Minnesota Duluth SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1180 to 1350
Half of enrolled students at Minnesota Duluth scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1350, and one quarter below 1180.
- Average composite
- 1251
- Acceptance rate
- 88.8%
- ACT range
- 23 to 28
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Duluth, MN
- Undergraduates
- 7,336
Minnesota Duluth SAT Scores and Admissions
Minnesota Duluth SAT scores split evenly across the two sections of the test. The Reading and Writing middle 50 stretches from 590 to 675, and the Math middle 50 lands in the same window, 590 to 675, so neither section pulls the bar higher than the other. Stack the two together and the composite middle 50 runs from 1180 to 1350, with enrolled students posting an average of 1251. That average sits just above the midpoint of the range, which tells you most admitted students cluster near the center rather than the edges.
The University of Minnesota Duluth is a public university in Duluth, MN, with about 7,336 students enrolled. Its admission rate is 88.8%, so close to 9 out of 10 applicants get in. That number takes some pressure off the score itself, but a total inside or above the middle 50 still makes your file easy to approve. The school reported SAT as optional in the most recent federal data, which means you can send scores when they help and hold them back when they do not. For context, the ACT middle 50 here runs from 23 to 28, another way to gauge where your testing stands.
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Minnesota Duluth SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Minnesota Duluth, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 590 | 675 |
| Math | 590 | 675 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1180 | 1350 |
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
1180 to 1350
Minnesota Duluth Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Minnesota Duluth, 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 Minnesota Duluth'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 Minnesota Duluth by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Minnesota Duluth, based on its reported 1180 to 1350 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1030 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1030 is well below the 1180 to 1350 range at Minnesota Duluth. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1130 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1130 falls just short of Minnesota Duluth's 25th percentile of 1180. 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 1180 to 1350 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1350 | At the 75th percentile | A 1350 matches the 75th percentile at Minnesota Duluth, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1380 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1380 beats the 75th percentile at Minnesota Duluth. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Minnesota Duluth's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1180, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1350, 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 1180 | To reach 1350 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +180 points | +350 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +80 points | +250 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +150 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +50 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 Minnesota Duluth?
Read your score against the 1180 to 1350 band. A total below 1180 puts you under the 25th percentile, so you would want other parts of your file, grades, activities, or the option to withhold scores, to carry more weight. A total between 1180 and 1350 lands you inside the middle 50, right where most enrolled students sit. Clear 1350 and you move into the top 1 out of 4 of admitted students.
Because the Reading and Writing and Math splits are identical here, 590 to 675 on each, neither section sets a higher hurdle than the other. That is unusual and useful: you can split your target evenly, aiming for 675 or better on both to reach the top quarter. A lopsided score, strong in one section and weak in the other, can still average into the range, but balancing the two is the cleaner path to a total that reads well.
Minnesota Duluth GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Minnesota Duluth typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 band. That range fits a school that admits close to 9 out of 10 applicants, and it means you do not need a spotless transcript to be a realistic candidate. Steady B work across four years puts you inside the picture.
Grades matter, but so does the weight of the courses behind them. A 3.3 earned in honors or advanced classes reads stronger than a higher number built on lighter coursework, because it shows you can handle harder material. If your GPA sits near the low edge of that 3.0 to 3.5 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A total near or above 1350 signals readiness in a way a transcript alone cannot, and it gives the admissions reader a clear reason to move your file forward.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Minnesota Duluth 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.
Minnesota Duluth SAT Testing Policy
Minnesota Duluth 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 1265, the middle of Minnesota Duluth's range. If you are below 1180, 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 Minnesota Duluth?
Minnesota Duluth 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.
1180 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 1180
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Minnesota Duluth. 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 Minnesota Duluth's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Minnesota Duluth ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Minnesota Duluth scored between 23 and 28 on the ACT, alongside the 1180 to 1350 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Minnesota Duluth 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 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Minnesota Duluth's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Minnesota Duluth
Use the middle 50 as your scoreboard. A total of 1180 or higher clears the 25th percentile and keeps you inside the range Minnesota Duluth admits most often. Push to 1350 or above and you land in the top 1 out of 4 of enrolled students. On each section, 590 is the 25th percentile mark and 675 is the 75th, so treat those as your Reading and Writing and Math checkpoints. A useful middle marker is the enrolled average of 1251, which shows you where the center of the admitted pool lands. If your current total sits below 1180, our [score plans](/sat/score plans) map the exact point gains that move you into range. Start by taking a [diagnostic](/onboarding diagnostic) to see where your Reading and Writing and Math scores stand today, then aim your practice at the section with the wider gap. Your next step is simple: sit one full timed section this week and mark every question you missed.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Minnesota Duluth?
Minnesota Duluth admits about 888 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 7,336. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 112 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: Minnesota Duluth's 25th percentile score of 1180 already beats roughly 71% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1350 sits around the 91th 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 Minnesota Duluth: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Minnesota Duluth, 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 Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Duluth | 1180 to 1350 | 88.8% | This page |
| Macalester | 1350 to 1510 | 28.5% | Harder to get into than Minnesota DuluthSAT about 165 higher |
| St Olaf | 1300 to 1470 | 48.3% | Harder to get into than Minnesota DuluthSAT about 120 higher |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | 1190 to 1340 | 66.5% | Harder to get into than Minnesota Duluthsimilar SAT range |
| Minnesota | 1300 to 1500 | 79.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 135 higher |
| St Thomas (MN) | 1260 to 1423 | 85.4% | Similar oddsSAT about 77 higher |
| Hamline | 1133 to 1391 | 87.6% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Minnesota Duluth 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 Minnesota Duluth 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 Minnesota Duluth's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Minnesota Duluth SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Minnesota Duluth?
Minnesota Duluth's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1180 to 1350. Aim for at least 1180 to be competitive, and 1350 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 1180 a good SAT score for Minnesota Duluth?
A 1180 sits at Minnesota Duluth's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1180 to 1350. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1350 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Minnesota Duluth?
The average composite SAT score at Minnesota Duluth is 1251. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1180 and 1350.
Does Minnesota Duluth require SAT scores?
No. Minnesota Duluth 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 Minnesota Duluth test optional for 2026-2027?
Minnesota Duluth 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 Minnesota Duluth?
Minnesota Duluth's middle 50 percent ACT range is 23 to 28. Aim for at least 23 to be competitive and 28 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Minnesota Duluth.
What GPA do you need to get into Minnesota Duluth?
Admitted students at Minnesota Duluth 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 Minnesota Duluth's acceptance rate?
Minnesota Duluth admits about 88.8% 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 Minnesota Duluth?
Minnesota Duluth admits about 88.8% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1180 to 1350 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1350 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 Minnesota Duluth's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Minnesota Duluth?
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 Minnesota Duluth superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Minnesota Duluth 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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