SAT Scores for Admission to the Senior Colleges of CUNY

A Side-by-Side Comparison of SAT Scores for the CUNY Campuses

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By
Allen Grove
Allen Grove
College Admissions Expert
  • Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania
  • M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania
  • B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT
Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.
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Updated on March 10, 2020

Admission requirements for the 11 senior colleges in CUNY vary widely. Below you'll find 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 institutions.

CUNY SAT Score Comparison (mid 50%)

(Learn what these numbers mean)

Reading 25% Reading 75% Math 25% Math 75% GPA-SAT-ACT
Admissions
Scattergram
Baruch College 550 640 600 690 see graph
Brooklyn College 490 580 520 620 see graph
CCNY 470 600 530 640 see graph
City Tech SAT Not Required SAT Not Required SAT Not Required SAT Not Required see graph
College of Staten Island - - - - -
Hunter College 520 620 540 640 see graph
John Jay College 440 530 450 540 see graph
Lehman College 450 540 460 540 see graph
Medgar Evers College SAT Not Required SAT Not Required SAT Not Required SAT Not Required -
Queens College 480 570 520 610 see graph
York College 390 470 420 490 see graph

Strong SAT scores are going to be most important for Baruch College and Hunter College, the two most selective colleges in the CUNY network. City Tech and Medgar Evers College have test-optional admissions, so your academic record is going to have added importance when applying to those institutions.

As you try to figure how your scores measure up to admitted students in the CUNY network, keep in mind that the numbers above don't tell the entire story. 25% of all applicants have SAT scores that are below the lower numbers in the table. Your chances of admission are certainly significantly lower if your SAT scores are below the 25th percentile, but you do still have a chance. You should consider a CUNY school a reach if your SAT scores are low, but don't hesitate to apply simply because your scores aren't ideal.

Always keep in mind that SAT scores are just one part of the application. All of the CUNY campuses use the CUNY application. The admissions process is holistic, and the admissions officers will be looking for a strong application essay and positive letters of recommendation. Meaningful extracurricular activities can also strengthen an application and help make up for SAT scores that aren't ideal.

On the academic front, the admissions folks are looking at more than your GPA. They will want to see evidence of success in challenging college preparatory classes. The strongest high school records include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate,  Honors, and Dual Enrollment classes.

SAT Comparison Charts: the Ivy League | top universities (non-Ivy) | top liberal arts colleges | top public universities | top public liberal arts colleges | University of California campuses | Cal State campuses | SUNY campuses | more SAT charts

data from National Center for Educational Statistics

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Grove, Allen. "SAT Scores for Admission to the Senior Colleges of CUNY." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/sat-scores-for-the-senior-colleges-of-cuny-788623. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). SAT Scores for Admission to the Senior Colleges of CUNY. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sat-scores-for-the-senior-colleges-of-cuny-788623 Grove, Allen. "SAT Scores for Admission to the Senior Colleges of CUNY." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/sat-scores-for-the-senior-colleges-of-cuny-788623 (accessed June 8, 2023).