Admission & test scores

Reed College SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1290–1520 on the SAT. Reed College admits 25% of applicants — selective. 88% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1290–1520middle half of admits
ACT midpoint—admitted students
Acceptance rate25%selective
First-year retention88%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1290
Average
1437
75th percentile
1520

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1290 and a quarter above 1520. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 1,320.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1439 25 15% $8,994
SOKA University of America Aliso Viejo, California 1440 26 43% $38,728
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois 1440 32 42% $16,004
Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1440 32 26% $64,980
Simpson College Indianola, Iowa 1440 24 86% $47,656
Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota 1440 31 29% $68,104

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Reed College admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Reed College?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1290 and 1520 on the SAT, with an average of 1437. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Reed College require?
ACT figures are not published for this institution.
How hard is it to get into Reed College?
Reed College admits 25% of applicants, which is selective. Of those who enrol, 88% return for a second year.
Does Reed College require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.