The SAT is a standardized test that serves as a common measure of college readiness. Students, parents, and educators often focus on the average SAT score as a benchmark for college admissions. The SAT is divided into two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, with the combined score ranging from 400 to 1600.
When exploring prospective colleges, understanding the range of SAT scores for previously admitted students can provide valuable insight into your likelihood of acceptance, even within the current climate where submitting test scores is often optional.
The below outlines the middle 50% of SAT scores at top national colleges, and top liberal arts schools.
Average SAT Scores at Top Colleges Nationally
| School | Reading & Writing | Math | Total SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University (NJ) | 760-780 | 780-800 | 1540-1580 |
| MIT (MA) | 740-780 | 780-800 | 1520-1580 |
| Harvard University (MA) | 720-780 | 740-800 | 1460-1570 |
| Stanford University (CA) | 730-780 | 770-800 | 1500-1570 |
| Yale University (CT) | 740-780 | 760-800 | 1470-1560 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 730-770 | 770-800 | 1500-1570 |
| Duke University (NC) | 730-770 | 750-800 | 1490-1560 |
| Brown University (RI) | 730-780 | 760-800 | 1500-1560 |
| Johns Hopkins University (MD) | 740-770 | 780-800 | 1520-1560 |
| Northwestern University (IL) | 730-770 | 760-800 | 1500-1560 |
| Columbia University (NY) | 730-780 | 770-800 | 1500-1560 |
| Cornell University (NY) | 710-770 | 750-800 | 1470-1550 |
| University of Chicago | 740-780 | 770-800 | 1510-1560 |
| Rice University (TX) | 730-770 | 760-800 | 1510-1560 |
| Vanderbilt University (TN) | 730-770 | 760-800 | 1490-1570 |
| University of Notre Dame (IN) | 710-760 | 740-790 | 1450-1550 |
| University of Michigan—Ann Arbor | 670-750 | 680-780 | 1350-1530 |
| Georgetown University (DC) | 700-770 | 690-790 | 1410-1540 |
| University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill | 660-740 | 660-770 | 1330-1500 |
| Carnegie Mellon University (PA) | 720-770 | 770-800 | 1500-1560 |
| Emory University (GA) | 700-760 | 730-790 | 1450-1530 |
| University of Virginia | 690-750 | 710-790 | 1400-1540 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 730-770 | 770-800 | 1500-1570 |
Average SAT Scores at Top Liberal Arts Schools
| School | Reading & Writing | Math | Total SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College (MA) | 730-780 | 750-790 | 1490-1550 |
| Amherst College (MA) | 690-770 | 670-780 | 1480-1550 |
| Pomona College (CA) | 730-770 | 750-790 | 1480-1540 |
| Swarthmore College (PA) | 710-770 | 730-790 | 1455-1540 |
| Wellesley College (MA) | 720-770 | 710-780 | 1440-1540 |
| United States Air Force Academy | 650-730 | 660-750 | 1320-1470 |
| United States Military Academy | 610-710 | 610-740 | 1230-1430 |
| Bowdoin College (ME) | 670-760 | 670-780 | 1340-1520 |
| Carleton College (MN) | 710-770 | 720-780 | 1430-1540 |
| Barnard College (NY) | 720-770 | 720-780 | 1430-1530 |
| Claremont McKenna College (CA) | 710-760 | 730-790 | 1450-1540 |
| Grinnell College (IA) | 680-750 | 700-780 | 1410-1520 |
| Middlebury College (VT) | 700-760 | 710-780 | 1420-1520 |
| Wesleyan University (CT) | 660-750 | 660-760 | 1310-1505 |
| Davidson College (NC) | 670-740 | 680-760 | 1360-1490 |
| Hamilton College (NY) | 700-760 | 720-780 | 1440-1520 |
| Harvey Mudd College (CA) | 720-770 | 760-790 | 1480-1560 |
| Smith College (MA) | 700-760 | 670-760 | 1390-1500 |
| Vassar College (NY) | 720-760 | 710-775 | 1440-1510 |
| Colgate University (NY) | 690-750 | 700-780 | 1418-1510 |
| Haverford College (PA) | 700-760 | 730-780 | 1410-1530 |
| Washington and Lee University (VA) | 700-753 | 710-780 | 1410-1533 |
| Bates College (ME) | 660-745 | 650-760 | 1340-1500 |
| University of Richmond (VA) | 690-750 | 710-780 | 1425-1510 |