What's a Good SAT Score in 2026?

Here's the short answer: a "good" SAT score is one that lands inside the middle range of the colleges you actually want to attend. Nationally, the average total sits a little above 1050. Anything over 1200 puts you ahead of most test-takers, 1350 and up is competitive at selective schools, and 1500+ is in the conversation almost anywhere. You can turn any practice raw score into a 400-1600 estimate with our free SAT score calculator.

The real answer depends on your college list

The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600, but that number only means something next to a target. Every college publishes the middle 50% range of its admitted students — the scores between the 25th and 75th percentile. If you're at or above the 75th-percentile number for your top school, you're in great shape. If you're below the 25th, you're not out of the running, but the rest of your application has to carry more weight.

SAT score ranges, roughly

Percentiles shift a little each year, so treat these as a guide rather than gospel — the College Board publishes the official tables every fall:

• Around 1050 — roughly the national average (about the 50th percentile).
• 1200 — above average, near the top quarter of test-takers.
• 1350 — competitive at many selective universities (about the top 10%).
• 1450-1500 — strong at highly selective schools.
• 1500+ — top 1-2% of everyone who takes the test.

How to find your own target

1. Make a list of the colleges you're considering.
2. Look up each one's middle-50% SAT range (search the college's name plus "common data set," or check its admissions page).
3. Set your goal at or above the 75th-percentile number on your list.

That personal target is far more useful than any national average, because it's tied to the outcome you actually care about.

Turn your goal into a plan

Once you know your number, work backwards. Take a full-length practice test to see where you stand today, then close the gap with focused practice. COSMIQ's free voice tutor is free for every learner, and the SAT score calculator shows where any practice raw score would land.

Related resources: SAT score calculator · free voice tutor