As of November 2026: Case Western Reserve University is test-optional for the current application cycle, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1430 and 1540. On the ACT, the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score landed between 32 and 35.
Case Western lets your child choose whether to send a score. Here is what enrolled first-years sent, how hard it is to get in, and what we tell families to do next.
By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.
The SAT band is 1430 to 1540. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT for fall 2023 scored between 1430 and 1540. On the ACT, that middle half scored between 32 and 35.
Case Western admitted 28.7 percent of applicants. For fall 2023, the college made 11,202 admits out of 39,033 applicants. We treat that as a reach for nearly every student, with or without a score.
Many enrolled students sent a score. Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023, 43 percent sent an SAT and 23 percent sent an ACT. Test-optional does not mean scores have gone away.
Does Case Western require the SAT or ACT?
This is the policy as the college states it on its own admissions page.
| College | Policy | Applies to | In the college's words | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | optional | current application cycle | At the time of application, you choose whether you wish to apply with testing scores or as a test-optional candidate | Source |
Optional means a student may send a score or apply without one.
Case Western: score bands, who sends a score, how many get in, what it costs
Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023. Prices are for a full year.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| applicants, fall 2023 | 39033 |
| admits, fall 2023 | 11202 |
| admit rate, percent | 28.7 |
| SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters | 1430 |
| SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters | 1540 |
| ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters | 32 |
| ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters | 35 |
| share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent | 43 |
| share who sent an ACT, percent | 23 |
| application fee, dollars | 70 |
| full price of a year, dollars | 85851 |
| average net price after aid, dollars | 41190 |
Bands are for the fall 2023 class, the latest federal count. They are not minimums.
Does Case Western require the SAT or ACT?
No, Case Western Reserve University does not require the SAT or ACT for the current application cycle; it is test-optional.
Here is the policy in the college's own words: "At the time of application, you choose whether you wish to apply with testing scores or as a test-optional candidate." That choice belongs to your family, and you make it when your child applies.
Policies can change, so we tell families to read the college's admissions page again in the fall of senior year, right before the application goes in. It is a quick check, and it keeps you from planning around an old rule.
What SAT score do enrolled first-years at Case Western carry?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1430 and 1540.
These are students who started at Case Western in fall 2023 and chose to send an SAT. That is the latest federal count. The band does not describe every student who applied or every student who got in. It describes the middle of the group that enrolled and sent a score.
Because it is the middle half, some enrolled students scored below 1430 and some scored above 1540. The band is not a minimum. We use it as a yardstick. It tells you where your child's score sits next to the students who enrolled and sent theirs.
What ACT score do enrolled first-years at Case Western carry?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 32 and 35.
The ACT band works the same way as the SAT band. It covers students who enrolled in fall 2023 and chose to send an ACT. Some scored below 32, and some scored at the very top of the range.
Your child does not need both tests. We help families pick the test that fits the student better, then put the work into that test. A free mock of each test is the fastest way to see which fits.
How many Case Western students send a score?
Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023, 43 percent sent an SAT and 23 percent sent an ACT.
We do not add these shares together, because the same student can send both tests. What the numbers do show is that many students who enrolled chose to send a score, even though the college does not require one.
The college puts the choice in your family's hands. Your child chooses whether to apply with testing scores or as a test-optional candidate. Our job is to help your family make that choice with a real score in hand, not a guess.
Should my child send a score to Case Western?
Our rule is simple: a score inside or above the band is one to send, and a score below the band is one to think hard about.
At a selective test-optional college like Case Western, we tell families it is nearly always good to have a score. A strong score bolsters the odds of getting in, and most merit scholarships are keyed to one.
For Case Western, that means an SAT of 1430 or higher, or an ACT of 32 or higher, sits inside or above the band. A score below that is not the end of the road. It is a sign to plan more prep and another sitting, then decide again with the new score in front of you.
How hard is it to get into Case Western?
Case Western admitted 28.7 percent of applicants for fall 2023: 11,202 admits out of 39,033 applicants.
We treat a college with an admit rate like this as a reach for nearly every student, even a student with a score inside the band. A strong score helps, but it does not make any single college a sure thing.
Our advice is to build a balanced list. Put Case Western next to colleges where your child's score sits well above the band, so the list has real options at every level.
What does it cost to apply to and attend Case Western?
The application fee is $70, the full price of a year is $85,851, and the average net price after aid is $41,190.
The full price is the sticker price before any grants or scholarships. The average net price is what families paid on average after aid. Your own price can be higher or lower than that average.
Every US college publishes a net price calculator, and Case Western does too. We tell families to run it at home with last year's tax numbers. It takes the guesswork out of the cost question before your child applies.
What should we do this month?
This month, have your child sit a free full-length mock SAT and a free full-length mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then compare each result with the Case Western bands of 1430 to 1540 and 32 to 35.
Once you know which test fits, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our students prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the part they missed last time. That steady work is what moves a score into the band.
To book the free mock SAT and free mock ACT, call us at 949.229.5359 or go to https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. We will walk you through the results and help you set a plan that fits your child.
Questions parents ask
Does Case Western require the SAT or ACT?
No, Case Western Reserve University does not require the SAT or ACT for the current application cycle; it is test-optional.
What SAT score do students at Case Western have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1430 and 1540.
What ACT score do students at Case Western have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 32 and 35.
Should my child send a score to Case Western?
Our rule is simple: a score inside or above the band is one to send, and a score below the band is one to think hard about.
What is the acceptance rate at Case Western?
Case Western admitted 28.7 percent of applicants for fall 2023: 11,202 admits out of 39,033 applicants.
How much does Case Western cost?
The application fee is $70, the full price of a year is $85,851, and the average net price after aid is $41,190.
Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.
Method and sources: The policy comes from Case Western's own admissions page and applies to the current application cycle as of November 2026. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, along with the shares who sent each test and the counts of applicants and admits. Prices come from the College Scorecard and are averages, so a given family's price can differ.
Related: Which colleges require the SAT or ACT in 2026 · What is a good SAT score · Our results · Free mock SAT and ACT