NYU ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average composite score of 34 and a range extending from 33 to 35, New York University represents one of the most selective institutions in the country, and earning admission with an ACT score that falls below the 25th percentile would be significantly challenging. The school has an acceptance rate of just 9 percent, which means the vast majority of admitted students have achieved these exceptionally high scores. Simply meeting or exceeding the average is not a ticket to acceptance at NYU, as these numbers reflect the academic component alone of an enormously selective applicant pool.

A good ACT score for New York University typically means scoring in the range of 33 to 35, with 34 being the target that puts you in the middle of admitted students. However, it is crucial to understand that a high ACT score does not guarantee your admission to NYU. Many applicants with perfect or near-perfect ACT scores are rejected each year because the school evaluates you as a complete person, not just a test taker. Your essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, demonstrated interest, personal background, and how you have challenged yourself academically all matter significantly in the decision.

While there is no official minimum ACT score required by the university, you should aim for at least a 32 to have a realistic chance of being considered. Scoring below 33 would put you well below the 25th percentile, and an ACT score in the low 30s or below would make acceptance extremely unlikely unless you have truly exceptional qualities elsewhere in your application. That said, NYU explicitly states it conducts a comprehensive review process and considers multiple factors beyond test scores, so if your ACT falls short but you have other significant strengths, do not rule out applying. Just be realistic about your odds if your score is notably below their typical range.

New York University remains test-optional for the 2025-26 application cycle, meaning you are not required to submit an ACT score. You have the flexibility to choose whether to submit your test results, and if you do choose to submit, you can select from ACT, SAT, International Baccalaureate Diploma, AP exam scores, or other international qualifications. However, the test-optional label does not mean your scores will be ignored if you choose to submit them, as most competitive applicants at NYU do report scores to strengthen their applications.

NYU employs a superscoring method for the ACT that works to your advantage when you take the test multiple times. If you take the ACT more than once, the admissions committee recalculates a new composite using the highest section score from each test date, regardless of when you took each exam. This means you can take the test multiple times, improve a weak English score on one attempt and a weak Reading score on another, and NYU will piece together your strongest composite. You have control over which tests you send to NYU, so you can strategically submit only the test dates that contribute to your strongest superscore.

Understanding how NYU evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that standardized testing is just one component of a holistic admissions review. NYU admissions officers examine your coursework rigor, grades, essays, recommendations, leadership, and personal qualities alongside your test score. Even applicants with a 35 or 36 ACT can be rejected because admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive intellectually and contribute meaningfully to campus life. Your test score helps confirm that you can handle NYU's academic demands, but it does not make the case for admission on its own.

At a school as highly selective as NYU, having strong test scores actually narrows down the applicant pool but does not separate you from other high-scoring applicants. Instead, admissions officers focus on what makes you unique as a person and student. They want to understand how you think, what drives you, what challenges you have overcome, and how you will make the NYU community better. Your ACT score signals that you have the intellectual capability to succeed at NYU, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 6,700 spots they offer each year out of over 120,000 applications. This is why students with a 33 ACT sometimes get accepted while students with a 35 ACT are denied.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.