Admission & test scores

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 900–1160 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 24. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 87% of applicants — largely open. 67% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range900–1160middle half of admits
ACT midpoint24admitted students
Acceptance rate87%largely open
First-year retention67%return for year two

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

25th percentile
900
Average
1055
75th percentile
1160

A quarter of admitted students scored below 900 and a quarter above 1160. 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 8,494.

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

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, Colorado 1055 23 82% $9,927
La Roche University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1055 21 76% $34,052
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina 1056 19 93% $3,648
Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas 1054 21 83% $8,460
Lander University Greenwood, South Carolina 1057 21 81% $11,700
Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia 1053 21 88% $6,022

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.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 900 and 1160 on the SAT, with an average of 1055. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 24.
How hard is it to get into Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale admits 87% of applicants, which is largely open. Of those who enrol, 67% return for a second year.
Does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 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.