Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What's considered a good SAT score for 2023?

Hey pals, stressing out about the SATs. I know everyone's saying 'the higher, the better', but honestly speaking, do we have any ballpark figure or range that's considered a 'good' SAT score for the 2023 admissions cycle?

a year ago

Hello! You're absolutely right about the "higher is better" mantra, but let's get down to some specifics to help with your stress.

For most top-tier universities and colleges, a solid SAT score would be within the top 10%, which, as of the recent scoring guidelines, would be a score of around 1400 or higher out of 1600. Universities that are highly selective often have an average SAT score of around 1500 for admitted students. However, remember that these are averages, meaning there are students who scored lower who were still accepted.

For mid-tier colleges, an SAT score around the national average, which is about 1050–1100, would be considered solid. However, aiming for around the 75th percentile—roughly 1200—will increase your chances of admission to more competitive mid-tier colleges.

Please remember that while SAT scores are important, they are not the only aspect considered in college admissions. Other factors like GPA, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and personal essays also play significant roles in the decision-making process. Colleges look at the whole package, not just your test scores!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.