What Is a Good SAT Score?
The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600. Here's how to interpret your score:
| Score Range | Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1550–1600 | 99th+ | Exceptional — competitive for Ivy League |
| 1450–1549 | 95th–99th | Excellent — strong for top-50 schools |
| 1350–1449 | 90th–95th | Very good — competitive for most selective schools |
| 1200–1349 | 75th–89th | Above average — solid for many four-year colleges |
| 1050–1199 | 50th–74th | Average — meets requirements for most state schools |
| Below 1050 | Below 50th | Below average — consider test prep or test-optional schools |
Average SAT Scores in 2026
The national average SAT score is approximately 1050 (530 Math, 520 Reading & Writing). If you score above 1050, you're above average. But "good" depends on where you want to go.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Different Colleges?
Ivy League & Top 10 Schools
Target: 1500+Schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Princeton have median SAT scores between 1500 and 1570. You'll need to be in the 99th percentile to be competitive.
Top 50 National Universities
Target: 1350–1500Schools like University of Michigan, NYU, Boston College, and UCLA look for scores in this range. A 1400+ puts you in strong territory.
Competitive State Schools
Target: 1200–1350Schools like Penn State, University of Florida, and Ohio State typically admit students in this range. Your in-state advantage can help too.
Most Four-Year Colleges
Target: 1050–1200The majority of accredited four-year colleges accept students with scores in this range. Many also have test-optional policies.
Find your target: Enter your SAT score in our Personalized Match tool to see which colleges are Safety, Match, and Reach for your profile.
How the SAT Is Scored
The SAT has two sections, each scored 200–800:
- Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (200–800)
- Math (200–800)
Percentile vs. Score
Your percentile rank tells you how you compare to other test-takers:
- 50th percentile = 1050 (you scored higher than 50% of students)
- 75th percentile = 1200
- 90th percentile = 1350
- 99th percentile = 1530
Is the SAT Required in 2026?
Many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, meaning you can choose whether to submit your SAT score. However:
- Submitting a strong score can strengthen your application
- Selective schools that are test-optional still see high scores from admitted students
- Scholarships often require test scores regardless of admission policy
How to Improve Your SAT Score
5 Proven Strategies:
- Take a diagnostic test to identify your weak areas
- Focus on high-impact topics — in Math, algebra and data analysis make up 60% of questions
- Practice with real tests — use official College Board practice tests
- Review every mistake — understand why you got it wrong, not just the right answer
- Time management — practice under timed conditions to build speed
Ready to practice? Use our Personalized Match tool to see which colleges fit your SAT score, and explore CollegeFind for detailed score ranges at every school.
SAT Score Calculator
Want to see how your SAT score stacks up? Use our Personalized Match tool to see which colleges are Safety, Match, and Reach for your score.
The Bottom Line
A "good" SAT score is one that gets you into the colleges you want to attend. Don't compare yourself to national averages — compare yourself to the admitted student profile at your target schools.
- Know your targets: Use CollegeFind to see SAT ranges for any college
- Compare schools: Use CollegeFind to filter colleges by SAT requirements
- Match your profile: Enter your scores in our Match tool to see where you stand