Colleges and Universities That Superscore the SAT and the ACT (2025)

Superscoring is the practice of considering a student’s highest section scores across multiple SAT test dates to calculate a new (higher) composite score. Many U.S. colleges and universities superscore the SAT to evaluate applicants in the best light, though policies vary. Below is a list of institutions across various categories, with details on their SAT superscoring policies, any restrictions, and official references. (If a school does not superscore or has special rules, that is noted as well.)

School	SAT	ACT	Score Choice
Harvard University	✔	✗	✔
Yale University	✔	✔	✔
Princeton University	✔	✗	✗
Columbia University	✔	✔	✔
Brown University	✔	✔	✔
Dartmouth College	✔	✔	✔
University of Pennsylvania	✔	✔	✔
Cornell University	✔	✔	✔
Stanford University	✔	✔	✔
Duke University	✔	✔	✔
MIT	✔	✔	✔
Caltech	✔	✔	✔
Georgetown University	✔	✔	✔
University of Michigan	✔	✔	✔
University of California (UC) System	*	*	*
University of Virginia	✔	✔	✔
University of Texas at Austin	✗	✔	✗
University of Florida	✔	✔	✔
Amherst College	✔	✔	✔
Williams College	✔	✔	✔
Pomona College	✔	✔	✔
Swarthmore College	✔	✔	✔
Johns Hopkins University	✔	✔	✔
Emory University	✔	✔	✔
Florida State University	✔	✔	✔

Ivy League Universities

• Harvard University – Though Harvard says it does not composite a new score, Harvard considers the highest section scores from each SAT sitting (i.e. it notes your top Reading & Writing and top Math). In effect this is SAT superscoring. For the ACT, Harvard uses only the best single composite score, not a superscore. Harvard allows Score Choice, meaning you can choose which test dates to send.
• Yale University – Yale superscores both the SAT and ACT. Applicants may report a “super-scored” SAT, combining their highest Reading & Writing and Math section scores from different dates. Likewise, Yale will consider the highest section subscores on the ACT across multiple tests (recomputing a new composite).
• Princeton University – Princeton superscores the SAT: it will “consider the highest individual section results across all sittings” of the SAT. However, Princeton does not superscore the ACT – it looks at the highest ACT composite from one test date only. Note: Princeton does not mix results between the old paper SAT and the new digital SAT (superscoring is done only within the same format).
• Columbia University – Columbia superscores both the SAT and ACT. If you submit multiple SAT scores, Columbia will evaluate you based on the highest score you received in each section (Reading & Writing and Math) across test dates. The same principle applies to ACT subscores. Columbia accepts Score Choice, so you can send your preferred sets of scores.
• Brown University – Brown superscores within both the SAT and ACT. This means Brown will combine your highest section scores from multiple SATs and multiple ACTs when reviewing your application. Brown also allows Score Choice (you’re free to choose which scores to send). As of the 2024–25 cycle, Brown has returned to requiring either SAT or ACT scores for applicants.
• Dartmouth College – Dartmouth accepts superscores for both the SAT and ACT. They will consider your highest section scores from either test, regardless of the test dates or format. In other words, if you’ve taken the SAT/ACT multiple times, Dartmouth will use the best subscores to evaluate you. (They still caution against excessive testing; a strong academic record matters more than marginal test gains.
• University of Pennsylvania – Penn superscores both the SAT and ACT. For the SAT, Penn will combine your highest EBRW score with your highest Math score across all sittings to create a new total (superscore). For the ACT, Penn similarly considers the highest scores in each section (English, Math, Reading) across tests to calculate a composite superscore. If you self-report scores from multiple dates to form a superscore, you’ll later need to send official score reports for each test used.
• Cornell University – Cornell superscores the SAT (and in practice, the ACT as well). According to Cornell’s policy, your “results will be superscored to combine your highest subsections” on the SAT. You may use Score Choice for the SAT (Cornell recommends sending all scores, but it’s not required. Note: Some of Cornell’s individual colleges within the university are test-blind for certain application cycles (they won’t look at test scores at all) – but if scores are considered, superscoring is practiced.

Highly Selective Private Universities

• Stanford University – Stanford superscores the SAT. The admissions office will focus on your highest Reading & Writing and Math section scores from all SAT sittings. However, Stanford does not superscore the ACT (they typically consider the best single ACT composite).
• Duke University – Duke superscores both the SAT and ACT. This policy means Duke looks at the highest section scores you’ve achieved on the SAT Reading & Writing and Math across all test dates. For the ACT, Duke will consider your highest scores in each section (English, Math, Reading, Science) across multiple tests as well. You should send all your test sittings to ensure Duke can compile the best combination of section scores when evaluating your application.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – MIT requires standardized test scores and superscores both the SAT and ACT. According to MIT Admissions, if you take the same test multiple times, they will consider the highest score in each section, combining them in their review. MIT asks applicants to self-report all test sittings (they don’t want you to report only a manufactured superscore as one test), but they will ultimately focus on your top section scores across those sittings (for both SAT and ACT).
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Caltech recently reinstated its SAT/ACT requirement (after a test-blind period) and superscores those tests. If you take the SAT more than once, Caltech will consider your highest section scores across all dates to create a superscore for evaluation. The same goes for the ACT: Caltech will take your best subsection scores from multiple ACTs to review your application. Note: Caltech also requires that you submit all your testing attempts (they don’t permit Score Choice); this ensures they have all data to assemble your superscore.
• Georgetown University – Georgetown superscores the SAT but handles the ACT differently. Georgetown’s policy is to consider the highest SAT Reading & Writing and Math section scores from all sittings (superscoring the SAT), but for the ACT it looks at the single highest composite score. Georgetown requires applicants to submit all test scores from all dates (no Score Choice), although they still only use the top section scores for SAT in their review.

Public Flagship Universities

• University of Michigan – U. of Michigan superscores both SAT and ACT in its review process. Michigan will “use your highest superscore,” meaning they consider the best section scores across multiple test dates. You have the option to calculate and submit your own SAT superscore, or simply send all your scores and Michigan will calculate the superscore for you. (If you self-report scores, admitted students will later need to provide official score reports to verify the highest scores.
• University of California (UC) system – The UC schools do not superscore because they have gone test-blind for admissions since 2020. As of the latest cycle, UC campuses no longer consider SAT or ACT scores at all when making admissions decisions. Even if you submit scores, they won’t be used for admission (though high scores might be used for course placement or to fulfill certain requirements after enrollment).
• University of Virginia – UVA superscores both SAT and ACT i. The admissions committee will take the highest section scores from your multiple SAT scores to evaluate your application. UVA follows a similar “highest section” approach for the ACT as well. In practice, this means UVA uses your best performance on each part of the test (across any dates) when considering you. (UVA encourages students to submit all test sittings so that no high subsection score is missed.)
• University of Texas at Austin – UT Austin does not superscore the SAT and the ACT. Instead, UT will only consider your highest single test date’s score in the admissions process. They do not combine section scores from different dates into a new composite. (In fact, UT’s policy is to take the one testing date that is most advantageous to you and use that in review.) As of the Fall 2025 admissions cycle, UT Austin has also reinstated a testing requirement, meaning applicants must submit an SAT or ACT, but again only the top single sitting will count.
• University of Florida – The University of Florida superscores the SAT (and ACT) for admissions. UF will “take the highest scores for each subsection” of the SAT across all your test dates to create the highest possible total score. In other words, they mix-and-match your best Reading & Writing and Math scores from different sittings. (UF requires official score reports and will do the superscore calculation on their end.)

Liberal Arts Colleges

• Amherst College – Amherst is test-optional, but if you submit SAT/ACT scores, they superscore them. For applicants who take the SAT more than once, Amherst will consider the highest score achieved in each section across those tests. The same goes for ACT – Amherst uses your top subsection scores. They also permit Score Choice, so you can choose which scores to send.
• Williams College – Williams superscores both the SAT and ACT. “Williams will superscore the SAT or ACT,” meaning if you submit multiple test scores, the admissions team will consider the highest subsection scores when reviewing your file. For SAT, Williams takes your best Reading & Writing and Math from any sitting, and for ACT, your best of each subject area, to maximize your results. Students are encouraged to send all test dates so Williams can extract the top scores.
• Pomona College – Pomona College (a top liberal arts college in California) also practices superscoring. If you choose to submit test scores, Pomona’s Admissions Committee will look at your highest section scores across all SAT dates to evaluate your application. Note that Pomona is currently test-optional, but if scores are provided, this superscore policy applies.
• Swarthmore College – Swarthmore superscores both the SAT and ACT as well. The college will consider the best Reading & Writing and Math SAT scores you’ve achieved, even if on different days, and similarly will consider your highest ACT section scores to inform their decision.They also allow Score Choice, so you have control over which test dates to report.

Other Notable Superscoring Policies

• Beyond the above, many other universities superscore the SAT. For example, Johns Hopkins University superscores both the SAT and ACT (they encourage sending all attempts, and will use the best section scores). Emory University superscores both exams as well. Most Florida public universities superscore; in fact, schools like Florida State and UF (as noted) combine your best sub-scores to benefit the applicant. Even many moderately selective institutions use superscoring as a fair practice to assess your peak performance.
• Always double-check each school’s testing policy, as there are exceptions. A few colleges do not superscore or have special requirements: for instance, Georgetown (mentioned above) and Pomona require you to send all test sittings, even though they then use the highest sections in review. Some state universities (like UT Austin, above) and certain others will only look at the best single sitting without mixing scores. And as noted, the University of California system is test-blind at present. Policies can change with each admissions cycle, so it’s wise to consult the official admissions website of each college for the most up-to-date information on superscoring.

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