A good SAT score in 2026 depends on where you want to apply. For most four-year US colleges, 1200+ puts you at or above the national average and competitive at state flagships. For top-50 national universities, 1350+ is the typical range. For Ivy League and other most-selective schools, 1500+ is the benchmark. The national average SAT score for the Class of 2025 was approximately 1050 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing about 519, Math about 531), based on the latest College Board annual report.
What Is the Average SAT Score?
According to the College Board SAT Suite Annual Report, the average SAT score for the Class of 2025 was around 1050 out of a possible 1600. Section averages landed at roughly 519 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 531 for Math. These figures include every college-bound high school senior who took the SAT during the 2024–2025 testing year, so the average college-bound student sits at the 50th percentile.
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Two things to keep in mind when reading the average:
It skews high. Not every high schooler takes the SAT — students who plan to apply to four-year colleges are over-represented, pulling the mean up.
Median is more useful than mean. Because the distribution skews slightly higher, the median is the better benchmark for where you stand. College Board publishes both.
SAT Score Percentiles (Class of 2025 Reference)
Percentiles tell you what percentage of test-takers scored at or below your score. The College Board publishes these annually. Below is the reference table for the Class of 2025 — your standing in 2026 will be similar, with minor year-over-year shifts.
SAT Total Score
Approximate Percentile (Class of 2025)
What it means
1500–1600
99th percentile
Top 1% — Ivy League and most-selective range
1400–1490
97th–98th percentile
Top 3% — competitive at top-20 universities
1300–1390
90th–96th percentile
Strong — competitive at most top-50 schools
1200–1290
80th–89th percentile
Above average — solid at state flagships and many private colleges
1100–1190
65th–79th percentile
At or above the national average
1050
~50th percentile
National average
1000–1049
40th–49th percentile
Slightly below average
900–990
25th–39th percentile
Below average — selective admission is unlikely without other strengths
800–890
10th–24th percentile
Significantly below average
Always check the most recent percentile tables on the College Board SAT score distributions page — percentiles shift slightly year over year as the test-taking population changes.
What's a Good SAT Score by College Type?
Different colleges admit students with very different score profiles. The table below maps college selectivity to typical SAT ranges — use this to set a target score based on your school list.
Selective (top-50 national universities, top liberal arts colleges)
1280–1450
1350+
Very competitive state flagships (Berkeley, UCLA, UMich, UVA, UNC)
1250–1480
1320+
Competitive state universities
1100–1320
1180+
Most four-year public universities
1000–1200
1080+
Open-admission and community colleges
No minimum
Test-optional at most
Where you sit within a school's 25th–75th percentile band matters: a score at the 75th percentile keeps you solidly in the admit pool, while a score at the 25th percentile means the rest of your application has to carry more weight.
What's a Good SAT Score for Scholarships?
Many merit scholarships — both institutional and external — use SAT scores as a primary qualifier. Common scholarship score thresholds:
National Merit Scholarship: Selection index based on PSAT scores (the PSAT/NMSQT cutoffs vary by state but typically require a 1400+ selection index).
State and university merit awards: Usually require 1200+ for automatic consideration; the highest awards often need 1400+.
Outside scholarships: Range widely — anything above 1100 opens up the bulk of merit opportunities; 1300+ puts you in the running for the more selective awards.
If scholarship money is a primary goal, target 1300+ — that is the band where most merit-aid opportunities unlock.
Section Benchmarks: EBRW and Math
The total score is split into two sections, each scored 200–800. Most colleges weigh the sections equally, but specific programs (engineering, computer science, mathematics) may look more closely at Math. Section benchmarks for a good total of 1200:
Total Target
EBRW Target
Math Target
Section Balance
1500+ (Ivy)
740+
760+
Both strong
1400+ (top-20)
690+
710+
Both strong
1300+ (top-50)
640+
660+
Balanced
1200+ (state flagship)
590+
610+
Slightly Math-leaning works
1100+ (most 4-year)
540+
560+
Either section can lead
A 700 EBRW + 600 Math (total 1300) is a different profile from a 600 EBRW + 700 Math (also total 1300). The first reads as a verbal-strong applicant; the second as a quant-strong applicant. For liberal arts programs, EBRW-heavy scores help; for engineering and CS, Math-heavy scores help.
Plan Your Retake Around Your Target
Once you have a target score (from the table above), subtract your August or June score to set your retake goal. A typical retake with four to six weeks of focused practice lifts a section by 30–80 points; a serious retake with eight to twelve weeks and structured prep can lift 80–150 points. The biggest gains come from drilling the section where you scored lowest — the section score breakdown tells you where to focus.
For the full 2026–2027 score release calendar and what time scores post on release day, see our SAT score release dates guide. For broader entrance-exam prep, the TutorsBot entrance exam hub covers GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, and more.
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practi… Read moreShow less
Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practical side of building an ed-tech startup.
Fazlur Rahman
