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Rituparna Nath

Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Sep 12, 2022

SAT Scores for US Colleges ranges from around 1500-1600. The SAT universities in USA have different SAT score requirements. Few universities have a very high SAT score requirement for admission and some others have low to moderate SAT score requirements. The top US universities like Harvard University, Yale University, MIT, and University of Pennsylvania accept SAT scores of 1500, scoring above 680 in maths while scoring above 600 in the reading and writing section.The SAT is scored based on a 1600-point grading scale. It consists of two sections: Math, and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Along with a decent SAT score you need to have a decent academic foundation and meet the course-specific necessities of the college to be considered for admission.

What is the Accepting SAT Score for Admission in Colleges? 

Understanding the SAT score is of utmost importance as scores can be different in different universities. However, candidates with SAT scores of 1400 are just the candidates with an average SAT score. For the top colleges around the 75th percentile SAT score is always a better idea because the level of competition in these colleges is always high. A 75 percentile SAT score not only confirms the higher chances of admission but also it places a candidate above the candidates carrying the average SAT score. Candidates preparing for SAT can consider the 25th percentile SAT score as the minimum requirement for the most popular universities.

SAT Test-Optional College Options

Many colleges in the U.S. have opted for standardized test scores as optional for applicants. Though this test-optional policy is temporary, many top colleges have decided to adopt it permanently. With a good SAT score, candidates can still boost their application for the above competition. SAT Test-optional school policies imply that applicants will not be judged on the absence of SAT test scores, but their presence will still be considered.

SAT Writing and Math Score Changes

Candidates must be aware of the SAT new scoring scale released in 2016. SAT scores grade up to 1600 (previously 2400) due to the reading and writing sections having been combined into one. Hence, each section is 800 points. The only two sections are Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Mathematics.

SAT Score for the Top-Ranked US Colleges

The SAT preparation needs to be compact in case you are targeting admission to universities like Harvard, MIT, or Princeton, and more. The SAT accepting colleges in USA for higher SAT scores. Here is the list of colleges accepting SAT scores in USA:

SAT Colleges in USA 25th percentile SAT Score 75th percentile SAT Score Average SAT Score
Brown University 1410 1570 1490
California Institute of Technology 1530 1600 1540
Carnegie Mellon University 1430 1560 1490
Colorado School of Mines 1390 1450 1410
Columbia University 1450 1580 1515
Cornell University 1390 1550 1460
Dartmouth College 1430 1580 1490
Duke University 1390 1580 1485
Emory University 1370 1510 1430
Georgetown University 1380 1550 1460
Georgia Institute of Technology 1380 1530 1450
Harvard University 1460 1590 1520
Johns Hopkins University 1460 1580 1520
MIT 1490 1570 1528
Northeastern University 1400 1530 1470
Northwestern University 1420 1560 1490
Princeton University 1430 1570 1500
Rice University 1450 1570 1490
Stanford University 1390 1540 1465
Tufts University 1440 1550 1480
UC Berkeley 1310 1530 1420
UCLA 1280 1530 1400
University of Chicago 1480 1580 1530
University of Michigan 1340 1530 1430
University of Notre Dame 1440 1540 1490
University of Pennsylvania 1420 1560 1490
University of Southern California 1360 1530 1440
Vanderbilt University 1480 1590 1510
Washington University in St. Louis 1460 1580 1510
Yale University 1420 1590 1505

SAT Percentile Score vs Composite Score

SAT score percentile demonstrates the candidate’s performance in comparison to others who took the exam. The table given below states SAT scores line up with which percentiles.

SAT Composite Score SAT Percentile Score
1550-1600 99-99+%
1500-1550 98-99%
1450-1500 96-98%
1400-1450 94-96%
1350-1400 90-94%
1300-1350 86-90%
1250-1300 81-86%
1200-1250 74-81%
1150-1200 67-74%
1100-1150 59-67%
1050-1100 50-59%
1000-1050 41-50%
950-1000 33-41%
900-950 25-33%
850-900 18-25%
800-850 11-18%
750-800 6-11%
700-750 3-6%
650-700 1-3%
600-650 or lower 1% or lower

Universities in USA without SAT

Top colleges in the USA apart from SAT scores, checks a student's readiness for college with GPAs, high school transcripts, and extracurriculars. SAT scores for US universities are a great way for student evaluation. Some colleges are likely to take ACT scores for admission requirements. Here is a list of American universities without SAT scores:

What is a Good SAT Score? 

There is no exact answer to a decent SAT score, as it varies between the school and courses. Candidates for top universiti4s in USA  SAT scores can refer to the College Board prediction to know the normal score needed to be acknowledged at various colleges. 

Section Average Score for Acceptance
Composite Score (Without Essay) Above 1400
Maths Above 530
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Above 500

To get admission to one of the best universities in the world candidates should have at least a 1200 composite score on SAT.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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