SAT Scores for Top Universities
January 23, 2026
If you're studying for the SAT, your brain is likely filled with numbers. Numbers that may relate to the Math section, for sure—but also statistics regarding your score. There are national averages, gender averages, and demographic averages, not to mention university averages and percentiles. It's easy to get lost in a sea of information about other people's scores, even as you need to focus on your study progress and enhancing your own.
It's not easy to study for such an important exam. The SAT has been administered for decades and has long been the gold standard in undergraduate college readiness. When we look at SAT scores, it's important to see how they align with particular schools. By learning SAT averages and percentiles for different schools, you're able to get a better understanding of the "lay of the land" for the student population you hope to join.
Let's take a look the SAT and its connection with elite and non-elite universities. Hopefully, you'll walk away with a better understanding of the test, as well as your own score.
SAT Basics and Score Data
The SAT is scored on a scale from 400-1600, and has two sections, Reading & Writing and Math, each scored from 200 to 800 points. Before we get into specific schools and their SAT averages and percentiles, let's review the data published by the College Board, the test's owner and administrator, about national averages for the past few years.
| Year | Reading & Writing | Math | Total |
| 2025 | 521 | 508 | 1029 |
| 2024 | 519 | 505 | 1024 |
| 2023 | 520 | 508 | 1028 |
| 2022 | 529 | 521 | 1050 |
| 2021 | 533 | 528 | 1060 |
| 2020 | 528 | 523 | 1051 |
| 2019 | 531 | 528 | 1059 |
| 2018 | 536 | 531 | 1068 |
| 2017 | 533 | 527 | 1060 |
As the chart shows, SAT scores have generally been slowly falling over time. Why the decline? Perhaps a decreased interest in the SAT due to the rival ACT exam has contributed. Regardless, if you're a high-scoring student or have high-scoring goals, surpassing the national average is good news for you and your application.
Following is another chart based on College Board data on 2025 SAT average scores by gender:
| Gender | Reading & Writing | Math | Total |
| Male | 520 | 515 | 1035 |
| Female | 522 | 500 | 1021 |
SAT Score Averages for Elite Schools
Naturally, finding out the average SAT score of students at different schools is a phenomenal advantage when applying to undergraduate programs. While you always want to aim for a higher-than-average score, knowing a specific school's average is always useful, particularly when entrenched in SAT strategy. Below is a chart of average score ranges for elite schools along with their median scores. Due to their popularity and reputation, they are higher than the scores for state schools and community colleges.
| School | Average SAT Score Range | Median Score |
| Brown University | 1510-1560 | 1540 |
| Columbia University | 1510-1560 | 1540 |
| Cornell University | 1510-1560 | 1540 |
| Dartmouth College | 1500-1570 | NA |
| Harvard University | 1510-1580 | 1550 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1520-1570 | 1550 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1510-1570 | 1550 |
| Princeton University | 1500-1560 | 1530 |
| Yale University | 1480-1560 | 1530 |
SAT Score Averages for Middle-Range Schools
While several Ivy League and elite schools may be at the top of your list, you hopefully also have some safety schools you're applying to as well. Below is a list of middle-range schools with stellar reputations and slightly lower SAT averages than the ones above. Do you see any schools you're applying to listed here?
| School | Average SAT Score Range | Median Score |
| Baylor University | 1160-1340 | 1250 |
| Bringham Young University (BYU) | 1290-1440 | 1360 |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) | 1280-1400 | 1350 |
| Ohio State University | 1280-1430 | 1360 |
| Pace University | 1180-1340 | 1260 |
| Pepperdine University | 1300-1440 | 1370 |
| Rutgers University | 1270-1480 | 1380 |
| Syracuse University | 1260-1430 | 1340 |
| Texas A&M University | 1160-1390 | 1270 |
| University of Vermont | 1300-1420 | 1360 |
SAT Percentiles
How can knowing your SAT score percentiles help you? They give you an idea of how an admissions committee might weigh your application by showing where you stand in relation to other students. Sure, there are other factors that come into play—such as your application essay, letters of recommendation, GPA, and sometimes an in-person interview. However, your SAT score is a key component, and with all the competition you face, it's important to keep in mind how admissions officers compare you to other students. Percentiles come into play here, as they're a tool for those deciding your university fate to organize applicants.
For instance, if you're a high-scorer in the 98th percentile, meaning you did better than 98% of other test takers, isn't that valuable to know? That knowledge can put your mind at ease while waiting to hear back about your admission status. Similarly, if you're in a lower percentile, say the 51st or 61st, you'll be aware of the other students ahead of you, and know you'll need to rely on your other application materials as a counterbalance. Below is a chart showing the different percentiles for scores. If you've had the opportunity to sit for a practice SAT or have taken the real thing and know your score, finding out where percentile it puts you in can be of great use.
| Total Score (400-1600) | Percentile |
| 1600 | 99+ |
| 1550 | 99 |
| 1500 | 98 |
| 1450 | 96 |
| 1400 | 93 |
| 1350 | 90 |
| 1300 | 86 |
| 1250 | 82 |
| 1190 | 75 |
| 1150 | 70 |
| 1120 | 66 |
| 1050 | 56 |
| 1010 | 50 |
| 1000 | 48 |
| 950 | 41 |
| 900 | 33 |
| 850 | 25 |
| 800 | 18 |
| 750 | 11 |
| 700 | 5 |
| 530 | 1 |
While it's important to know your composite, or total, score percentile, it's incredibly helpful to know it by section as well. The following chart details percentiles for the Reading & Writing and Math sections. Perhaps you have a higher percentile in one than the other? Depending on your intended undergraduate major, this could be valuable to know.
| Section Score Range (200-800) | Reading & Writing Percentile | Math Percentile |
| 770-800 | 99 to 99+ | 97 to 99+ |
| 740-770 | 97 to 99 | 95 to 97 |
| 710-740 | 94 to 97 | 93 to 95 |
| 680-710 | 90 to 94 | 89 to 93 |
| 650-680 | 85 to 90 | 85 to 89 |
| 620-650 | 79 to 85 | 81 to 85 |
| 590-620 | 71 to 79 | 75 to 81 |
| 560-590 | 63 to 71 | 68 to 75 |
| 530-560 | 55 to 63 | 60 to 68 |
| 500-530 | 45 to 55 | 51 to 60 |
| 470-500 | 36 to 45 | 43 to 51 |
| 440-470 | 27 to 36 | 35 to 43 |
| 410-440 | 19 to 27 | 25 to 35 |
| 380-410 | 11 to 19 | 16 to 25 |
| 210-380 | 1 to 11 | 1 to 16 |
Knowing the 25th and 75th percentiles of the schools you're targeting is also beneficial. This table details percentiles for a handful of schools that may be on your application list, as well as their acceptance rates.
| School | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile | 2025 Acceptance Rate |
| Brown University | 1510 | 1560 | 5.7% |
| University of Chicago | 1510 | 1560 | 4.5%* |
| Columbia University | 1510 | 1560 | 4.3% |
| Cornell University | 1510 | 1560 | 8.4% |
| Dartmouth College | 1500 | 1570 | 6.0% |
| Duke University | 1500 | 1570 | 4.8% |
| Harvard University | 1510 | 1580 | 4.2% |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1520 | 1570 | 4.5% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1510 | 1570 | 4.9% |
| Princeton University | 1500 | 1560 | 4.4% |
| Stanford University | 1510 | 1570 | 3.6%* |
| Yale University | 1480 | 1560 | 4.6% |
*2024 rate
SAT Scores for Schools: The Takeaway
In the end, you should absorb this information about scores and percentiles and then put in the back of your mind while you study for the SAT. While it's highly useful to know and understand when aiming for your target score, you can't let it consume you while you focus on learning vital test-taking strategies. Structure your course of study over three to four months, allowing room for exam retakes, if necessary. If you're applying to an elite school, it may take more than one try to achieve your ideal score.