What is a Good SAT Score? (Score Ranges & Benchmarks)
Understand where your score stands against national benchmarks.
A good SAT score depends on your target college: a 1050 is the national average, a 1200+ (75th percentile) is solid for large state universities, a 1350–1450 (90th+ percentile) is competitive for Top 50 national colleges, and a 1500–1600 (top 1%) is required for Ivy League and elite universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
SAT scores range from 400 to 1600, composed of two 200–800 section scores: Reading & Writing and Math. Percentiles determine whether a score is "good" relative to the 1.9 million students who take the test annually.
Step-by-Step Breakdown & Rules
Elite / Ivy League Tier (1500 – 1600)
99th+ percentile. Competitive for Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and Columbia.
Top 30 National Universities (1400 – 1490)
94th–98th percentile. Competitive for NYU, Emory, Georgetown, USC, Michigan, and UVA.
Top 50–100 Colleges (1250 – 1390)
81st–93rd percentile. Competitive for state flagship universities and selective liberal arts schools.
Above Average / National 75th Percentile (1150 – 1240)
Strong foundation qualifying for generous merit scholarships at hundreds of universities.
National Median Score (1050)
50th percentile. Represents the exact middle score of all US test takers.
Key Takeaways & Pro Tips
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1200 a good SAT score?
Yes, a 1200 places you in the 75th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than 75% of all test takers.
Is a 1400 good enough for Ivy League schools?
A 1400 is below the 25th percentile for all Ivy League schools, where median scores generally fall between 1500 and 1560.
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