What Is a Good SAT Score in 2026?
A good SAT score depends on your college goals. For 2026, a good SAT score is 1200+, a competitive score is 1300+, high is 1400+, and very high is 1500+ out of 1600. This guide shows you what is a good SAT score for Ivy League, top 50 colleges, and by percentile.
What Is a Good SAT Score?
Your college list defines what is a good SAT score for you. There is no single good SAT score for everyone. A good SAT score is one that is at or above the middle 50% range of your target colleges.
National average SAT is around 1028. So anything above 1028 is above average. For 2026 admissions, we break down good SAT scores like this:
- Good SAT Score = 1200+ (74th percentile, good for 70% of colleges)
- Competitive SAT Score = 1300+ (86th percentile, competitive for top 100 colleges)
- High SAT Score = 1400+ (94th percentile, high for selective colleges)
- Very High SAT Score = 1500+ (99th percentile, elite for Ivy League)
SAT Score Ranges 2026 – Percentile Guide
The SAT total is Reading & Writing (200-800) + Math (200-800) = 400-1600. Here is what each range means:
Good Score
74th %ile. Good for many state universities. Target: Arizona State, Penn State.
Competitive
86th %ile. Competitive for top 100. Target: NYU, Boston University.
High Score
94th %ile. High for selective. Target: UCLA, Michigan, UNC.
Very High
99th %ile. Elite for Ivy League. Target: Harvard, MIT, Stanford.
SAT Score Chart – Is Your Score Good?
Use this chart to see where you stand. All data based on College Board 2026 percentile.
| SAT Score | Percentile | Description | What to Consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500-1600 | 99th | Very High – Elite | Ivy League ready. Top 1% in US. |
| 1400-1490 | 94th-98th | High Score | Strong for Top 20 universities. |
| 1300-1390 | 86th-93rd | Competitive | Competitive for Top 50-100. |
| 1200-1290 | 74th-85th | Good Score | Good for many 4-year colleges. |
| 1000-1190 | 39th-73rd | Average-Developing | Compare with your college list. |
Is 1200 a Good SAT Score? Is 1300, 1400, 1500 Good?
Is a 1200 SAT Score Good? Yes. 1200 is 74th percentile, 172 points above national average (1028). Good for many colleges like Penn State (1090-1340), ASU (1110-1330). For highly selective, aim higher.
Is a 1300 SAT Score Good? Yes. 1300 is 86th percentile, competitive for many top colleges. Good for NYU (1370-1510 middle 50% – close), Boston University (1330-1500), University of Florida (1260-1420).
Is a 1400 SAT Score Good? Yes. 1400 is 94th percentile, high score. Strong for UCLA (1280-1510), Michigan (1280-1480), UNC (1270-1470). For Ivy, need 1500+.
Is a 1500 SAT Score Good? Yes. 1500 is 99th percentile, very high. Elite for Harvard (1480-1580), MIT (1520-1580), Stanford (1470-1570). Even with 1500, GPA + essays matter.
What Is a Good SAT Score by College Type?
Choose target based on college type:
- Community College / Less Selective: 950-1050 is good
- State Universities (Average): 1050-1200 is good
- State Flagships / Competitive: 1200-1350 is good
- Top 50 National Universities: 1350-1450 is good
- Ivy League / Top 10: 1500-1600 is good (1480 minimum)
How to Choose Your Target SAT Score?
1. List 5-8 colleges. 2. Google “[College] middle 50% SAT 2026”. 3. Take average of their 75th percentile. Add 20 points = Your target. Example: UCLA 75th = 1510, target = 1530. Use SAT Score Calculator to track practice tests.
Check Your SAT Score Now
Use our free SAT Score Calculator to estimate your total SAT from Reading & Writing + Math and see if it’s good for your colleges.
Use SAT Score Calculator →FAQs – What Is a Good SAT Score?
What is a good SAT score in 2026?
A good SAT score in 2026 is 1200+ (74th percentile). Competitive is 1300+, high is 1400+, very high is 1500+ out of 1600. Your target depends on colleges.
Is 1200 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1200 is a good SAT score – 74th percentile and above national average 1028. Good for many state universities.
Is 1300 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1300 is a competitive SAT score – 86th percentile. Good for top 100 colleges.
Is 1400 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1400 is a high SAT score – 94th percentile. Strong for selective colleges like UCLA, Michigan.
Is 1500 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1500 is a very high SAT score – 99th percentile. Elite for Ivy League – Harvard, MIT, Stanford range.
What is the highest SAT score?
Highest SAT score is 1600 (800 Reading & Writing + 800 Math). Perfect score is 99+ percentile.
What SAT score is needed for Ivy League?
Ivy League middle 50% is 1470-1570. Good SAT for Ivy is 1500+ to be competitive. Harvard 1480-1580, Yale 1470-1570.