Test Score Optional Admission

Test-optional means that the decision is yours whether to submit SAT/ACT scores with your application. If you believe test scores add value to your application then you can submit them. Test scores may add value if the score is above your school's average or above Stony Brook's first year average. If you submit test scores for consideration, test scores must be officially reported and are not taken from your application, school counselor, or self reporting.

Admission to SBU has never been based on one single attribute, but a complete examination of a student’s academic record, plus many other academic and personal factors, including high school GPA, strength of curriculum, course-level grades and number of classes taken in core subjects, evidence of leadership, special talents or interests, and other personal qualities through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other non-academic pursuits.  We also give consideration for context provided in a letter of recommendation as well as your essay. We’ll continue to review applicants in a holistic manner.

You will have the option of letting us know if you would like your scores considered when you fill out your application. By selecting “No” to the question on your application asking if you want to have your test scores considered, your SAT/ACT scores will not be used during your admissions evaluation and decision. By selecting "Yes" to the question, your official test scores will need to be submitted to complete your application.

If you feel that your test scores accurately reflect your abilities and support your application, you may decide to submit your scores. The profile below represents the middle 50% of the entering class for Fall 2025*:

Grade point average: 92-98 or 3.7+ for students on the 4 point scale
SAT Reading/Math Composite: 1350-1470
ACT Composite Scores: 30-34

We are test optional, but for those who submitted scores the middle 50% SAT score was 1340-1480 (1600 scale) or ACT scores of 29 to 33. Keep in mind, test score averages are calculated only for those students who submitted scores and were higher for students applying to restricted majors like engineering and computer science, this doesn't mean you will not be admitted if you don't have a score within this range.

Not at this time for general admissions consideration to our academic majors, but it is required for our Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine honors program applications.

Test scores will not be required for Honors College, WISE, University Scholars or Simons STEM Scholars program applications.

No, we are committed to the equitable treatment of first-year applicants with and without test scores for entry to all undergraduate majors.

The decision that you indicate on your application will be final once your application is under review. If you would like to change your test consideration after you apply, and before the application deadline for which you applied, please contact an admissions counselor in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to explore your options based on your application status. 

Please email us your request as soon as possible, and include the reason for the request to change your test score consideration status, to enroll@stonybrook.edu.

Yes.

International students are required to submit standardized test scores as proof of English proficiency. Submit your English Proficiency via an official score report for the TOEFL, Duolingo, SAT, ACT, IELTS, AP, IB, A levels or PTE Academic. Review our criteria for international students here.

Applicants from native English-speaking countries may be exempt from submitting an English proficiency test score. If you have attended a high school in the United States for 3 years, you may be exempt as well.
 
Transfer students who have not completed a college-level writing course at a US college (or have received a grade below a C in the course) are also required to submit scores from one of these exams.