Mary SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1110 to 1340
Half of enrolled students at Mary scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1340, and one quarter below 1110.
- Average composite
- 1159
- Acceptance rate
- 75.3%
- ACT range
- 21 to 26
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Undergraduates
- 2,416
Mary SAT Scores and Admissions
About 75 of every 100 applicants get into the University of Mary, so the door here is wide. That admit rate of 75.3% shapes how you should read the Mary SAT scores. The middle 50 percent of admitted students land between 1110 and 1340, and the average sits at 1159. A score inside that band reads as normal for this campus, not exceptional. Land near the top of it and you look like one of the stronger applicants in the pool.
Mary is a private nonprofit university in Bismarck, North Dakota, with roughly 2,416 students. That is a small campus, and small campuses tend to read files closely rather than filter by a single cutoff. The section splits tell you where the weight sits. Reading and Writing runs 580 to 680, while Math runs 530 to 660. So the verbal side carries the higher numbers here, and a strong Reading and Writing result does real work for your total. In the most recent federal data, testing was optional at Mary during the 2024-2025 cycle, which means a score helps your case but is not demanded. The middle 50 range gives you a clear picture of where the admitted class actually scored.
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Mary SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Mary, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 580 | 680 |
| Math | 530 | 660 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1110 | 1340 |
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
1110 to 1340
Mary Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Mary, 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 Mary'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 Mary by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Mary, based on its reported 1110 to 1340 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 960 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 960 is well below the 1110 to 1340 range at Mary. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1060 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1060 falls just short of Mary's 25th percentile of 1110. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1230 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1230 sits inside the 1110 to 1340 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1340 | At the 75th percentile | A 1340 matches the 75th percentile at Mary, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1370 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1370 beats the 75th percentile at Mary. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Mary's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1110, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1340, 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 1110 | To reach 1340 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +110 points | +340 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +10 points | +240 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +140 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +40 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 Mary?
The Mary middle 50 runs 1110 to 1340, and where you fall in that range changes your standing. Score below 1110 and you sit under the middle of the admitted class. Admission is still possible at a school that takes 75.3% of applicants, but the rest of your file has to carry more weight. Land between 1110 and 1340 and your score looks ordinary for this campus, right in step with the students who got in. Clear 1340 and you rank in the top quarter, which strengthens your case and can help with merit aid.
The section splits set different bars. Reading and Writing spans 580 to 680, while Math spans 530 to 660. The verbal side asks for more, so a reader expects a bit more from your Reading and Writing result than from Math. If you are stronger in numbers, you can still hit a solid total, but plan to push the verbal section toward the high end.
Mary GPA Requirements
Admitted students at the University of Mary typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 band. That range fits a school that admits about 3 out of 4 applicants. It rewards steady work more than a perfect record, and it leaves room for a few rough grades along the way.
The number on your transcript is only half of what an admissions reader sees. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself. A 3.3 built from honors and harder classes reads better than a 3.5 from an easy schedule. 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 total near the 1340 top of Mary's middle 50 tells a reader you can handle college work, even if a semester or two pulled your average down. Grades and test results are read together, so let one balance the other.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Mary 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.
Mary SAT Testing Policy
Mary 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 1225, the middle of Mary's range. If you are below 1110, 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 Mary?
Mary 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.
1230+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1110 to 1230
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 1110
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Mary. 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 Mary's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Mary ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Mary scored between 21 and 26 on the ACT, alongside the 1110 to 1340 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Mary 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 |
|---|---|
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Mary's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Mary
Aim for concrete targets built on Mary's own numbers. A total at or above 1110 keeps you inside the admitted range. Reach 1340 or higher and you sit in the top quarter of the class, the spot that helps most with merit aid. For sections, treat 680 in Reading and Writing and 660 in Math as stretch marks, and use the 580 and 530 lows as the floor you want to clear early. Because Reading and Writing carries the higher band here, give the verbal section extra attention as you study.
Start by finding where you stand now. A short diagnostic shows your current total against the 1110 to 1340 range so you know the exact gap to close. From there, build score plans that target the sections holding you back. Your next step is simple: take the diagnostic this week, then set a goal at or above 1340 if you want to lead the pool at Mary.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Mary?
Mary admits about 753 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 2,416. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 247 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: Mary's 25th percentile score of 1110 already beats roughly 60% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1340 sits around the 90th 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 Mary: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Mary, 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 Mary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary | 1110 to 1340 | 75.3% | This page |
| College of Charleston | 1140 to 1310 | 60.0% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| North Carolina Wilmington | 1230 to 1340 | 64.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 higher |
| Minot State | 930 to 1140 | 64.6% | Similar oddsSAT about 190 lower |
| Stetson | 1060 to 1270 | 71.6% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
| Nova Southeastern | 1030 to 1300 | 73.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
| Methodist | 1080 to 1250 | 75.1% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
How Recent Are These Mary 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 Mary 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 Mary's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Mary SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Mary?
Mary's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1110 to 1340. Aim for at least 1110 to be competitive, and 1340 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 1110 a good SAT score for Mary?
A 1110 sits at Mary's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1110 to 1340. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1340 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Mary?
The average composite SAT score at Mary is 1159. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1110 and 1340.
Does Mary require SAT scores?
No. Mary 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 Mary test optional for 2026-2027?
Mary 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 Mary?
Mary's middle 50 percent ACT range is 21 to 26. Aim for at least 21 to be competitive and 26 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Mary.
What GPA do you need to get into Mary?
Admitted students at Mary 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 Mary's acceptance rate?
Mary admits about 75.3% 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 Mary?
Mary admits about 75.3% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1110 to 1340 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1340 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 Mary's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Mary?
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 Mary superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Mary 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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