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    SAT and ACT in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts graduates in the class of 2026 averaged 1128 on the SAT (57% took it) and 26.7 on the ACT (5% took it). The National Merit Semifinalist cutoff for Massachusetts's class of 2027 is 221. We cover 41 colleges in Massachusetts. For fall 2027, 3 require the SAT or ACT and 38 let you choose whether to send a score.

    average SAT, class of 2026
    1128
    National Merit cutoff
    221
    colleges requiring the SAT or ACT for fall 2027
    3
    colleges covered
    41

    Average SAT and ACT scores in Massachusetts

    From the official reports College Board and ACT publish each fall for the graduating class. Compare states with care: an average depends on how many students take the test.

    SATClass of 2026Graduates who took it43,829Share of the class57%Average1128571 Reading and Writing, 557 MathNational average1045
    ACTClass of 2026Share of the class5%Average26.7National average19.2

    In the class of 2026, 43,829 Massachusetts graduates (57% of the class) took the SAT and averaged 1128 (571 in Reading and Writing, 557 in Math), against 1045 nationally.

    In the class of 2026, 5% of Massachusetts graduates took the ACT and averaged 26.7, against 19.2 nationally. Only 5% of Massachusetts's class took the ACT, mostly students applying to colleges that ask for it, so the average runs higher than in states where every student tests.

    See where a score stands nationally with the SAT percentile calculator, or what a 1150 SAT score gets you at colleges and in scholarships.

    Sources: College Board, 2026 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report: Massachusetts · ACT, Average ACT Test Scores by State, Graduating Class of 2026

    National Merit in Massachusetts

    For the class of 2027, students in Massachusetts needed a PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index of 221 to become National Merit Semifinalists. Commended Students needed 208 in every state.

    Work out your index with the Selection Index calculator, compare states in National Merit cutoffs by state, and see which colleges reward it in colleges with National Merit scholarships.

    Source: NMSC, Guide to the National Merit Scholarship Program

    Colleges in Massachusetts

    Test policies for fall 2027, and the SAT and ACT scores of the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen. Largest colleges first; each links to its full page.

    University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherstTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate60%SAT, middle 50%1330 to 1480ACT, middle 50%30 to 34
    Boston UniversityBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate13%SAT, middle 50%1420 to 1510ACT, middle 50%33 to 34
    Northeastern UniversityBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate5.6%SAT, middle 50%1440 to 1510ACT, middle 50%33 to 34
    University of Massachusetts-BostonBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate84%SAT, middle 50%1070 to 1290ACT, middle 50%22 to 29
    University of Massachusetts-LowellLowellTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate83%SAT, middle 50%1200 to 1360ACT, middle 50%25 to 32
    Boston CollegeChestnut HillTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate16%SAT, middle 50%1460 to 1520ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewaterTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%1060 to 1263ACT, middle 50%25 to 30
    Harvard UniversityCambridgeTest policyTest requiredAcceptance rate4.2%SAT, middle 50%1510 to 1580ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    Tufts UniversityMedfordTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate11%SAT, middle 50%1460 to 1520ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth DartmouthTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate91%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1260ACT, middle 50%26 to 30
    Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeTest policyTest requiredAcceptance rate4.6%SAT, middle 50%1520 to 1570ACT, middle 50%34 to 35
    Bentley UniversityWalthamTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate47%SAT, middle 50%1230 to 1370ACT, middle 50%29 to 33
    Suffolk UniversityBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate82%SAT, middle 50%1090 to 1300ACT, middle 50%24 to 28
    Worcester State UniversityWorcesterTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%970 to 1200ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Emerson CollegeBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate51%SAT, middle 50%1270 to 1420ACT, middle 50%29 to 32
    Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%1110 to 1320ACT, middle 50%26 to 33
    Brandeis UniversityWalthamTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate45%SAT, middle 50%1370 to 1470ACT, middle 50%31 to 34
    Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate85%SAT, middle 50%1160 to 1416ACT, middle 50%26 to 30
    Endicott CollegeBeverlyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate71%SAT, middle 50%1193 to 1340ACT, middle 50%25 to 30
    College of the Holy CrossWorcesterTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate18%SAT, middle 50%1240 to 1410ACT, middle 50%27 to 32
    Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburgTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate89%SAT, middle 50%1000 to 1170ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Babson CollegeWellesleyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate16%SAT, middle 50%1410 to 1510ACT, middle 50%31 to 34
    Western New England UniversitySpringfieldTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate91%SAT, middle 50%1090 to 1300ACT, middle 50%21 to 28
    Framingham State UniversityFraminghamTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate84%SAT, middle 50%1100 to 1280ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Smith CollegeNorthamptonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate22%SAT, middle 50%1420 to 1520ACT, middle 50%32 to 34
    Show 16 more colleges
    Wellesley CollegeWellesleyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate15%SAT, middle 50%1460 to 1540ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    Clark UniversityWorcesterTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate40%SAT, middle 50%1270 to 1410ACT, middle 50%30 to 33
    Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth HadleyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate38%SAT, middle 50%1365 to 1485ACT, middle 50%32 to 35
    Williams CollegeWilliamstownTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate8.6%SAT, middle 50%1490 to 1550ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    Amherst CollegeAmherstTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate7.7%SAT, middle 50%1470 to 1540ACT, middle 50%33 to 35
    Emmanuel CollegeBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate76%SAT, middle 50%1170 to 1340ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Curry CollegeMiltonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1230ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Wheaton College (Massachusetts)NortonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate63%SAT, middle 50%1215 to 1370ACT, middle 50%29 to 33
    Springfield CollegeSpringfieldTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate74%SAT, middle 50%1080 to 1330ACT, middle 50%27 to 29
    Simmons UniversityBostonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate70%SAT, middle 50%1220 to 1390ACT, middle 50%26 to 34
    Gordon CollegeWenhamTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate90%SAT, middle 50%1100 to 1303ACT, middle 50%25 to 31
    Lasell UniversityNewtonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate81%SAT, middle 50%1030 to 1158ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Nichols CollegeDudleyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate81%SAT, middle 50%1028 to 1236ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Bay Path UniversityLongmeadowTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate85%SAT, middle 50%1010 to 1210ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringNeedhamTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate25%SAT, middle 50%1493 to 1558ACT, middle 50%Not published
    Sattler CollegeBostonTest policyTest requiredAcceptance rate69%SAT, middle 50%1140 to 1310ACT, middle 50%Not published

    To decide whether to send your score, compare it with each college's range in the submit or retake tool.

    Other states

    See every state, or browse all Massachusetts colleges.

    Common questions about the SAT and ACT in Massachusetts

    What is the average SAT score in Massachusetts?
    In the class of 2026, 43,829 Massachusetts graduates (57% of the class) took the SAT and averaged 1128 (571 in Reading and Writing, 557 in Math), against 1045 nationally.
    What is the average ACT score in Massachusetts?
    In the class of 2026, 5% of Massachusetts graduates took the ACT and averaged 26.7, against 19.2 nationally. Only 5% of Massachusetts's class took the ACT, mostly students applying to colleges that ask for it, so the average runs higher than in states where every student tests.
    What is the National Merit cutoff in Massachusetts?
    For the class of 2027, a PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index of 221 or higher made a student in Massachusetts a National Merit Semifinalist. Commended Students needed 208 in every state.
    Which colleges in Massachusetts require the SAT or ACT?
    Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Sattler College require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027.
    Which colleges in Massachusetts have the highest SAT scores?
    Among the colleges in Massachusetts we cover, the middle 50% of freshmen scored highest at Harvard University (1510 to 1580), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1520 to 1570) and Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (1493 to 1558).

    Have another question? Email us at team@getsharp.app.