Michigan Dearborn SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
990 to 1255
Half of enrolled students at Michigan Dearborn scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1255, and one quarter below 990.
- Average composite
- 1115
- Acceptance rate
- 55.6%
- ACT range
- 24 to 28
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Dearborn, MI
- Undergraduates
- 5,952
Michigan Dearborn SAT Scores and Admissions
About 56 of every 100 applicants get into University of Michigan Dearborn, so the admission rate of 55.6% puts this school in reach for a wide range of students. If you are checking Michigan Dearborn SAT scores to see where you stand, the middle 50 percent of admitted students land between 990 and 1255. That range is the practical target. Score inside it and your numbers match the students who already got in.
The average SAT here sits at 1115, right in the heart of that band. Michigan Dearborn is a public university in Dearborn, MI, with about 5,952 students enrolled, so it stays smaller than the flagship campus in Ann Arbor. The section splits tell you where the work goes. Reading and Writing runs from 500 to 625, and Math runs from 490 to 630. In the most recent federal data the testing policy is optional, which means you can send scores or hold them back. A score inside or above the middle 50 is worth sending, because it backs up the rest of your file with a clear number. A score below it is the one to weigh more carefully.
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Michigan Dearborn SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Michigan Dearborn, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 500 | 625 |
| Math | 490 | 630 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 990 | 1255 |
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
990 to 1255
Michigan Dearborn Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Michigan Dearborn, 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 Michigan Dearborn'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 Michigan Dearborn by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Michigan Dearborn, based on its reported 990 to 1255 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 840 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 840 is well below the 990 to 1255 range at Michigan Dearborn. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 940 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 940 falls just short of Michigan Dearborn's 25th percentile of 990. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1120 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1120 sits inside the 990 to 1255 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1260 | At the 75th percentile | A 1260 matches the 75th percentile at Michigan Dearborn, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1290 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1290 beats the 75th percentile at Michigan Dearborn. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Michigan Dearborn's Range
The two targets that matter here are 990, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1255, 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 990 | To reach 1255 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +255 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +155 points | 1100 to 1300 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +55 points | 1200 to 1300 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 Michigan Dearborn?
The middle 50 range of 990 to 1255 splits the applicant pool into clear zones. A score below 990 sits under the 25th percentile, so it puts you behind most admitted students and asks the rest of your file to carry more of the load. A score between 990 and 1255 puts you inside the pack, matching the students who got in. Anything above 1255 clears the 75th percentile and lands you in the top quarter of the range.
The section numbers set slightly different bars. Reading and Writing runs 500 to 625, and Math runs 490 to 630. At the top end Math asks for a touch more, since its 75th percentile of 630 edges past the 625 in Reading and Writing. At the bottom, Reading and Writing holds the higher floor at 500 against 490. If one section is your weak spot, that is where a few extra points move your total the most.
Michigan Dearborn GPA Requirements
Admitted students at University of Michigan Dearborn typically present an unweighted GPA in the range of 3.3 to 3.7. That is the band to aim for. It says most students who got in did solid work across four years, without needing a perfect transcript. A few B grades will not sink you here.
Grades matter, but the courses behind them matter just as much. An A in an honors or AP class carries more weight than an A in an easier one, because it shows you can handle harder material. Admissions readers look at the number and the difficulty together. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.3 to 3.7 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score near the top of the 990 to 1255 range gives a reader a clear reason to move you forward, even when the grades leave a little room. The number and the transcript work as one case, so build both.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Michigan Dearborn 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.
Michigan Dearborn SAT Testing Policy
Michigan Dearborn 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 1123, the middle of Michigan Dearborn's range. If you are below 990, 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 Michigan Dearborn?
Michigan Dearborn 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.
1120+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
990 to 1120
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 990
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Michigan Dearborn. 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 Michigan Dearborn's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Michigan Dearborn ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Michigan Dearborn scored between 24 and 28 on the ACT, alongside the 990 to 1255 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Michigan Dearborn 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 |
|---|---|
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Michigan Dearborn's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Michigan Dearborn
Set your targets against the real percentiles. A total at or above the 25th percentile of 990 keeps you in range with admitted students. At or above the 1255 mark of the 75th percentile puts you in the top quarter, where your score turns into a clear advantage. A practical goal is the 1115 average or a bit past it, since that lands you squarely inside the band.
Break it down by section. Aim for at least 500 in Reading and Writing and 490 in Math to hold the floor, then push toward 625 and 630 to reach the top. One of our score plans maps those gains into weekly steps so you always know the next move. Start with a short diagnostic to see your current Reading and Writing and Math splits, then point your prep at the section that trails. Your next step is simple: get a baseline score, then build the plan around it.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Michigan Dearborn?
Michigan Dearborn admits about 556 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 5,952. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 444 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: Michigan Dearborn's 25th percentile score of 990 already beats roughly 38% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1255 sits around the 82th 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 Michigan Dearborn: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Michigan Dearborn, 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 Michigan Dearborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Dearborn | 990 to 1255 | 55.6% | This page |
| Spring Arbor | 1010 to 1240 | 51.5% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Michigan Flint | 970 to 1243 | 70.5% | Similar oddsSAT about 16 lower |
| Calvin | 1083 to 1330 | 70.9% | Similar oddsSAT about 84 higher |
| Saginaw Valley State | 920 to 1170 | 72.1% | Similar oddsSAT about 77 lower |
| Kettering | 1160 to 1330 | 78.7% | Similar oddsSAT about 123 higher |
| Hope | 1100 to 1340 | 79.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 98 higher |
How Recent Are These Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Michigan Dearborn SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Michigan Dearborn?
Michigan Dearborn's middle 50 percent SAT range is 990 to 1255. Aim for at least 990 to be competitive, and 1255 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 990 a good SAT score for Michigan Dearborn?
A 990 sits at Michigan Dearborn's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 990 to 1255. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1255 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Michigan Dearborn?
The average composite SAT score at Michigan Dearborn is 1115. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 990 and 1255.
Does Michigan Dearborn require SAT scores?
No. Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn test optional for 2026-2027?
Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn?
Michigan Dearborn's middle 50 percent ACT range is 24 to 28. Aim for at least 24 to be competitive and 28 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Michigan Dearborn.
What GPA do you need to get into Michigan Dearborn?
Admitted students at Michigan Dearborn 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 Michigan Dearborn's acceptance rate?
Michigan Dearborn admits about 55.6% 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 Michigan Dearborn?
Michigan Dearborn admits about 55.6% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 990 to 1255 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.3 to 3.7. A score above 1255 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 Michigan Dearborn's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Michigan Dearborn?
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 Michigan Dearborn superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Michigan Dearborn 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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