Mary Washington SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1170 to 1370
Half of enrolled students at Mary Washington scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1370, and one quarter below 1170.
- Average composite
- 1272
- Acceptance rate
- 79.8%
- ACT range
- 27 to 31
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Undergraduates
- 3,566
Mary Washington SAT Scores and Admissions
Mary Washington SAT scores break into two parts: a Reading and Writing middle 50 of 610 to 710 and a Math middle 50 of 560 to 660. Reading and Writing sits about 50 points higher on both ends, so the verbal side carries a bit more weight in a typical admitted file. Pulled together, the average composite is 1272, and the full SAT middle 50 runs from 1170 to 1370. Students who take the ACT instead land between 27 and 31.
About 79.8% of applicants get an offer at the University of Mary Washington, so this is a school that says yes far more often than no. It is a public university in Fredericksburg, VA, and the enrollment is small at roughly 3,566 students, which keeps the campus close in scale. A score anywhere inside that 1170 to 1370 band puts you right in the middle of the pack. In the most recent federal data the testing policy was optional, so you can send scores when they help your case and hold them back when they do not. That choice matters most if your number sits under the 25th percentile of 1170.
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Mary Washington SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Mary Washington, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 610 | 710 |
| Math | 560 | 660 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1170 | 1370 |
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 1370
Mary Washington Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Mary Washington, 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 Washington'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 Washington by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Mary Washington, based on its reported 1170 to 1370 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 1370 range at Mary Washington. 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 Mary Washington's 25th percentile of 1170. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1270 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1270 sits inside the 1170 to 1370 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1370 | At the 75th percentile | A 1370 matches the 75th percentile at Mary Washington, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1400 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1400 beats the 75th percentile at Mary Washington. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Mary Washington's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1170, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1370, 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 1370 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +170 points | +370 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +70 points | +270 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +170 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +70 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 Washington?
Here is how to read your SAT against Mary Washington's numbers. A composite below 1170 sits under the 25th percentile, which means you are behind most admitted students and leaning on the rest of your application to carry you. Land inside 1170 to 1370 and you are squarely in range, matching the middle half of the class. Clear 1370 and you are in the top 25% of scorers, which is a real edge at a school that admits about 79.8% of applicants.
The two sections do not ask the same thing. Reading and Writing runs 610 to 710, while Math runs 560 to 660, so the verbal section sets the higher bar. A 660 in Reading and Writing only reaches the middle of that range, but the same 660 in Math sits at the very top. Read your two section scores separately before you judge the total, because a strong Math number can hide a soft verbal one inside the combined figure.
Mary Washington GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Mary Washington typically present an unweighted GPA in the range of 3.0 to 3.5. That band reflects an admit rate near 79.8%, which leaves room for a wide spread of transcripts. A B average with a few stronger marks fits comfortably inside it, and you do not need a perfect record to be taken seriously.
The number is only half the story. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself, so a 3.3 built on honors and harder classes reads better than a higher mark 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 score near or above the 1370 top of the middle 50 tells an admissions reader that the academic ability is there, even when the transcript is uneven. Put your energy where it moves the needle quickest.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Mary Washington 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 Washington SAT Testing Policy
Mary Washington 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 1270, the middle of Mary Washington'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 Mary Washington?
Mary Washington 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.
1270+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1170 to 1270
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 Mary Washington. 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 Washington's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Mary Washington ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Mary Washington scored between 27 and 31 on the ACT, alongside the 1170 to 1370 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Mary Washington 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 |
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Mary Washington's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Mary Washington
Set your targets against the middle 50. Scoring at or above the 25th percentile of 1170 keeps you inside the admitted range, and that is the floor to aim for first. Reaching the 75th percentile of 1370 puts you in the top quarter of the class and gives your file real strength. If you want a stretch goal, treat 1272, the average, as the midpoint you want to clear.
Because Reading and Writing sets the higher bar at 610 to 710, weight your prep toward the verbal section once your Math is steady near the 560 to 660 range. Our score plans map each section target to the practice that closes the gap. Start with a diagnostic to see where your Reading and Writing and Math scores stand right now against these bands. Once you have that baseline, pick the single section holding your composite back and drill it first.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Mary Washington?
Mary Washington admits about 798 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 3,566. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 202 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 Washington's 25th percentile score of 1170 already beats roughly 70% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1370 sits around the 92th 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 Washington: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Mary Washington, 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 Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Washington | 1170 to 1370 | 79.8% | This page |
| UVA | 1410 to 1540 | 16.8% | Harder to get into than Mary WashingtonSAT about 205 higher |
| Richmond | 1410 to 1530 | 22.2% | Harder to get into than Mary WashingtonSAT about 200 higher |
| William & Mary | 1400 to 1530 | 34.1% | Harder to get into than Mary WashingtonSAT about 195 higher |
| Virginia Tech | 1280 to 1450 | 54.8% | Harder to get into than Mary WashingtonSAT about 95 higher |
| Lipscomb | 1160 to 1380 | 67.7% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Virginia Military Institute | 1050 to 1270 | 71.3% | Similar oddsSAT about 110 lower |
How Recent Are These Mary Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Mary Washington SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Mary Washington?
Mary Washington's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1170 to 1370. Aim for at least 1170 to be competitive, and 1370 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 Mary Washington?
A 1170 sits at Mary Washington's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1170 to 1370. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1370 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Mary Washington?
The average composite SAT score at Mary Washington is 1272. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1170 and 1370.
Does Mary Washington require SAT scores?
No. Mary Washington 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 Washington test optional for 2026-2027?
Mary Washington 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 Washington?
Mary Washington's middle 50 percent ACT range is 27 to 31. Aim for at least 27 to be competitive and 31 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Mary Washington.
What GPA do you need to get into Mary Washington?
Admitted students at Mary Washington 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 Washington's acceptance rate?
Mary Washington admits about 79.8% 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 Mary Washington?
Mary Washington admits about 79.8% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1170 to 1370 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1370 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 Washington's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Mary Washington?
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 Washington superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Mary Washington 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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