The “average SAT score” depends on a lot on which test version you took, which year you took it in, and a number of other factors.

At Prep Expert, we offer great SAT prep courses to help your child earn the best score possible.

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For an idea of what the average SAT score looks like across the United States, we have that covered in the infographic below:

National SAT Average Score

Total	ERW	Math
1060	533	527

*ERW – ‘Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section’

SAT Average Score By Sex

Sex	Percent	Total	ERW	Math
Female	53%	1050	534	516
Male	47%	1070	532	538

SAT Average Score By Ethnicity

Ethnicity/Race	Percent	Total	ERW	Math
American Indian/Alaska Native	0%	963	486	477
Asian	9%	1181	569	612
Black/African American	13%	941	479	462
Hispanic/Latino	24%	990	500	489
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander	0%	986	498	488
White	44%	1118	565	553
Two or More Races	3%	1103	560	544
No Response	5%	961	475	485

SAT Average Score By High School GPA

Grade	Percent	Total	ERW	Math
A+ (97-100)	6%	1254	626	628
A (93-96)	18%	1187	595	592
A- (90-92)	17%	1122	564	558
B (80-89)	41%	1005	508	497
C (70-79)	10%	899	456	444
D, E, or F (below 70)	1%	850	429	421
No Response	7%	987	489	498

SAT Average Score By Parent Education Level

Highest Parental Education Level	Percent	Total	ERW	Math
No High School Diploma	8%	944	472	472
High School Diploma	28%	1003	507	497
Associate Degree	8%	1036	525	511
Bachelor’s Degree	28%	1118	562	556
Graduate Degree	20%	1177	591	586
No Response	9%	914	455	460

SAT Average Score By State & US Territory

State	Number of Testers	ERW	Math	Total
Alabama	2,393	593	572	1165
Alaska	2,971	547	533	1080
Arizona	20,466	563	553	1116
Arkansas	1,065	614	594	1208
California	226,699	531	524	1055
Colorado	5,896	606	595	1201
Connecticut	43,252	530	512	1041
Delaware	10,060	503	492	996
District of Columbia	4,801	482	468	950
Florida	147,058	520	497	1017
Georgia	63,805	535	515	1050
Hawaii	7,352	544	541	1085
Idaho	18,757	513	493	1005
Illinois	12,402	559	556	1115
Indiana	45,622	542	532	1074
Iowa	861	641	635	1275
Kansas	1,199	632	628	1260
Kentucky	1,608	631	616	1247
Louisiana	1,696	611	586	1198
Maine	13,826	513	499	1012
Maryland	42,919	536	524	1060
Massachusetts	56,024	555	551	1107
Michigan	110,082	509	495	1005
Minnesota	2,061	644	651	1295
Mississippi	716	634	607	1242
Missouri	1,990	640	631	1271
Montana	990	605	591	1196
Nebraska	680	629	625	1253
Nevada	6,245	563	553	1116
New Hampshire	14,758	532	520	1052
New Jersey	72,173	530	526	1056
New Mexico	2,342	577	561	1138
New York	135,141	528	523	1052
North Carolina	49,595	546	535	1081
North Dakota	123	635	621	1256
Ohio	14,545	578	570	1149
Oklahoma	2,776	530	517	1047
Oregon	15,866	560	548	1108
Pennsylvania	89,218	540	531	1071
Puerto Rico	2,913	515	487	1003
Rhode Island	7,205	539	524	1062
South Carolina	22,292	543	521	1064
South Dakota	237	612	603	1216
Tennessee	3,495	623	604	1228
Texas	204,409	513	507	1020
Utah	1,277	624	614	1238
Vermont	4,303	562	551	1114
Virginia	57,453	561	541	1102
Virgin Islands, US	752	483	442	924
Washington	43,911	541	534	1075
West Virginia	2,406	558	528	1086
Wisconsin	1780	642	649	1291
Wyoming	144	626	604	1230

SAT Score Changes And Background

It’s important to note that the total number of possible SAT points has changed several times over the past few years.

For a long time, the exam was based out of 1600 points. However, ten years ago, the College Board made the essay section mandatory and added it to students’ scores.

This addition increased the potential point total to 2400. Then, responding to ACT competition, the SAT was again revised. This time, the essay section became optional again, reverting the highest possible score total back to 1600.

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For the revised SAT, the average student received:

• A score of 1060
  • The Top 25 percent of test-takers receive a 1200 or higher
  • The bottom 25 percent score an 840 or below

The lowest possible score on the new SAT is a 400 (200 base points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and 200 for Math).

Average SAT Scores For State School Admissions & Scholarship Programs

One reason you might be wondering about the average SAT score is because you’re applying for admission to state schools, or applying to state-specific scholarship programs.

If so, and you think you need to improve your score, visit our SAT prep courses and see what’s available before your next test!

A state’s average SAT score is affected by a variety of factors such as:

• Size
• Total Number of Student Exam Takers
• Educational System Quality

So, based on the numbers above, if you’re applying to a college, university, or scholarship program in a state like Massachusetts, you face a more competitive environment than a student in, say, Louisiana.

Why? Because of the massive difference in the number of test-taking students in each state.

Just keep in mind, in these situations, it’s your state’s average SAT score, not the national average, that matters.

Now, How Much Does This All Matter?

Other than for the reasons mentioned above, not much.

And that’s because overall, college and university admissions officials care little about national or state average SAT scores.

What colleges and universities care most about is the average SAT score of the students that apply to their schools.

Generally, for more competitive schools, the average SAT score of admitted students will be higher than for less-competitive schools.

Where Do I Find This Information?

Most schools’ admissions websites will have score bands showing the average SAT scores of admitted students.

Typically, these bands will list the average scores for the 25th percentile, 50th percentile and 75th percentile of admitted students. Because your SAT score isn’t the only number admissions officers will be looking at.

Your GPA also plays a role in how close to a particular percentile you’ll need to be in order to gain admission.

Of course, it’s always best to shoot for the 50th percentile or higher. But, if you have a very high GPA, you could get away with having an SAT score closer to the 25th percentile at a particular school and gain admission.

Conversely, students with comparatively low GPAs will want to shoot for the 75th percentile of SAT scores to remain competitive candidates. The biggest takeaway is that neither score alone seals your admissions fate, but it’s better to boost both as much as possible for the best competitive edge.

Another excellent resource for this sort of information is your high school guidance counselor. At most high schools, the guidance office will have records of all the students from your school who applied to specific colleges and universities, and were:

• Admitted
• Rejected
• Waitlisted

This information also includes those students’ average GPAs and SAT scores. At some schools today, this information is available online, through programs like Naviance.

Using this data, you can get an idea of what some colleges and universities are realistically looking applicant-wise, and what you’ll need to do to fit.

What’s The Average Score For My Dream School?

Below is a list of some of the most competitive colleges and universities, ranked in the order of highest 75th percentile SAT score to lowest:

Rank	School	Average SAT Score
1	CalTech	1534
2	University of Chicago	1504
3	MIT	1503
4	Harvard	1501
5	Yale	1497
6	Princeton	1495
7	Vanderbilt	1475
8	The University of Washington	1474
9	Columbia	1471
10	Stanford	1466
11	Northwestern	1458
12	Rice	1454
13	Pomona	1454
14	Notre Dame	1450
15	Dartmouth	1446
16	Duke	1444
17	The University of Pennsylvania	1442
18	Williams College	1439
19	Amherst	1434
20	Carnegie Mellon	1432
21	Tufts	1428
22	Brown	1425

 

The schools with the highest 75th percentile scores aren’t necessarily the most competitive – those numbers are based on how many students are admitted out of those who apply.

These percentiles do affect a school’s U.S. News and World Report ranking, though, so colleges and universities definitely care about how they stack up there.

Remember, your SAT score isn’t the only thing colleges and universities look at when they evaluate your application. They’re also looking at:

• GPA
• High School Curriculum Competitiveness & Rigor
• Athletics & Extracurricular Activities
• Recommendation Letters
• Personal Statement

So, don’t focus too much on this one number. It’s one piece of the admissions puzzle. You’ll be better served by working on building up your score but also by working on other package pieces:

• Letters of recommendation
• Your extracurricular activities

Where Should I Apply, Based On My SAT Score?

There are lots of things you should take into account when deciding which schools to apply to. Examples include:

• Interested Subject of Study
• Finances
• Location
• School Size

Talking purely about SAT scores, though, you should make a list of between nine and 12 schools, among three categories:

• Safety Schools – schools where your SAT score (and GPA) are in the 75th percentile of scores
• Competitive (aka ‘Target’) Schools – schools where your scores are around the 50th percentile mark
• Reach Schools – schools where your scores are at either the 25th percentile mark or below

Try to have between three to four schools in each category to ensure you’ll be admitted somewhere for the fall.

Things To Keep In Mind

There are two major points to keep in mind when absorbing all this information:

Average scores are based on the results of past administrations of the SAT – The average SAT score for the particular exam administration you’re sitting for this time around will be different than the average scores you’re looking at now.

When the results of your test are released, averages could go up or down (although chances are that they won’t fluctuate all that much).

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When it comes to particular schools, the average scores for admitted students change from year to year, and the trend is almost always up – If a particularly large number of students apply to a school in a given year, the average SAT score of admitted students could go way up, making that school much tougher to get into.

So when you make your list, it’s probably a good idea to have at least a few ‘target’ schools where you’re closer to the 60th-70th percentile of SAT scores.

How Do I Improve My Score?

As always: study, study, study.

Get a handle on the underlying academic concepts tested on the SAT, and bone up on the areas where you’re deficient. Then, you might want to consider signing up for a prep course, like those offered by Prep Expert.

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For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!

Average SAT Score FAQ

What is the average SAT score?

1060

What is the average SAT Math score?

527

What is the Average SAT ERW score?

533

What is the lowest possible SAT score?

The lowest possible score on the new SAT is a 400 (200 base points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and 200 for Math).