Northwestern St Paul SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
868 to 1271
Half of enrolled students at Northwestern St Paul scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1271, and one quarter below 868.
- Average composite
- 1173
- Acceptance rate
- 93.5%
- ACT range
- 20 to 28
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Saint Paul, MN
- Undergraduates
- 1,442
Northwestern St Paul SAT Scores and Admissions
Northwestern St Paul SAT scores break into two parts: a Reading and Writing middle 50 of 430 to 608 and a Math middle 50 of 438 to 663. Stack those together and the full SAT middle 50 runs from 868 to 1271, with an average composite near 1173. Half of enrolled students landed inside that band. One quarter came in below 868, and one quarter scored above 1271. The two sections sit close, though Math reaches a bit higher at the top, 663 against 608.
The school sits in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and enrolls about 1442 students, which puts it on the smaller side. It is a private nonprofit university. Admission is not the hard part here. 93.5% of applicants get in, so most students who apply find a seat. That wide gate shifts the weight toward matching your score to the middle 50 rather than clearing a steep cutoff. If you take the ACT instead, the middle 50 there runs 20 to 28. In the most recent federal data, the testing policy is optional, so you can decide whether a score helps your file before you send it.
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Northwestern St Paul SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Northwestern St Paul, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 430 | 608 |
| Math | 438 | 663 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 868 | 1271 |
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
868 to 1271
Northwestern St Paul Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Northwestern St Paul, 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 Northwestern St Paul'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 Northwestern St Paul by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Northwestern St Paul, based on its reported 868 to 1271 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 720 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 720 is well below the 868 to 1271 range at Northwestern St Paul. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 820 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 820 falls just short of Northwestern St Paul's 25th percentile of 868. 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 868 to 1271 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1270 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1270 sits inside the 868 to 1271 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1300 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1300 beats the 75th percentile at Northwestern St Paul. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Northwestern St Paul's Range
The two targets that matter here are 868, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1271, 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 868 | To reach 1271 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Already there | +271 points | 1000 to 1300 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +171 points | 1100 to 1300 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +71 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 Northwestern St Paul?
Read your score against the 868 to 1271 band. Below 868 puts you in the bottom quarter of enrolled students. That is not a wall at a school admitting 93.5%, but it does mean your grades and the rest of your file carry more of the load. Land between 868 and 1271 and you sit with the middle half, right where most students fall. Clear 1271 and you are in the top quarter. Section by section, Math sets the higher bar. Its middle 50 tops out at 663 against 608 for Reading and Writing, and its floor of 438 also sits above the 430 Reading and Writing floor. If your strengths lean verbal, expect Math to be the section that decides where you land in the range. The average composite of 1173 is a useful checkpoint. Hit it and you are comfortably inside the middle 50, a step above the midpoint of the band.
Northwestern St Paul GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Northwestern St Paul typically present an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. That range fits a school that admits 93.5% of applicants. Grades sit at the center of the read, but the number by itself does not settle the case.
What you took counts as much as what you earned. A 3.3 built from honors and Advanced Placement courses reads stronger than a higher mark from an easier load. If your GPA sits near the lower edge of that band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score in the upper half of the 868 to 1271 range gives an admissions reader a clear reason to look past a softer transcript. Steady grades through your senior year help too, since they show the trend is moving the right way. Aim to keep the number and the course load pulling in the same direction.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Northwestern St Paul 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.
Northwestern St Paul SAT Testing Policy
Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul's range. If you are below 868, 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 Northwestern St Paul?
Northwestern St Paul 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.
868 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 868
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Northwestern St Paul. 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 Northwestern St Paul's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Northwestern St Paul ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Northwestern St Paul scored between 20 and 28 on the ACT, alongside the 868 to 1271 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Northwestern St Paul 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 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
| 19 | 990 to 1020 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Northwestern St Paul's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Northwestern St Paul
Set your targets against the two ends of the band. A 868, the 25th percentile, keeps you in range. Push to 1271, the 75th percentile, and you move into the top quarter of enrolled students. A practical aim is the 1173 average or a little past it, which lands you safely inside the middle 50. On the sections, treat 608 in Reading and Writing and 663 in Math as the marks that put you in the top quarter of each. Our score plans map the point gains between where you stand now and those numbers, section by section. Start with a diagnostic so you know your real starting line before you build the plan. Then pick the section with the widest gap to your target and work that one first. Block two study sessions this week and hold them. Small, steady sessions beat one long cram, so keep the schedule light and regular.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Northwestern St Paul?
Northwestern St Paul admits about 935 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,442. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 65 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: Northwestern St Paul's 25th percentile score of 868 already beats roughly 17% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1271 sits around the 83th 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 Northwestern St Paul: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Northwestern St Paul, 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 Northwestern St Paul |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern St Paul | 868 to 1271 | 93.5% | This page |
| Adrian | 873 to 1140 | 72.5% | Similar oddsSAT about 63 lower |
| Muskingum | 910 to 1105 | 81.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 62 lower |
| Indiana University South Bend | 950 to 1190 | 83.8% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Hamline | 1133 to 1391 | 87.6% | Similar oddsSAT about 193 higher |
| Bethel (MN) | 1190 to 1300 | 87.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 176 higher |
| Pacific | 900 to 1240 | 89.6% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Northwestern St Paul SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Northwestern St Paul?
Northwestern St Paul's middle 50 percent SAT range is 868 to 1271. Aim for at least 868 to be competitive, and 1271 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 868 a good SAT score for Northwestern St Paul?
A 868 sits at Northwestern St Paul's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 868 to 1271. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1271 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Northwestern St Paul?
The average composite SAT score at Northwestern St Paul is 1173. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 868 and 1271.
Does Northwestern St Paul require SAT scores?
No. Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul test optional for 2026-2027?
Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul?
Northwestern St Paul's middle 50 percent ACT range is 20 to 28. Aim for at least 20 to be competitive and 28 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Northwestern St Paul.
What GPA do you need to get into Northwestern St Paul?
Admitted students at Northwestern St Paul 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 Northwestern St Paul's acceptance rate?
Northwestern St Paul admits about 93.5% 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 Northwestern St Paul?
Northwestern St Paul admits about 93.5% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 868 to 1271 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1271 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 Northwestern St Paul's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Northwestern St Paul?
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 Northwestern St Paul superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Northwestern St Paul 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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