Important SAT Update: Transition to Digital SAT
Effective December 3, 2023, the traditional paper-and-pencil format of the SAT has been discontinued. Starting in 2024, all students are required to take the Digital SAT, ushering in substantial changes in duration, format, material coverage, and question types. This shift to the Digital SAT represents a departure from traditional testing methods. It is crucial for students, educators, and test-takers to acquaint themselves with the new examination structure. Read more about the Digital SAT here.
Do colleges look at SAT® scores? Yes, they do! Most top colleges and Ivy League schools consider SAT scores, along with high school GPA, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, as part of their admissions criteria. Below, we’ll provide tips to help you choose the perfect college and a list of SAT admission scores for the top 25 US colleges. Keep this list handy even if you’re taking the Digital SAT in 2023 and 2024!
Why Do Top Colleges and Ivy League Schools Ask for SAT scores?
Let’s explore why Ivy League schools and prestigious colleges consider SAT scores:
Standardized Metric
Because of its standardized format, the SAT offers colleges a consistent yardstick for evaluating applicants. Students can distinguish themselves in their applications, regardless of their geographical origin or the secondary school they have attended.
Predictor of Academic Success
SAT scores are a reliable predictor of a student’s potential for academic success in college. A high SAT score reflects your capacity to excel in challenging university-level coursework.
To Attract High-Achievers
Numerous elite colleges, including Ivy League institutions, factor in SAT scores within specific ranges to allure adept students who can elevate the academic standing and prestige of these universities.
To assess your eligibility for college funding and grants
Colleges may consider SAT scores as a factor when assessing students' eligibility for merit-based financial scholarships.
Because of its standardized format, the SAT offers colleges a consistent yardstick for evaluating applicants. Students can distinguish themselves in their applications, regardless of their geographical origin or the secondary school they have attended.
SAT scores are a reliable predictor of a student’s potential for academic success in college. A high SAT score reflects your capacity to excel in challenging university-level coursework.
Numerous elite colleges, including Ivy League institutions, factor in SAT scores within specific ranges to allure adept students who can elevate the academic standing and prestige of these universities.
Colleges may consider SAT scores as a factor when assessing students' eligibility for merit-based financial scholarships.
How do colleges review your applications?
After you submit your college application package, the preliminary screening involves colleges assessing it for completeness. Most colleges require your application form, SAT score, school transcript, personal statement essay, and letters of recommendation. After your application clears this stage, a couple of steps follow:
-
Admissions committee clearance:
An admissions committee reviews your application package after the pre-screening. This committee can include admissions officers, faculty members, and sometimes current students who discuss the applicant’s academic credibility and decide whether to admit the student. Numerous colleges use a holistic approach, considering extracurricular activities, community volunteering, and any unique accomplishments in addition to your previous academic record.
-
Notification:
The student receives notification of the outcome based on the admissions committee’s decision. This notification will include whether the student has been accepted into the college and may also include information on financial aid (provided the student submitted a FAFSA form).
How much weight do SAT scores carry in college admissions?
The significance attributed to SAT scores in the college admissions process varies depending on the specific college or university and its admissions policies. Certain institutions emphasize standardized test scores and academic performance, including the SAT (or Digital SAT). A recent study1 by Opportunity Insights, which is based at Harvard University, revealed that a good standardized test score (SAT or ACT) is a strong indicator of a student’s ability to earn good grades in college and graduate. In contrast, others adopt a more holistic approach and consider multiple factors beyond test scores and grades. A subpar SAT score can undermine your prospects of being accepted into highly competitive institutions. The pointers below will help you understand how your SAT scores factor into college admissions and the requirements of SAT admission scores for colleges:
-
What kind of college are you applying to?
Every school has its own SAT score requirements for admission. An institution’s level of selectivity relates to how your SAT score factors into the admissions process. Let’s first understand the selectivity of colleges based on their acceptance rate:
- Highly selective colleges: With an acceptance rate below 20%
- Selective: With an acceptance rate of 20–30%
- Moderately selective: With an acceptance rate of 30–50%
- Less selective: Have the highest acceptance rates, from 50–100%
-
What major or field of study are you intending to pursue at a highly selective or selective institution?
Elite colleges have varying standards across majors. Some prestigious institutions provide advanced math and science courses, and students aspiring to STEM disciplines particularly favor these colleges, like MIT or Cal Tech. Other universities, such as Harvard and Yale, boast remarkable academic achievements in the arts and humanities. In such cases, SAT/Digital SAT scores may factor more heavily in the admissions process for the most sought-after majors than the less popular ones to help distinguish between qualified candidates.
-
Are you opting for an impacted major at a moderately or less selective college?
Similar to gaining admission to highly selective colleges, entry into impacted majors at other schools can hinge on a tiny margin of only 1 point in the SAT score. An impacted major refers to a field of study for which the college receives more eligible applications than it can accommodate. In such cases, they have to dissect each application and choose “the best from the best.” Every component of the application, including your SAT or Digital SAT score, is evaluated thoroughly.
The most selective colleges place a good deal of significance on SAT scores in their selection process. In fact, colleges like MIT and the University of Florida have an SAT/ACT mandatory admission policy. Two Ivy League schools shifted from a test-optional policy to a test-mandatory one in early 2024. Both Dartmouth and Yale announced that they will be shifting to a test-mandatory admissions policy in 2025.
It’s important to note that while most colleges and universities look at your SAT scores when deciding admissions, they are typically just one of many factors considered. Admissions officers will likely also consider a student’s GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and other factors when making admissions decisions. If you are not confident in your SAT score, you may still be able to improve your chances of being accepted by highlighting your strengths in other areas, such as extracurricular activities, community service, or work experience.
Ultimately, the weight of SAT scores will depend on the individual college or university and its admissions policies. Students should research the admissions policies of the colleges they are interested in to determine how much weight is given to SAT scores in their admissions decisions.
How to Determine Your Target SAT Score
The following factors will help you determine your SAT target score:
- Shortlist colleges you wish to apply to and check out their average SAT score ranges. This approach will help you understand what score will make you a competitive applicant.
- You can also determine the level of selectivity of your preferred colleges by examining the SAT scores of the 75%, 50%, and 25% of students admitted to the most recent class.
- Plan your college majors in advance and search for specific details regarding SAT section scores. Doing so will enable you to determine the target scores you aim to achieve for the EBRW and Math sections.
Colleges SAT Score Requirements
While top colleges do not exclusively rely on a student’s SAT scores, a high score can give you a competitive advantage over other applicants. If you are considering applying to the Ivy Leagues and top 25 colleges, refer to the tables below for the typical SAT scores of incoming students in 2022-23:
What is a good SAT score for an Ivy League?
| School | SAT Score Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | EBRW | Math | |
| Brown University | 1440 – 1570 | 700 – 770 | 740 – 800 |
| Columbia University | 1450 – 1570 | 720 – 770 | 750 – 800 |
| Cornell University | 1400 – 1560 | 680 – 760 | 720 – 800 |
| Dartmouth College | 1500 – 1560 | 710 – 770 | 730 – 790 |
| Harvard University | 1470 – 1600 | 740 – 780 | 730 – 800 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1510 – 1560 | 720 – 770 | 760 – 800 |
| Princeton University | 1460 – 1580 | 730 – 780 | 760 – 800 |
| Yale University | 1500 – 1600 | 720 – 780 | 740 – 800 |
What is a good SAT score for a Top 25 college or university?
| School | SAT Score Range | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | EBRW | Math | ||
| 1. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1510 – 1580 | 730 – 780 | 790 – 800 |
| 2. | Stanford University | 1440 – 1570 | 700 – 770 | 740 – 800 |
| 3. | University of Chicago | 1500 – 1570 | 730 – 770 | 770 – 800 |
| 4. | Johns Hopkins University | 1460 – 1560 | 710 – 760 | 750 – 800 |
| 5. | California Institute of Technology | 1530 – 1560 | 740 – 760 | 790 – 800 |
| 6. | Duke University | 1480 – 1570 | 720 – 770 | 760 – 800 |
| 7. | Northwestern University | 1440 – 1550 | 740 – 790 | 700 – 760 |
| 8. | Vanderbilt University | 1480 – 1570 | 720 – 770 | 760 – 800 |
| 9. | Rice University | 1470 – 1570 | 720 – 770 | 750 – 800 |
| 10. | Washington University in St. Louis | 1490 – 1570 | 730 – 770 | 760 – 800 |
| 11. | University of Notre Dame | 1400 – 1550 | 680 – 760 | 720 – 790 |
| 12. | University of California, Berkeley | 1330 – 1530 | 650 – 740 | 680 – 790 |
| 13. | University of California, Los Angeles | 1300 – 1530 | 650 – 740 | 650 – 790 |
| 14. | Carnegie Mellon University | 1460 – 1560 | 700 – 760 | 760 – 800 |
| 15. | Emory University | 1360 – 1530 | 670 – 740 | 690 – 790 |
| 16. | Georgetown University | 1380 – 1550 | 690 – 760 | 690 – 790 |
| 17. | New York University | 1350 – 1530 | 660 – 740 | 690 – 790 |
| 18. | University of Michigan--Ann Arbor | 1350 – 1530 | 670 – 750 | 680 – 780 |
| 19. | University of Southern California | 1360 – 1530 | 670 – 740 | 690 – 790 |
| 20. | University of Virginia | 1340 – 1520 | 670 – 740 | 670 – 780 |
| 21. | University of Florida | 1310 – 1470 | 650 – 720 | 660 – 750 |
| 22. | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 1310 – 1500 | 650 – 730 | 660 – 770 |
| 23. | Wake Forest University | 1350 – 1500 | 650 – 710 | 660 – 760 |
| 24. | Tufts University | 1390 – 1540 | 680 – 750 | 710 – 790 |
| 25. | University of California, Santa Barbara | 1330 – 1530 | 650 – 740 | 680 – 790 |
Source: 2022-2023 Best National Universities | US News Rankings
Is your dream college test-optional or test-mandatory?
For the 2023–2024 admission cycle, all Ivy League schools and almost all top 25 schools switched to test-optional or test-flexible admissions policies, which allowed applicants to choose whether or not to submit SAT scores as part of their application. However, for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, some schools are transitioning back to test-mandatory policies. Explore what your dream school requires using the below lists.
| College | SAT Policy |
|---|---|
| Brown University | Test-Optional |
| Columbia University | Test-Optional |
| Cornell University |
Test-Optional / Test-Blind (varies by department) |
| Dartmouth College | Test-Mandatory |
| Harvard University | Test-Optional |
| University of Pennsylvania | Test-Optional |
| Princeton University | Test-Optional |
| Yale University | Test-Mandatory |
| College | SAT Policy |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Mandatory |
| Stanford University | Test-Optional |
| University of Chicago | Test-Optional |
| Johns Hopkins University | Test-Optional |
| California Institute of Technology | Test Blind |
| Duke University | Test-Optional |
| Northwestern University | Test-Optional |
| Vanderbilt University | Test-Optional |
| Rice University | Test-Optional |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Test-Optional |
| University of Notre Dame | Test-Optional |
| University of California, Berkeley | Test Blind |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Test Blind |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Test-Optional |
| Emory University | Test-Optional |
| Georgetown University | Mandatory |
| New York University | Test-Optional |
| University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | Test-Optional |
| University of Southern California | Test-Optional |
| University of Virginia | Test-Optional |
| University of Florida | Mandatory |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | Test-Optional |
| Wake Forest University | Test-Optional |
| Tufts University | Test-Optional for 2023 |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | Test Blind |
References
- Friedman, Sacerdote, & Tine. (2024, January). Standardized Test Scores and Academic Performance at Ivy-Plus Colleges. Retrieved February 8, 2024, from https://opportunityinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SAT_ACT_on_Grades.pdf
- Update To Testing Policy. (2024, February 8). Dartmouth Admissions. https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/update-testing-policy
- Brown University Admissions - BigFuture College Search. (n.d.). https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/brown-university/admissions
- Cornell University Admissions - BigFuture College Search. (n.d.). https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/cornell-university/admissions
- Class Profile. (2024, February 5). Dartmouth Admissions. https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/class-profile-testing
- Harvard University - SAT and ACT Scores. (n.d.). https://collegeadmissionscores.com/harvard-university
- Incoming Class of 2027 | Penn Admissions. (n.d.). https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/what-penn-looks-for/incoming-class-profile
- Admission Statistics | Princeton Admission. (n.d.). https://admission.princeton.edu/apply/admission-statistics
- Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions. (n.d.). https://admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing
- The Best National Universities in America. (n.d.). US News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities
- Standardized Test Scores - Office of Undergraduate Admissions. (2023, October 31). Office of Undergraduate Admissions. https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/transfer-test-scores/
- Is UNC test optional? If you accept scores, how do you look at ACT or SAT scores? - Undergraduate Admissions. (2023, October 19). Undergraduate Admissions. https://admissions.unc.edu/faqs/how-does-unc-look-at-act-or-sat-test-scores/
Related Questions
Colleges may see all your SAT scores if you choose to report scores to them. However, it’s important to understand that many colleges focus on your best scores, often through a process called “superscoring“, where they consider your highest score from each section across all the dates you took the exam. Even if colleges see scores that aren’t your best, they evaluate them within the context of your overall application and academic journey, recognizing that one score doesn’t define your potential.
Colleges look at your overall SAT score and the scores for each section to see how well you might do in their programs. They also take into account everything else you bring to the table—your grades, the clubs and activities you’re involved in, and your personal story—to get a full picture of what you can achieve, not just how you test.
Yes, colleges and universities will use digital SAT scores the same way they used paper-and-pencil SAT scores.
No, not all colleges require SAT scores.
During the pandemic, most colleges, including the Ivy Leagues, opted for “test-optional” policies, which means students could submit their applications with or without an SAT score. This change was mainly because it was hard to take the SAT safely during the pandemic. Now, some colleges, like Dartmouth and Yale, are asking for SAT scores again. So, make sure to look up the requirements for each college.
