What's a good ACT score for NYU?
A plain-English look at the ACT scores admitted students bring to NYU: the approximate middle-50% Composite range, what counts as competitive, and why a number is only ever one part of the picture.
Admitted students at NYU typically score in roughly the 34–35 range on the ACT Composite (middle 50%, approximate), so a competitive score sits at or above 35. At an admit rate of roughly 8–12%, ranges vary a lot by school, with Stern Business sitting highest, so calibrate to your specific NYU school. Always confirm NYU's current range and policy on its official admissions site.
A good score puts you in — or above — the range
"Good for NYU" isn't a single cutoff. It's a band that the middle half of admitted students land in, read alongside everything else in an application.
Selective overall, and it varies by school.
NYU admits roughly 8–12% of applicants, and you apply to a specific school — Stern Business, CAS, Tisch and the rest each draw their own pool. Stern runs the highest, so the 34–35 all-university Composite band is only a reference point; the bar for your target school can sit well above it. Course rigor, essays and fit are read alongside any score.
Check the testing rule for your cycle.
Before planning an ACT retake, verify NYU's current submission rule for your application cycle. The school may require a Composite, leave submission optional or exclude test results from review. An ACT result is most useful when the Composite and section balance add evidence beyond grades and course rigor.
Submit your single strongest credential.
Because testing is flexible, the move is to put forward your one best result — ACT, SAT or qualifying AP/IB — rather than every score you have. Calibrate the Composite target to your specific NYU school (Stern sits above CAS or Tisch), and only submit a score that helps that application.
Find out where you stand today.
Knowing the range is step one. Answering a few real-format questions shows you how far you are from it right now.
Aim at the top of the band, not the bottom
A Composite inside the 34–35 range (approximate, middle 50%) keeps you in the conversation, but the upper end is where a score stops being a question mark. Treat 35 as the marker to aim at, and remember the range and NYU's testing policy can both change each cycle — confirm them on the official admissions site before you lock in a goal.
How to reach it
- Set a target Composite at or above 35.
- Practice all four sections — English, Math, Reading and Science.
- Build pace; the ACT is a speed test.
- Sit full-length timed practice tests to measure your real level.
- Clear every miss in your mistake bank.
- Leave time for a retake before deadlines.
Score target and policy check
Use this as a planning baseline; testing policies and reported score ranges can change by application cycle.
| Item | Planning read | Verification note |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate middle 50% | 34–35 ACT Composite | Reported ranges can shift by admitted/enrolled class and submitter pool. |
| Competitive target | 35+ | Aim near or above the top of the band if you choose or need to submit scores. |
| Testing policy | Standardized testing is optional for the upcoming application term. | Policy can change by cycle. |
Good ACT score for NYU — questions
What ACT score do you need for NYU?
Is a 34 a good ACT score for NYU?
Does NYU require the ACT?
Does NYU superscore the ACT?
Is the ACT the only thing that matters for NYU?
Keep planning your ACT target.
Know the target. Now see where you stand on it.
Start free, answer a few real-format ACT questions, and get a practice estimate toward your target Composite.