ACT Scores for Admission to SUNY

If you're wondering if you have the ACT scores you'll need to get into one of the four-year SUNY colleges and universities, here's a side-by-side comparison of scores for the middle 50% of enrolled students. If your scores fall within or above these ranges, you're on target for admission to one of these public universities in New York State.

Keep in mind that the SAT tends to be much more popular than the ACT in New York State. Nevertheless, either exam is perfectly acceptable. You'll be at no disadvantage using the ACT, and you should use scores from the exam that you prefer.

If your ACT scores are below the lower number in the table above, all hope is not lost. 25% of applicants who attend the SUNY school also had numbers in the bottom 25th percentile. Being admitted will be more challenging with a sub-par score, but it is not impossible.

Also note that the admissions standards vary considerably from one campus to another. Binghamton University, for example, is highly selective and nearly all admitted students have both grades and standardized test scores that are well above average. Binghamton is one of the top colleges in New York State. Other campuses such as Morrisville and Cobleskill are far less selective.

Your Academic Record Matters More than the ACT

Realize that ACT scores are just one part of the application. The most important part of your SUNY application will be your academic record. Be sure you have adequate coursework in key academic areas such as a foreign language and math. It's also important to show that you have challenged yourself, so Advanced Placement (AP) classes, IB classes, Honors classes, and dual enrollment classes are all important for helping to demonstrate your college preparedness. 

Holistic Admissions

The SUNY admissions folks will also be looking at non-numeric measures, for the four-year colleges and universities in the SUNY network all have holistic admissions. A strong essay and meaningful extracurricular activities can play an important role in the admissions process. At some campuses, special talents in areas such as sports or music can also help make up for standardized test scores that are less than ideal.

Data Source: National Center for Education Statistics