Is Hamilton test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1500 and hold it if it's under.

What is Hamilton's acceptance rate?

14% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,162 of 8,531 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 57%, from 5,434 in 2015 to 8,531 in 2024, and Hamilton's admit rate went from 25% to 14%.

What ACT score do you need for Hamilton?

16% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1460–1530 works out to about 33–35.

Why might Hamilton's SAT range look high?

Only 34% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Hamilton?

29% of early decision applicants were admitted (247 of 839), against 14% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Hamilton?

35 of the 946 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.7%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Hamilton? (Middle 50%: 1460–1530)

First-year students at Hamilton who sent an SAT scored 1460–1530, with a median of 1500 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Hamilton admits 14% of applicants and is test optional.

Hamilton College · Clinton, NY

Where your score lands at Hamilton

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1460–1530, median 1500

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Hamilton is for you and whether to send your score.

Add Hamilton to my list

Hamilton by the numbers

Admit rate: 14%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460–1530
Median SAT: 1500
About on the ACT: 33–35
Sent an SAT: 34%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Hamilton admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Hamilton admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 57%, from 5,434 in 2015 to 8,531 in 2024, and Hamilton's admit rate went from 25% to 14%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	8,531	1,162	14%
2023	9,643	1,135	12%
2022	9,899	1,166	12%
2021	9,380	1,320	14%
2020	7,443	1,370	18%
2019	8,339	1,367	16%
2018	6,240	1,328	21%
2017	5,678	1,375	24%
2016	5,230	1,364	26%
2015	5,434	1,348	25%

In fall 2024, 453 of the 1,162 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Hamilton

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1410Far reachHold
1410–1490ReachHold
1500 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Hamilton SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	730	760	780
SAT Reading and Writing	720	740	770
SAT total	1460	1500	1530
ACT composite	33	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 34% sent an SAT and 16% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 82%; of new students who reported a rank

Hamilton early decision and waitlist

Early decision

247 of 839 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision29%
All applicants14%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

1,709 applicants were offered a spot, 946 took it, and 35 were admitted from it.

3.7%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Hamilton cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $28,985; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $78,411; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 2,093

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Hamilton

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Hamilton Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Hamilton admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Hamilton website
Hamilton College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1460–1530, and the median was 1500. At 1500 or higher you're above half of them. Hamilton admits 14% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

Raise your score before you apply

The 15-minute starting check finds the question types costing you points, then plans each day up to your test date.

Start SAT free Check your whole list

Starting check

SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$