Wondering if your SAT score is “good enough”? Need an idea of the score that will get you into your dream college? You’ve come to the right place! Us data geeks (ok, analysts) at SupertutorTV have compiled lists of colleges and their admitted freshmen’s average SAT score. Data for all our charts comes from the Class of 2020––those are the people who applied to college before COVID hit––because there isn’t much data back from the Class of 2021. Even if we did have Class of 2021 data, it would be somewhat unreliable: only people with good scores submitted their scores, which skews the 25th percentile, and many were unable to take the test multiple times like in normal years. Because of all these factors, we’ll be using Class of 2020 data as a baseline for what’s a good SAT score and when you should submit yours.
In general, though, our advice on when to submit goes like this: first, find out if the colleges you want to attend are test-optional this year or not. Over 90% of the top 200 national universities are test-optional or test-blind for Fall 2022 applicants, so be sure to familiarize yourself with colleges’ testing policies before you apply!
Next, compare your SAT score with those of the admitted freshmen class. If your score is above the 25th percentile on both sections, consider submitting. If you’re scoring at at least the 50th percentile, we recommend you submit your score even if the college is test-optional. If your score is close to the 25th percentile and you’re from an underrepresented group, such as a minority, we still recommend you consider sending your score.
Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the data!
Average SAT Score
According to College Board, the average SAT score for the Class of 2020 was a 1051, or in the low 500’s for each section. Here’s a list of colleges you can enter with an average score.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% Math | Middle 50% ERW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan University | 93% | 500-600 | 500-610 |
| Texas State University | 77% | 500-580 | 510-600 |
| University of Toledo | 31% | 495-610 | 490-600 |
| Sam Houston State University | 81% | 480-550 | 490-570 |
| University of South Alabama | 10% | 480-580 | 503-610 |
| Georgia State University | 69% | 470-580 | 480-590 |
| Colorado Mesa University | 82% | 470-580 | 470-590 |
| Old Dominion University | 86% | 470-570 | 490-600 |
| Indiana State University | 73% | 450-560 | 460-570 |
| Rocky Mountain College | 25% | 455-558 | 463-580 |
Since so many schools are test-optional this admissions season, you can likely get into these ones with no SAT scores. However, if you’re scoring in the low- to mid-500’s per section, you should probably submit your score because it can make you a competitive applicant.
Above Average SAT Score
An above average SAT score is around 1100-1190, or in the high 500’s to even the low 600’s on each section. Below is a list of colleges that will accept you with an above average SAT score.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% SAT Math 2020 | Middle 50% SAT ERW 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire | 76% | 540-640 | 550-640 |
| University of Oregon | 72% | 540-640 | 550-650 |
| Temple University | 74% | 540-640 | 550-640 |
| Louisiana Tech University | 8% | 530-630 | 530-640 |
| Northern Arizona University | 29% | 520-610 | 520-620 |
| North Dakota State University | 3% | 520-620 | 508-623 |
| University of West Florida | 65% | 520-605 | 540-630 |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | 24% | 510-630 | 520-620 |
| Wichita State University | 9% | 520-630 | 510-630 |
| University of New Mexico | 32% | 510-620 | 520-630 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | 81% | 510-600 | 500-610 |
| Kent State University | 30% | 510-600 | 510-610 |
Remember, our lists in this blog are just representative samples! Plenty of other colleges and universities in the same SAT score range exist across the U.S. And above all, keep in mind that while a good SAT score can’t hurt you, it’s only one piece of the puzzle that is your application. Especially in this year’s test-optional season, admissions officers will consider you from a holistic point of view.
Good SAT Score
We’ve finally reached the answer to the title of this blog! A 1250-1350 constitutes a good SAT score; that translates to somewhere in the mid-600’s per section. You can get into these colleges with a good SAT score.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% SAT Math 2020 | Middle 50% SAT ERW 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Delaware | Average: 627 | Average: 627 | |
| University of Connecticut | 88% | 590-710 | 580-680 |
| Texas A&M University | 61% | 580-700 | 580-680 |
| Drexel University | 87% | 590-700 | 590-680 |
| Lewis-Clark State College | 56% | 580-680 | 617-700 |
| University of Denver | 49% | 580-680 | 590-680 |
| Penn State University | 77% | 580-680 | 570-660 |
| Marquette University | 25% | 580-680 | 580-660 |
| University of Colorado, Boulder | 73% | 560-680 | 570-670 |
| Indiana University | 77% | 560-680 | 560-670 |
| University of South Carolina | 61% | 560-670 | 580-670 |
| University of Iowa | 27% | 550-660 | 560-650 |
| Michigan State University | 80% | 550-660 | 550-640 |
| University of Arizona | 46% | 540-690 | 550-660 |
Once we reach schools in this good range, higher SAT scores than those listed here often qualify you for honors programs or scholarships. It’s a good idea to check colleges’ websites for details on these sorts of perks!
Very Good SAT Score
A very good SAT score falls into the range of 1300-1450, or a score in the mid- to high-600’s on each section. Here’s a list of colleges whose admitted freshmen’s SAT scores count as very good.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% SAT Math 2020 | Middle 50% SAT ERW 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate University | 57% | 650-750 | 650-720 |
| Wake Forest University | 50% | 650-750 | 640-720 |
| University of Virginia | 70% | 660-770 | 660-740 |
| University of Florida | Composite: 1320-1460 | Composite: 1320-1460 | |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 27% | 650-770 | 610-690 |
| College of William and Mary | 77% | 640-750 | 660-740 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 65% | 630-750 | 640-720 |
| University of Miami | 55% | 630-720 | 620-700 |
| Ohio State University | Composite: 1270-1420 | Composite: 1270-1420 | |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 75% | 620-770 | 590-700 |
| Southern Methodist University | Average Composite: 1343 | Average Composite: 1343 | |
| North Carolina State University | 50% | 620-720 | 610-690 |
| University of Washington | 81% | 610-758 | 590-700 |
| Purdue University | 82% | 600-740 | 590-690 |
| Pepperdine University | 70% | 600-720 | 600-690 |
| University of Texas at Austin | 79% | 600-750 | 610-720 |
| University of Georgia | 68% | 600-700 | 620-700 |
Often, we see students achieve very good SAT scores with mismatched scores on individual sections. For example, he or she might score in the 700s in Math and around a 620 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Don’t fret if you’re one of these students, as some schools in the above list will still take you with your lopsided score! However, bear in mind that every program, major, or school within the general university may be different. If you’re applying to an engineering program, for instance, you’ll likely need a more competitive score than those applying to the general school of liberal arts and sciences (which is our source of data for our lists, as it’s applicable to the majority of people).
Great SAT Score
If you’re scoring in the range of 1400-1500, or over a 700 on each section, you’ve got a great SAT score! These schools below would love to admit you with your great SAT score.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% SAT Math 2020 | Middle 50% SAT ERW 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | 42% | 710-790 | 690-760 |
| Swarthmore College | 68% | 705-790 | 690-750 |
| New York University | 64% | 700-800 | 670-740 |
| Georgia Tech University | 71% | 700-790 | 670-740 |
| Emory University | 61% | 700-790 | 680-740 |
| Case Western Reserve University | 69% | 700-790 | 640-730 |
| Tufts University | 59% | 700-780 | 680-750 |
| Brandeis University | Total Average: 1401 | Total Average: 1401 | |
| Georgetown University | 75% | 690-790 | 690-760 |
| Tulane University | 30% | 690-770 | 650-730 |
| University of Michigan | 64% | 680-780 | 660-740 |
| Boston University | 70% | 670-780 | 640-720 |
| Wellesley College | 68% | 670-770 | 680-750 |
| Boston College | 670-770 | 660-730 | |
| Villanova University | 60% | 670-750 | 650-710 |
Despite the fact that their freshmen are in the great SAT score zone, the 25th percentile at these schools falls around 1320-1400. If you can score in the high 600’s on each section, you’ve still got a shot at admission! Your application would be stronger if you can manage a 700 on at least one of the sections, and you’re definitely a very competitive applicant if you can get a 700+ on each section.
Awesome SAT Score
What’s above and beyond a great SAT score? An awesome one at 1500-1550, or in the mid-700’s on each section. Here’s a list of colleges that like to see an awesome SAT score.
| University | Percent Submitting SAT Scores Entering Fall 2020 | Middle 50% SAT Math 2020 | Middle 50% SAT ERW 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 790-800 | 730-780 | |
| Harvey Mudd College | 71% | 770-800 | 720-770 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 37% | 760-800 | 720-760 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 76% | 760-800 | 700-760 |
| Vanderbilt University | 45% | 750-800 | 720-770 |
| Rice University | 59% | 750-800 | 710-770 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 65% | 750-800 | 710-770 |
| Harvard University | 72% | 740-800 | 720-780 |
| Princeton University | 740-800 | 710-800 | |
| Yale University | 70% | 740-800 | 720-780 |
| Brown University | 70% | 730-790 | 710-770 |
| Stanford University | 72% | 720-800 | 700-770 |
| Duke University | Composite: 1500-1570 | Composite: 1500-1570 | |
| Dartmouth College | 57% | 730-790 | 710-770 |
| Northwestern University | 58% | 730-790 | 700-760 |
| Northeastern University | 54% | 720-790 | 690-750 |
| Cornell University | 73% | 720-790 | 680-750 |
| Amherst College | 66% | 710-790 | 700-760 |
| Williams College | 67% | 710-790 | 700-770 |
You’re still somewhat competitive if you can net a 700+ on each section of the SAT, but it would be preferable if you push that to a 750+ on each section. If you’re aiming for a school in the top 20 national universities, a 1500+ would be best. (If you’re one of the aforementioned students with a lopsided score, such as a 700 on one section and an 800 on the other, some of these schools will still accept you.)
Again, remember that our lists just sample several colleges within each SAT score range. Some highly competitive schools, like Cal Tech (which will probably start considering scores again next year) or the UCs, didn’t make it onto our list for various reasons (in these two’s case, they’re all test-blind for this application season).
That’s all the data we’ve got for you. We hope that you did well on your SATs! If not, consider checking out our online test prep courses and math books for more help.
