A common question students ask about the SAT is “what is a good SAT score?” The answer to this question changes based on your child’s goals and admission requirements of the schools on their list. Comparing your child’s score to the average SAT score of admitted students at the target colleges on your child’s list can help determine what would be considered a good SAT score.
To find the answer to this question, make sure your child researches the SAT requirements of the potential colleges on their list. Have them pay close attention to the median SAT scores since they provide an SAT range for the middle 50% of accepted students. This middle 50% provides an estimated range of scores deemed acceptable for college admission. This can help your child determine a target SAT score, which can help them stay motivated to steadily improve during their test prep.
What are SAT Percentiles?
After completing the SAT, students receive a composite score and a percentile score. Composite scores are between 400 and 1600, while percentile scores are from 1 to 99. Percentile scores show how a student’s composite and section scores compare to other test takers.
Students receiving a composite percentile of 70 scored higher than 70% of students who took the SAT nationwide. Students receiving a math percentile of 90 scored higher than 90% of students who took the SAT math section nationwide.
Colleges use percentiles to see how an applicant’s scores compare with the competition. Doing well on the SAT, and maintaining a strong GPA, grades, and extracurriculars can make a college application more competitive. The College Board provides detailed reports and data on SAT scores and percentiles, which can be useful for understanding how your scores compare.
What is the Middle 50% Average SAT Score?
The median SAT scores, or middle 50%, are found in the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. The top 25% and bottom 25% are removed since they account for students scoring at, above, or below the scores listed. This middle range gives your child a range of scores to aim for when taking the SATs. Comparing your child’s scores to the average scores can help your child determine a target score, which can help them stay motivated to steadily improve during their test prep.
The middle 50% can also tell your child which scores they need to be competitive applicants for their dream colleges. For example, the middle 50% at the University of Connecticut (UConn) for the 2022 class scored between 1210 and 1390. A good SAT score could be 1300 to 1390 while a score of 1390+ would be an above average score. Earning a score above 1390 would make your child a more competitive applicant. When considering your child’s target schools, look at the average SAT scores of admitted students and aim for scores that fall within or exceed the school’s average range.
Remember, an SAT score is only part of your child’s college application. Their GPA, extracurriculars, and essays are also factored into the strength of your child’s application.
What is the Middle 50% for the Class of 2025?
An excellent resource for determining the median SAT scores, percentiles, and gaining guidance on understanding and improving SAT scores is College Board’s Big Future. It is also an excellent resource for understanding ways to pay and prepare for college. Those interested in accessing all features on this site will need to make an account. Deciding whether to take the SAT can be influenced by factors such as test-optional schools and the potential benefits of retaking the SAT for score improvement.
Another reliable source is the U.S. News & World Report. We have compiled a list of national universities, national liberal arts colleges, and test score data*.
Top 25 National Universities
| U.S. News Ranking | School | Middle 50% SAT Scores |
| 1 | Princeton University | 1450-1570 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1510-1580 |
| 3 | Harvard University | 1460-1580 |
| 3 | Stanford University | 1420-1570 |
| 3 | Yale University | 1460-1580 |
| 6 | University of Chicago | 1500-1570 |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins University | 1480-1570 |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | 1450-1570 |
| 9 | California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) | 1530-1580 |
| 10 | Duke University | 1510-1560 |
| 10 | Northwestern University | 1430-1550 |
| 12 | Dartmouth College | 1440-1560 |
| 13 | Brown University | 1440-1570 |
| 13 | Vanderbilt University | 1460-1560 |
| 15 | Rice University | 1460-1570 |
| 15 | Washington University in St. Louis | 1460-1560 |
| 17 | Cornell University | 1400-1540 |
| 18 | Columbia University | 1470-1570 |
| 18 | University of Notre Dame | 1420-1560 |
| 20 | University of California, Berkley | 1290-1530 |
| 20 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 1290-1520 |
| 22 | Carnegie Mellon University | 1460-1560 |
| 22 | Emory University | 1380-1530 |
| 22 | Georgetown University | 1380-1550 |
| 25 | New York University (NYU) | 1370-1540 |
| 25 | University of Michigan—Ann Arbor | 1340-1560 |
| 25 | University of Southern California | 1340-1530 |
| 25 | University of Virginia | 1320-1510 |
*Test score data is for acceptances in Spring 2021 for the class of 2025. SAT totals are for math and critical reading.
National Liberal Arts Colleges
| U.S. News Ranking | School | Middle 50% SAT Scores |
| 1 | Williams College | 1410-1560 |
| 2 | Amherst College | 1410-1550 |
| 3 | Pomona College | 1390-1540 |
| 4 | Swarthmore College | 1395-1540 |
| 5 | Wellesley College | 1350-1520 |
| 6 | Bowdoin College | 1330-1510 |
| 6 | Carleton College | 1340-1510 |
| 6 | United States Naval Academy | 1230-1450 |
| 9 | Claremont McKenna College | 1330-1500 |
| 9 | United States Military Academy at West Point | 1210-1440 |
| 11 | Middlebury College | 1340-1520 |
| 11 | Washington and Lee University | 1350-1500 |
| 13 | Smith College | 1325-1510 |
| 13 | Vassar College | 1360-1520 |
| 15 | 1300-1460 | |
| 15 | Grinnell College | 1340-1510 |
| 15 | Hamilton College | 1380-1510 |
| 18 | Barnard College | 1350-1518 |
| 18 | Colgate University | 1300-1470 |
| 18 | Haverford College | 1360-1520 |
| 18 | United States Air Force Academy | 1300-1460 |
| 18 | University of Richmond | 1280-1460 |
| 18 | Wesleyan University | 1340-1520 |
| 24 | Colby College | 1380-1520 |
| 25 | Bates College | 1210-1420 |
*Test score data is for acceptances in Spring 2021 for the class of 2025. SAT totals are for math and critical reading.
Earn an Above Average SAT Score with C2 Education
Hopefully, your child has already decided when they want to finalize their SAT score for their college applications. If not, now is the perfect time to begin developing an SAT prep plan to maximize future scores. Regardless of the middle 50% for your child’s dream college, they should strive to set themselves apart from other applicants.
Having a strong GPA, college essay, and high standardized test scores can help make a college application more competitive. Scoring well on the SAT begins with SAT prep and practice tests. Taking practice tests helps students become familiar with the test format and improve information retention.
C2 Education provides a personalized approach to SAT prep. Our process begins with an initial assessment to determine a student’s current strengths and weaknesses. We analyze these results to create a customized program to meet each student’s needs.
Each program is tailored to address changing needs as they arise. Students in our SAT Prep program learn vital test taking skills as they overcome current weaknesses and improve their confidence.
Aiming for Your Target SAT Score
Rather than asking what makes an SAT score good, ask which SAT score aligns with requirements for schools of interest and set a realistic target score. Achieving a perfect SAT score can significantly enhance college admissions prospects and open up opportunities for merit scholarships. Look into the middle 50% of SAT scores for potential schools and begin SAT test prep to maximize test scores.
C2 Education offers a customized SAT prep program to help students earn high scores for a competitive application. Test takers receive a PDF score report showing their total score and individual scores for each section.
Interested in learning more about our SAT Prep program? Visit our website or call us at (888) 312-3814 to get started.
