William & Mary SAT & ACT Scores
At William & Mary, the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores earned 1390–1520, with a median of 1450. ACT submitters landed between 32–34. The school admitted 37% of first-year applicants for the fall 2025 entering class. You do not need the SAT or ACT to apply for fall 2027: W&M is test-optional, so sending scores is your choice.
Where does your score land?
Compared with William & Mary's enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class.
Is William & Mary test-optional?
The rule for students applying now, for fall 2027 entry.
William & Mary is test-optional for all first-year applicants, including international and homeschooled students; if you do send the SAT or ACT, it superscores both tests.
Superscoring. William & Mary superscores the SAT and the ACT.
Checked October 29, 2026 on William & Mary's admissions site . Policies can change each cycle.
Policy timeline
- Fall 2021 entryTest-optional policy begins
- Fall 2027 applicantsTest-optional
W&M made testing optional in a pilot that began with students entering in fall 2021, then announced in 2023 that it would keep the policy indefinitely. No group of applicants is required to send scores, and international students can apply without them too. W&M does say that homeschooled students with few AP or dual-enrollment courses would likely benefit from providing scores. The W&M section of the Common App asks whether you are applying test-optional; if you choose that, any scores you self-reported are hidden from your review. If you do send scores, W&M superscores both the SAT and the ACT across test dates, and if you send both tests it uses whichever result helps your case more.
William & Mary SAT scores
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1390–1520, and the median was 1450.
SAT score distribution
Enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class| SAT | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1390 | 1450 | 1520 |
| Reading & Writing | 710 | 740 | 760 |
| Math | 680 | 710 | 760 |
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, fall 2025 entering class. Source: 2025–26 Common Data Set. 48% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score.
What your SAT means here
Among enrolled first-years who submitted the SAT, the median was 1450. A quarter scored at or below 1390, and a quarter scored at or above 1520. Section ranges were 710–760 in Reading and Writing and 680–760 in Math.
Only 48% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score, and these figures describe that group alone. Students admitted without scores are not counted. Applicants tend to send scores when the scores help them, so read the range as what successful submitters earned, not as a cutoff for the whole class.
Take full-length Digital SAT practice tests free, with an explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
William & Mary ACT scores
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 32–34 on the ACT, with a median of 33.
ACT score distribution
Enrolled first-years, fall 2025 entering class| ACT | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| English | 33 | — | 35 |
| Math | 29 | — | 34 |
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, fall 2025 entering class. Source: 2025–26 Common Data Set. 14% of enrolled first-years sent an ACT score.
What your ACT means here
ACT submitters in the fall 2025 entering class had a middle-half composite of 32–34, with a median of 33. English scores ran 33–35, and Math scores ran 29–34.
14% of enrolled first-years submitted the ACT, and the range covers only them. W&M handles the ACT the same way as the SAT: it superscores across test dates, and if you send both tests it uses the one that helps you more. Send whichever test shows you at your best.
Take full-length ACT practice tests free, with a worked explanation on every question and a score report that shows what to fix.
William & Mary acceptance rate
Moderately competitive: 37% of first-year applicants were admitted (fall 2025 entering class).
Each dot is 1 in 100 applicants.
- First-year applicants16,895
- Admitted6,245
- Acceptance rate37%
- Testing for fall 2027Test-optional
Early application plans: Early Decision I and Early Decision II (both binding) plus Regular Decision; no Early Action.
Fall 2025 entering class. Source: William & Mary 2025–26 Common Data Set.
W&M offers two binding early plans, Early Decision I and Early Decision II, along with Regular Decision. It does not offer Early Action.
What to aim for
If you plan to send scores, aim for an SAT at or above 1450 or an ACT at or above 33. A score near 1520 or 34 would put you in the top quarter of submitters. If your best score sits below 1390 or 32, applying test-optional is a reasonable choice, because W&M reviews those applications fully without scores.
Scores are one optional part of W&M's holistic review. The school lists teacher recommendations and interviews as other optional pieces, and its FAQ says students who have done well in a challenging high school curriculum may choose to leave scores out. All applicants are considered for W&M's merit programs whether or not they send scores.
How William & Mary compares
Schools with a similar acceptance rate.
| School | Admit rate | Median SAT | SAT middle 50% | ACT middle 50% | Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia | 34.3% | 1330 | 1250–1420 | 27–33 | Required |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 36.6% | 1442 | 1390–1520 | 31–34 | Test-optional |
| William & Mary | 37% | 1450 | 1390–1520 | 32–34 | Test-optional |
| Binghamton University | 37.3% | 1410 | 1320–1480 | 31–34 | Test-optional |
| University of California - Santa Barbara | 38.2% | — | — | — | Test-blind |
| North Carolina State University | 39.5% | 1390 | 1310–1440 | 25–32 | Test-optional |
Frequently asked questions
Is William & Mary test-optional?
For students applying for fall 2027 entry: William & Mary is test-optional for all first-year applicants, including international and homeschooled students; if you do send the SAT or ACT, it superscores both tests. William & Mary superscores the SAT and the ACT.
What is the average SAT score at William & Mary?
The median SAT score of enrolled first-years was 1450 (fall 2025 entering class). The middle 50% scored 1390–1520, so a quarter scored 1520 or higher.
What SAT score do you need for William & Mary?
A score at or above 1520 puts you in the top quarter of William & Mary's enrolled first-years, and 1390–1520 is the middle 50% (fall 2025 entering class). Because the school is test-optional, those ranges come only from students who chose to submit.
What ACT score do you need for William & Mary?
William & Mary's enrolled first-years had a middle-50% ACT composite of 32–34, with a median of 33 (fall 2025 entering class). A 34 or above puts you in the top quarter.
What is William & Mary's acceptance rate?
William & Mary admitted 37% of first-year applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (6,245 of 16,895), which makes it moderately competitive.
How many William & Mary students submit test scores?
In the fall 2025 entering class, 48% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score and 14% submitted an ACT score. Some students send both.
What are your chances at William & Mary?
Scores are one part. Add your GPA, courses, activities and recommendations for a free reach, target or likely estimate.