"Is my SAT score good?" is the wrong first question — a score is only "good" relative to where you're applying. A 1350 is outstanding at one school and a reach at another. This guide breaks down what counts as a good score by national percentile, by college tier, and by section, so you can judge your own score in the right context instead of comparing it to a single national average.
The national average SAT composite is approximately 1050. Scoring above that puts you ahead of more than half of test-takers — but "above average" is rarely the bar for the schools most students are actually targeting. The number that actually matters is the middle 50% range (25th–75th percentile) of admitted students at your specific target schools, published in each college's Common Data Set.
| Tier | Typical Middle 50% | Percentile Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly selective | 1480–1570 | 96th–99th | Ivy League, MIT, Stanford |
| Selective | 1350–1470 | 91st–96th | Top 50 national universities |
| Competitive | 1200–1350 | 74th–91st | Top 100, state flagships |
| Most 4-year publics | 1000–1200 | 40th–74th | Regional state universities |
| Open-access | No minimum | — | Community colleges |
If your score falls at or above the middle of a school's range, you're a strong test-score match there. Below the 25th percentile, your score is working against your application at that specific school — though it doesn't disqualify you if the rest of your file is strong.
Want your exact national percentile and a section-by-section breakdown?
Use the SAT Percentile Calculator →A composite score can hide an important story. A 1350 made of 675 Math / 675 R&W reads very differently to an engineering admissions committee than a 1350 made of 750 Math / 600 R&W, even though the composite is identical. STEM-focused programs often weigh Math more heavily in their informal read of an application, even when the official process treats the composite as one number.
Percentile curves also behave differently by section. Math percentiles compress at the top — a large pool of high-scoring students makes a perfect 800 "only" the 99th percentile, with meaningful competition even near the ceiling. Reading & Writing has a slightly wider spread at the top, meaning a strong verbal score can sometimes move your overall percentile more than an equivalent Math score would.
Engineering, computer science, and other quantitative majors at competitive programs often expect Math scores at or above the school's 75th percentile specifically, even if the overall composite falls within range. Humanities and social science programs tend to weigh the Reading & Writing section somewhat more heavily in an informal sense, though no major formally requires a minimum section score outside of specific test-optional or placement policies. If you're applying to a STEM-heavy program, a lopsided composite with a strong Math score is generally viewed more favorably than the reverse.
Many merit scholarship programs use specific SAT cutoffs. National Merit Scholarship qualification is based on the PSAT, not the SAT directly, but a strong SAT score (generally 1400+) correlates with the academic profile most competitive scholarship committees look for. University-specific full-ride and full-tuition scholarships frequently set thresholds in the 1450–1500+ range, though some need-based full-ride programs weight financial circumstances and GPA more heavily than test scores.
The test-optional landscape has stabilized somewhat by 2026, but a meaningful number of elite schools have reinstated testing requirements, and even fully test-optional schools report that a majority of admitted students still submit scores. The practical framework: if your score sits at or above a school's published 25th percentile, submit it — a score only helps in that range. If you're meaningfully below the 25th percentile, withholding it may strengthen your application, letting your GPA, coursework rigor, and essays carry more weight. Between the 25th and 50th percentile is a genuine judgment call that depends on the strength of the rest of your file.
Because most colleges superscore — combining your best section scores across multiple sittings — even a modest single-section improvement on a retake can move your composite into a meaningfully better percentile band. A retake is generally worth it when your practice test scores under timed conditions run notably higher than your official score, or when your target schools' 25th percentile sits above your current composite. Most students see their largest single jump between a first and second sitting.
Is a 1200 a good SAT score? A 1200 is roughly the 74th percentile — solidly above average and competitive for most four-year public universities, though below the middle 50% range at selective and highly selective schools.
Is a 1400 SAT score good enough for top schools? A 1400 is roughly the 94th percentile — strong and within or near the middle 50% range for many selective (top 50) schools, though below the typical range for the most highly selective institutions, which often see middle 50% ranges of 1480+.
What SAT score is needed for the Ivy League? Most Ivy League admits fall in the 1480–1570 range, corresponding to roughly the 96th–99th percentile nationally. Scores below this range can still be competitive if the rest of the application is exceptionally strong.
Does a good SAT score guarantee admission? No. Standardized test scores are one factor among many — GPA, course rigor, essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations all factor into holistic admissions decisions, and a strong score does not override weaknesses elsewhere in an application.
SAT Percentile Calculator — see your exact national percentile and section breakdown.
SAT Score Calculator — convert raw section answers into your scaled composite.
What Is a Good ACT Score? — the same benchmarks for the ACT.