
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Southern University and A&M SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Southern University and A&M, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 410 | 530 |
| Math | 380 | 490 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 790 | 1020 |
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
790 to 1020
Southern University and A&M Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Southern University and A&M, 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 Southern University and A&M'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 Southern University and A&M by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Southern University and A&M, based on its reported 790 to 1020 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 640 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 640 is well below the 790 to 1020 range at Southern University and A&M. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 740 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 740 falls just short of Southern University and A&M's 25th percentile of 790. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 910 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 910 sits inside the 790 to 1020 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1020 | At the 75th percentile | A 1020 matches the 75th percentile at Southern University and A&M, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1050 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1050 beats the 75th percentile at Southern University and A&M. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
What SAT Score Do You Need for Southern University and A&M?
Here is how to read your score against the range. A total below 790 puts you under the 25th percentile, which means most admitted students scored higher than you did. It is not a wall, since testing is optional and the acceptance rate is about 35.1%, but the rest of your file has to carry more weight. Land anywhere from 790 to 1020 and you are inside the middle 50, right where the typical admit lives. Clear 1020 and you are in the top 1 in 4 of scorers, which strengthens the whole application.
The two sections do not ask the same thing. Reading and Writing runs from 410 to 530, while Math runs from 380 to 490. So Reading and Writing sets the higher bar at both ends. If you split your prep time evenly, a few extra points on the verbal side move you through the band faster. Aim to be at or above 530 in Reading and Writing and 490 in Math to sit at the top edge.
Southern University and A&M GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Southern University and A & M College typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.6 to 3.9 band. That is a solid academic record without needing a perfect transcript. Since roughly 35.1% of applicants are admitted, grades in this range keep you comfortably inside the group the school usually takes.
The number on its own is only half of it. Grades earned in harder classes carry as much weight as the average itself, so an honors or AP course with a slightly lower mark can read stronger than an easy A. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of the 3.6 to 3.9 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score at or above the 1020 mark signals that you can handle college level work, and it gives the reader a clear reason to look past a softer semester. Keep taking real courses and finish strong. Steady grades plus a solid score is the combination that reads best here.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Southern University and A&M typically present a GPA in the 3.6 to 3.9 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Strong grades in challenging courses count as much as the number itself, and an upward trend helps.
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.
Southern University and A&M SAT Testing Policy
Southern University and A&M 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 905, the middle of Southern University and A&M's range. If you are below 790, 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 Southern University and A&M?
Southern University and A&M 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.
910+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
790 to 910
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 790
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Southern University and A&M. 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 Southern University and A&M's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Southern University and A&M ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Southern University and A&M scored between 15 and 19 on the ACT, alongside the 790 to 1020 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Southern University and A&M 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 |
|---|---|
| 19 | 990 to 1020 |
| 18 | 960 to 980 |
| 17 | 920 to 950 |
| 16 | 880 to 910 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Southern University and A&M's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Southern University and A&M
Set your targets against the band. A total of 790 or above puts you at the 25th percentile and keeps you in range. Push to 1020 or above and you land in the top 1 in 4 of admitted scorers. By section, treat 530 in Reading and Writing and 490 in Math as your reach lines, since those are the 75th percentile marks. Reading and Writing carries the higher bar, so give it a little more of your study time. Your average target of 942 is a reasonable middle goal that sits right inside the range.
Start by learning where you stand today. A short diagnostic shows your current Reading and Writing and Math split so you can see which side needs the most work. From there, one of our score plans maps the weeks between now and test day into specific practice. The next step is simple: take the diagnostic this week, write down your two section numbers, and build the plan around the gap to 1020.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Southern University and A&M?
Southern University and A&M admits about 351 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 5,519. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 649 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: Southern University and A&M's 25th percentile score of 790 already beats roughly 7% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1020 sits around the 44th 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 Southern University and A&M: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Southern University and A&M, 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 Southern University and A&M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern University and A&M | 790 to 1020 | 35.1% | This page |
| Grambling State | 920 to 1080 | 44.9% | Similar oddsSAT about 95 higher |
| Alcorn State | 670 to 998 | 45.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 71 lower |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | 950 to 1113 | 69.0% | Better odds than Southern University and A&MSAT about 127 higher |
| Southern University at New Orleans | 820 to 1050 | 78.9% | Better odds than Southern University and A&MSAT about 30 higher |
| Puerto Rico Aguadilla | 791 to 1023 | 81.4% | Better odds than Southern University and A&Msimilar SAT range |
| Nicholls State | 934 to 1196 | 90.8% | Better odds than Southern University and A&MSAT about 160 higher |
How Recent Are These Southern University and A&M 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 Southern University and A&M 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 Southern University and A&M's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Southern University and A&M SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Southern University and A&M?
Southern University and A&M's middle 50 percent SAT range is 790 to 1020. Aim for at least 790 to be competitive, and 1020 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 790 a good SAT score for Southern University and A&M?
A 790 sits at Southern University and A&M's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 790 to 1020. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1020 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Southern University and A&M?
The average composite SAT score at Southern University and A&M is 942. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 790 and 1020.
Does Southern University and A&M require SAT scores?
No. Southern University and A&M 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 Southern University and A&M test optional for 2026-2027?
Southern University and A&M 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 Southern University and A&M?
Southern University and A&M's middle 50 percent ACT range is 15 to 19. Aim for at least 15 to be competitive and 19 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Southern University and A&M.
What GPA do you need to get into Southern University and A&M?
Admitted students at Southern University and A&M typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.6 to 3.9 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 Southern University and A&M's acceptance rate?
Southern University and A&M admits about 35.1% of applicants, which makes it selective. A strong SAT score helps your application stand out in a pool this competitive.
What are my chances of getting into Southern University and A&M?
Southern University and A&M admits about 35.1% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 790 to 1020 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.6 to 3.9. A score above 1020 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 Southern University and A&M's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Southern University and A&M?
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 Southern University and A&M superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Southern University and A&M 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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