Cornell University is test-optional for first-year applicants, meaning you can choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of your application. If you don’t submit scores, your application will not be penalized. Transfer applicants go a step further: SAT and ACT scores are “neither required nor expected,” according to Cornell’s admissions office.
How the Policy Works in Practice
If you choose to submit test scores, you can self-report them through the Common Application’s testing section or through the Cornell Applicant Portal after you’ve applied. You don’t need to send official score reports during the application process. However, if you’re admitted and decide to enroll, Cornell requires you to verify any self-reported scores by having the testing agency send official results. If your official scores don’t match what you reported, Cornell can revoke your offer of admission.
One small detail worth noting: the ACT science section is not required, even if you submit ACT scores. Cornell’s SAT code is 2098, and its ACT code is 2726, which you’ll need when sending official reports.
Should You Submit Your Scores?
Test-optional doesn’t mean test-blind. Cornell still reviews scores when applicants choose to send them, and strong scores can reinforce your academic profile. The question is whether your scores strengthen or weaken your application relative to the rest of your record.
To gauge where you stand, consider Cornell’s historical score ranges. For the Class of 2025, the middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted scores had SAT totals between 1450 and 1540, with the math section ranging from 750 to 800. ACT composites for the middle 50% fell between 33 and 35. Keep in mind that these ranges only reflect students who chose to submit, so they skew higher than the full admitted class. For that entering class, about 41% of enrolling students submitted SAT scores and roughly 20% submitted ACT scores.
A reasonable rule of thumb: if your scores fall within or above those middle 50% ranges, submitting them likely helps. If your scores fall well below, your application may be stronger without them, letting your grades, coursework rigor, essays, and activities carry the weight.
Cornell’s Seven Colleges May Weigh Things Differently
Cornell is made up of seven undergraduate colleges, each with its own academic focus, from the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Engineering to the School of Hotel Administration. You apply directly to one college, and admissions readers in that college evaluate your application. The academic expectations and priorities can vary. An applicant to the engineering college, for example, may benefit more from strong math scores than an applicant to the College of Human Ecology. Think about how your scores relate to the specific program you’re applying to, not just Cornell as a whole.
Rules for International Applicants
The test-optional policy for the SAT and ACT applies to international applicants the same way it does for domestic ones. English proficiency exams, however, are a separate requirement and are not optional for many international students.
You’re exempt from the English proficiency requirement if you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, if English is your native language, or if English has been the primary language of instruction throughout your secondary school career. Everyone else must submit scores from an approved exam. Cornell accepts the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency exams.
The minimum scores to be competitive vary by exam. For the TOEFL taken before January 2026, Cornell lists a minimum of 100. For TOEFL exams taken in January 2026 or later (which uses a new scoring scale), the minimum is 5.0, with a recommended score of 5.5. IELTS requires at least a 7.5, the Duolingo English Test requires at least 130, and Cambridge exams require a minimum score of 191. You can submit unofficial English proficiency scores with your application, but admitted students who enroll must send official results from the testing agency.
How Cornell Evaluates Without Scores
When you apply without test scores, the other components of your application carry more weight. Cornell uses a holistic review process, which means admissions readers look at the full picture: your high school transcript, the rigor of your coursework (AP, IB, honors, or college-level classes), your essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and any supplemental materials your chosen college requests.
Your transcript is the single most important academic indicator. Admissions readers pay attention not just to your GPA but to the difficulty of the courses you took relative to what your school offered. If your school offers 15 AP courses and you took two, that tells a different story than if your school offers three and you took all of them. Strong grades in challenging, relevant coursework can make a compelling case without any standardized test scores attached.