What Is a Good SAT Score in 2026?
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A good SAT score is one that falls in or above the middle 50% range of admitted students at the colleges you are applying to. As a national reference, the average SAT score for the class of 2025 was about 1030 out of 1600. A score above 1200 is above average, a score above 1350 is competitive at many selective colleges, and the most selective colleges typically admit students in the high 1400s to 1500s.
The national average
The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600, with two sections each scored from 200 to 800: Reading and Writing, and Math. According to College Board’s annual report, the class of 2025 averaged about 1029, made up of about 521 in Reading and Writing and 508 in Math.
The average is a useful reference point, but colleges compare your score with the students they admit, not with the national average.
Good SAT scores by type of college
These are rough ranges to help you plan. Always check the published middle 50% range for each college on your list, which you can find on its admissions page or Common Data Set.
| Type of college | Typical middle 50% SAT range | A strong target |
|---|---|---|
| Most selective (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT and similar) | About 1480 to 1570 | 1530 or higher |
| Highly selective (top 50 national universities) | About 1350 to 1530 | 1450 or higher |
| Selective state flagships and private colleges | About 1200 to 1400 | 1350 or higher |
| Most other four-year colleges | About 1000 to 1200 | 1150 or higher |
How to set your target score
- List the colleges you plan to apply to, including reach, match and likely schools.
- Look up the middle 50% SAT range for each one.
- Set your target at or above the 75th percentile (the top of the range) for the colleges you care about most.
- Take a full-length practice test to measure your starting score, so you know how many points you need to gain.
Does a good score still matter if colleges are test-optional?
Yes. A growing number of selective colleges require the SAT or ACT again, and at test-optional colleges a score in or above the middle 50% range can still strengthen an application. If your score falls below a college’s range, test-optional policies let you leave it out.