Stephen F Austin State SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
970 to 1170
Half of enrolled students at Stephen F Austin State scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1170, and one quarter below 970.
- Average composite
- 1066
- Acceptance rate
- 94.0%
- ACT range
- 18 to 24
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Nacogdoches, TX
- Undergraduates
- 8,728
Stephen F Austin State SAT Scores and Admissions
Stephen F Austin State sat scores tell a friendly story for most applicants. This public university sits in Nacogdoches, TX, enrolls 8,728 students, and admits 94.0% of the people who apply. Put that rate in plain terms: out of every 100 applicants, about 94 get in. The numbers you need here are within reach for a wide range of test takers. Based on 2024-2025 data, the SAT middle 50 runs from 970 to 1170, with an average score of 1066.
That range breaks down into a Reading and Writing middle 50 of 500 to 600 and a Math middle 50 of 470 to 570. For students who took the ACT instead, the middle 50 is 18 to 24. Half of enrolled students scored between 970 and 1170. A quarter scored below 970 and still enrolled, and a quarter scored above 1170. Those two numbers are the most useful benchmarks for planning your prep.
Testing is optional at Stephen F Austin State in the most recent federal data, so a score is not required. That changes your strategy. If your practice tests land at 1066 or better, sending a score adds real evidence to your file. If they sit well below 970, you can hold the score back and let your transcript speak instead.
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Stephen F Austin State SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Stephen F Austin State, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 500 | 600 |
| Math | 470 | 570 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 970 | 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
970 to 1170
Stephen F Austin State Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Stephen F Austin State, 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 Stephen F Austin State'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 Stephen F Austin State by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Stephen F Austin State, based on its reported 970 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 820 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 820 is well below the 970 to 1170 range at Stephen F Austin State. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 920 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 920 falls just short of Stephen F Austin State's 25th percentile of 970. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1070 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1070 sits inside the 970 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 Stephen F Austin State, 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 Stephen F Austin State. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Stephen F Austin State's Range
The two targets that matter here are 970, 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 970 | 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 Stephen F Austin State?
Read your own score against the 970 to 1170 middle 50. Below 970 puts you in the bottom quarter of enrolled students. At a school admitting 94.0% of applicants that is rarely fatal, especially with testing optional, but it means your score is not helping you, and under an optional policy you may be better off not sending it at all. Between 970 and 1170 you look like a typical admitted student, and the closer you sit to 1170, the more the score works in your favor. Above 1170 places you in the top quarter, which can matter for merit aid and competitive programs even when admission itself is likely.
The section splits are worth a look too. Reading and Writing runs 500 to 600 while Math runs 470 to 570, so the verbal section sets the higher bar here. A 550 sits comfortably in the middle of the Math range but is only average on Reading and Writing. If your two section scores come out close to even, that pattern already matches what the school sees. If Math is your strength, the same number buys you more standing there than it does on the verbal side.
Stephen F Austin State GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Stephen F Austin State typically present an unweighted GPA somewhere around 3.0 to 3.5. That is a realistic band, not a hard cutoff, and plenty of students land at either edge of it. With a 94.0% acceptance rate, the school leaves room for applicants whose transcripts are not spotless. A rough semester in sophomore year does not close the door here.
What matters as much as the number itself is where the grades came from. A 3.2 earned in honors and AP classes reads stronger than a 3.4 built on the lightest schedule available. Direction counts too. Grades that climb from freshman year through junior year tell a better story than the same average trending down.
If your GPA sits near the bottom of that band, the fastest offset is a strong SAT. Grades took 4 years to build and cannot change now. A test score can still move, and a result near 1170 or above does real work for a transcript in the low 3s. At a school where testing is optional, it also gives the reader a concrete extra reason to say yes.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Stephen F Austin State 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.
Stephen F Austin State SAT Testing Policy
Stephen F Austin State 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 1070, the middle of Stephen F Austin State's range. If you are below 970, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Stephen F Austin State?
Stephen F Austin State 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.
1070+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
970 to 1070
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 970
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Stephen F Austin State. 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 Stephen F Austin State's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Stephen F Austin State ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Stephen F Austin State scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT, alongside the 970 to 1170 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Stephen F Austin State 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 17 | 920 to 950 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Stephen F Austin State's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Stephen F Austin State
Set 2 targets. Scoring at or above 970, the 25th percentile, keeps you squarely in range. Scoring at or above 1170, the 75th percentile, puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students, which is the position you want if merit scholarships are on your list. On the sections, that means aiming for at least 600 on Reading and Writing and 570 on Math, the two 75th percentile marks.
Because testing is optional, the 25th percentile matters in a second way. It is roughly the line where sending a score starts to help. Land at 970 or above and the score belongs in your file. Land below it and you have a choice that schools requiring tests never give you.
Start by finding out where you stand. Take a diagnostic to get a baseline score, then compare it against those 2 targets. If there is a gap, our score plans map out how many points you need and how long that climb usually takes. Your next step: sit for a full practice test this week and write down your section scores next to 600 and 570.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Stephen F Austin State?
Stephen F Austin State admits about 940 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 8,728. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 60 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: Stephen F Austin State's 25th percentile score of 970 already beats roughly 34% 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 Stephen F Austin State: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Stephen F Austin State, 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 Stephen F Austin State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F Austin State | 970 to 1170 | 94.0% | This page |
| Texas Christian | 1140 to 1350 | 44.5% | Harder to get into than Stephen F Austin StateSAT about 175 higher |
| Texas A&M University College Station | 1150 to 1400 | 57.4% | Harder to get into than Stephen F Austin StateSAT about 205 higher |
| Texas Tech | 1090 to 1280 | 72.7% | Similar oddsSAT about 115 higher |
| Houston | 1160 to 1340 | 73.9% | Similar oddsSAT about 180 higher |
| Prairie View A&M | 860 to 1080 | 79.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 100 lower |
| Lamar | 930 to 1140 | 86.4% | Similar oddsSAT about 35 lower |
How Recent Are These Stephen F Austin State 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 14, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Stephen F Austin State 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 Stephen F Austin State's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Stephen F Austin State SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Stephen F Austin State?
Stephen F Austin State's middle 50 percent SAT range is 970 to 1170. Aim for at least 970 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 970 a good SAT score for Stephen F Austin State?
A 970 sits at Stephen F Austin State's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 970 to 1170. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1170 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Stephen F Austin State?
The average composite SAT score at Stephen F Austin State is 1066. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 970 and 1170.
Does Stephen F Austin State require SAT scores?
No. Stephen F Austin State 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 Stephen F Austin State test optional for 2026-2027?
Stephen F Austin State 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 Stephen F Austin State?
Stephen F Austin State's middle 50 percent ACT range is 18 to 24. Aim for at least 18 to be competitive and 24 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Stephen F Austin State.
What GPA do you need to get into Stephen F Austin State?
Admitted students at Stephen F Austin State 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 Stephen F Austin State's acceptance rate?
Stephen F Austin State admits about 94.0% 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 Stephen F Austin State?
Stephen F Austin State admits about 94.0% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 970 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 Stephen F Austin State's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Stephen F Austin State?
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 Stephen F Austin State superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Stephen F Austin State 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 14, 2026.
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