What is a Good SAT Score? — Complete Benchmark Guide
Find out if your SAT score is good for your target colleges, scholarship goals, and intended major — with context that goes beyond a single number.
Is Your SAT Score Good? — Personalized Score Evaluator
Enter your SAT score and select your target college tier to get a personalized verdict — including where your score falls relative to the middle 50% range, your national percentile, and a tailored recommendation.
400–1600
For display only
What is a Good SAT Score — National Benchmarks
The table below maps every major SAT score range to its percentile, performance label, and admissions context. The national average SAT score is 1028 (2023 College Board data).
Top 2% of test takers. Competitive for Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT. Meets or exceeds middle 50% at virtually all universities.
Top 6% of test takers. Competitive for top 25 universities. Within middle 50% at many Ivy League schools. Strong scholarship potential at most universities.
Top 13% of test takers. Competitive for top 50 universities. Above middle 50% at many selective schools. Merit scholarship eligible at many institutions.
Top 26% of test takers. Competitive for many selective 4-year universities. Meets requirements at most state flagships. Merit scholarship eligible at some institutions.
Top 43% of test takers. Competitive for many 4-year universities. Below competitive range for highly selective schools.
~50th of test takers. Near national average (1028). Meets minimum requirements at most 4-year universities. Below competitive range for selective institutions.
Bottom 39% of test takers. Competitive for less selective 4-year universities and community colleges.
Bottom 23% of test takers. Significantly below national average. May benefit from additional preparation before applying to 4-year universities.
Key Score Percentile Reference
| SAT Score | Percentile | vs. National Average (1028) |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 | 99th+ | +572 |
| 1500 | 98th | +472 |
| 1400 | 94th | +372 |
| 1300 | 87th | +272 |
| 1200 | 74th | +172 |
| 1100 | 57th | +72 |
| 1050 | 50th | +22 (above average) |
| 1028 | ~50th | National average |
| 1000 | 40th | −28 |
| 900 | 23rd | −128 |
| 800 | 11th | −228 |
What is a Good SAT Score for Your College Tier?
The most useful benchmark is the middle 50% SAT range at your specific target schools — the range within which half of admitted students scored. Aim to be at or above the 75th percentile of your target school for a competitive application.
| College Tier | Example Schools | Good Score | Middle 50% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy League & Top 10 | Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Penn, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke | 1500+ | 1500–1580 |
| Top 11–25 | Vanderbilt, Rice, WashU, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Boston College | 1400+ | 1400–1540 |
| Top 26–50 | UVA, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Boston University, Northeastern, Case Western | 1300+ | 1300–1480 |
| Top 51–100 / Strong State Flagships | Penn State, Ohio State, Purdue, University of Florida, UGA | 1200+ | 1200–1380 |
| Less Selective / Regional | Wide range of state and regional universities | 1000+ | Varies widely |
| Community Colleges | Most community colleges | No requirement | No requirement |
What SAT Score Do You Need for Merit Scholarships?
Many universities use SAT scores as automatic scholarship qualifiers — students who meet a threshold automatically receive merit aid without a separate scholarship application. This makes SAT score improvement directly financially valuable.
1100–1200
Partial aid at less selective universities
1200–1300
Significant aid at regional & state universities
1300–1400
Competitive scholarships at selective universities
1400+
Presidential & full scholarships at many institutions
| University | Scholarship | Min SAT | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Presidential Scholarship | 1400+ | Full tuition + stipend | Most competitive — limited seats |
| University of Alabama | Academic Elite | 1350 | Full tuition | |
| University of Alabama | Academic Scholarship | 1200+ | Partial — varies | |
| Ole Miss | Flagship Scholarship | 1350+ | Full tuition, room & board | |
| Ole Miss | Merit Award | 1200+ | Partial award | |
| University of South Carolina | Capstone Scholar | 1200+ | Significant merit aid | |
| University of Tennessee | Chancellor's Scholarship | 1470+ | Full tuition | Highly competitive |
| University of Georgia | Zell Miller Scholarship | 1200+ | Full tuition (in-state) | Georgia residents + 3.7 GPA |
| University of Florida | Bright Futures Gold Seal | 1290+ | Up to full tuition | Florida residents only |
| Auburn University | Presidential Scholarship | 1360+ | Significant merit aid | |
| Indiana University | Provost Scholarship | 1400+ | Significant merit aid | |
| Ohio State University | Trustees Scholarship | 1400+ | Full tuition | Highly competitive |
| Penn State | Schreyer Honors College | 1400+ | Merit award + honors |
What is a Good SAT Score for Your Intended Major?
Section scores matter more than the total for some programs. A student with a total of 1300 but EBRW 720 is stronger for humanities programs than one with a 1300 split evenly. Always check whether your target program publishes section score preferences.
| Major / Program | Competitive Total | Key Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science & Engineering (Selective) | 1400+ total | Math 720+ | Math score heavily weighted |
| Computer Science & Engineering (Mid-Tier) | 1200+ total | Math 620+ | |
| Business (Selective) | 1350+ total | Strong EBRW | Quantitative + verbal balance |
| Business (Less Selective) | 1150+ | — | |
| Pre-Med & Biology (Selective) | 1400+ | Strong EBRW | Reading comprehension critical |
| Humanities & Social Sciences (Selective) | 1300+ total | EBRW 700+ | EBRW disproportionately important |
| Education Programs | 1000–1100+ | — | Lower thresholds across programs |
| Nursing | 1100–1200+ | — | Many programs publish minimums |
| Fine & Performing Arts | 1000+ | — | Portfolio/audition dominant |
Good SAT Section Scores — EBRW and Math Benchmarks
Each SAT section is scored 200–800. Together they form your 400–1600 total. EBRW and Math scores carry different weight depending on your target program.
EBRW Good Score Benchmarks
Math Good Score Benchmarks
Section Score Interpretation Table
| Score Range | EBRW Performance | Math Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 750–800 | Exceptional — top 1–5% | Exceptional — top 1–5% |
| 650–740 | Excellent — strong for selective universities | Excellent — strong for STEM programs |
| 550–640 | Good — meets most university thresholds | Good — meets most university thresholds |
| 450–540 | Developing — near or at benchmark (480) | Developing — near or at benchmark (530) |
| Below 450 | Below benchmark — foundational development needed | Below benchmark — foundational development needed |
Should You Retake the SAT? — Decision Guide
Realistic improvement expectations: most students improve 50–150 points on a retake with preparation. Improvements above 200 points are possible but less common. SAT Math responds better to targeted preparation than EBRW.
Consider Retaking If…
- Score is 100+ points below the middle 50% of your primary target school
- Scholarship threshold is within reach — within 50–100 points
- More than 3 months before your target application deadline
- Practice scores are consistently higher than your official score
- Score is below both College Board readiness benchmarks (480 EBRW / 530 Math)
Consider NOT Retaking If…
- Score is within or above the middle 50% at all your target schools
- Target schools are test-optional and your score would hurt your application
- You have already taken the SAT 3+ times with minimal improvement
- Needed improvement exceeds time available before application deadlines
- Energy is better spent on GPA, essays, and extracurriculars