Understanding the Average SAT Score: A Comprehensive Guide
The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Understanding what constitutes an average SAT score can be valuable for students as they prepare for college applications. This article provides a detailed overview of average SAT scores, broken down by various demographics and institutions, to help students better assess their performance and set realistic goals.
What is the SAT and Why Does it Matter?
The SAT is a college admissions test and is one tool you can use to get into college. The PSAT 8/9 is a diagnostic test that tells you about your strengths and opportunities for growth. The PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT are benchmark tests that can track your progress throughout high school and give you an idea of how you may score on the SAT when you take it in 11th or 12th grade. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, your scores will be shared with National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the cosponsor of the test, who will determine whether you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Further information about the National Merit Scholarship Program is in Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores for Students and Families.
A good SAT score is one that helps you get admitted to a college you want to go to! Don’t ever count yourself out from applying to a school, even if your think your score is low compared to the school’s average. Your SAT score is only one piece of the puzzle.
Overall Average SAT Score
In 2024, the average total SAT score was 1024, according to CollegeBoard data. This considers the scores of students who graduated from high school in 2024. As you can see, if you score higher than 1024 on the SAT, you'll be above the national average and will have scored better than most test takers. This score is a composite of two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW), now known as Reading and Writing.In the past six years, 2021 had the highest SAT score, with an average result of 1060.
Historical Trends in National Average SAT Scores
To provide context, here’s a look at the national average SAT scores over the past six years:
Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions
| Graduating Class | Average ERW Score | Average Math Score | Average Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 531 | 528 | 1059 |
| 2020 | 528 | 523 | 1051 |
| 2021 | 533 | 528 | 1060 |
| 2022 | 529 | 521 | 1050 |
| 2023 | 520 | 508 | 1028 |
| 2024 | 519 | 505 | 1024 |
| Source: College Board |
State Averages vs. Individual Goals
When comparing state average SAT scores with score data from a college, it’s important to consider the statistical measure as well as the population included. The overall average score on the SAT is 1024. While that means that a 1030 is technically “above average,” that doesn’t mean that’s a good enough score to set yourself apart from the pack, especially at the most selective colleges. The SAT is a college admissions test and is one tool you can use to get into college. Remember that your state’s average score is not necessarily a good score for you. If you've taken the SAT, you're probably curious about how your score stacks up against the average SAT scores.
There's a lot of variation in average SAT scores by state. This is due to a lot of factors, but one big one is whether or not the state requires all public school students to take the SAT. By contrast, in states where the SAT is not required, students who take the SAT take it specifically to prepare their college applications.
Average SAT Scores by State, Graduating Class of 2024
| State | Average ERW Score | Average Math Score | Average Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 591 | 566 | 1157 |
| Alaska | 555 | 524 | 1079 |
| Arizona | 599 | 586 | 1185 |
| Arkansas | 612 | 575 | 1188 |
| California | 549 | 537 | 1086 |
| Colorado | 510 | 488 | 998 |
| Connecticut | 502 | 488 | 990 |
| Delaware | 484 | 464 | 948 |
| District of Columbia | 480 | 457 | 937 |
| Florida | 493 | 455 | 948 |
| Kansas | 631 | 625 | 1256 |
| Utah | 610 | 620 | 1230 |
| New Mexico | 453 | 432 | 885 |
| West Virginia | 468 | 451 | 919 |
| … | … | … | … |
Average SAT Scores by School
Knowing the average SAT scores of enrollees at your top colleges can be helpful when it comes to setting goals. If you’ve already taken the SAT, you can see how your score compares to the typical scores at some of your top college choices to better understand where you stand in comparison to the previously admitted class.
College admissions officials typically take a holistic approach to reviewing applications. Standardized test scores are just one aspect of an application if they are considered at all.
SAT Scores for Popular Schools
| School | SAT Score (25th-75th Percentile) |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago | 1510-1580 |
| Vanderbilt University | 1480-1570 |
| Stanford University | 1470-1570 |
| Duke University | 1468-1558 |
| Northwestern University | 1460-1560 |
| New York University | 1450-1570 |
| Emory University | 1420-1540 |
| Georgetown University | 1410-1550 |
| University of Notre Dame | 1410-1550 |
| University of Southern California | 1410-1540 |
| Boston University | 1360-1520 |
| Villanova University | 1350-1490 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | 1330-1510 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 1310-1500 |
| University of Florida | 1300-1470 |
| University of Georgia | 1270-1450 |
| Ohio State University | 1250-1440 |
| University of Texas, Austin | 1230-1500 |
| Clemson University | 1220-1420 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 1210-1410 |
| Purdue University | 1190-1430 |
| Texas A\&M University, College Station | 1140-1380 |
| University of North Carolina | 1140-1380 |
| Pennsylvania State University | 1140-1360 |
| Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) |
SAT Score Demographics
Sometimes, it is helpful to see SAT scores broken down by specific groups to notice trends. This section explores average SAT scores by race/ethnicity, gender, first language, highest level of parental education, and family income.
Read also: SAT Requirements for LSU
Average SAT Score by Race/Ethnicity
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage of Test-Takers | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% | 449 | 432 | 881 |
| Asian | 10% | 599 | 629 | 1228 |
| Black/African American | 12% | 467 | 440 | 907 |
| Hispanic/Latino/a | 25% | 481 | 458 | 939 |
| Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander | 0% | 475 | 452 | 926 |
| White | 37% | 551 | 532 | 1083 |
| Two or More Races | 4% | 556 | 534 | 1090 |
| No Response | 12% | 477 | 471 | 949 |
| Source: College Board |
Average SAT Score by Gender
| Gender | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 522 | 496 | 1018 |
| Men | 516 | 514 | 1029 |
| Another/No Response | 556 | 511 | 1067 |
| Source: College Board |
Average Total SAT Score by Gender Over Time, 2017-2024
| ERW | Men | Women | Another or No Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1070 | 1050 | N/A |
| 2018 | 1076 | 1061 | 779 |
| 2019 | 1066 | 1053 | 802 |
| 2020 | 1055 | 1048 | 967 |
| 2021 | 1067 | 1054 | 1041 |
| 2022 | 1056 | 1043 | 1091 |
| 2023 | 1032 | 1023 | 1058 |
| 2024 | 1029 | 1018 | 1067 |
| Source: College Board |
Average ERW Section Score by Gender Over Time, 2017-2024
| Math | Men | Women | Another or No Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 532 | 534 | N/A |
| 2018 | 534 | 539 | 406 |
| 2019 | 529 | 534 | 409 |
| 2020 | 523 | 532 | 499 |
| 2021 | 530 | 535 | 540 |
| 2022 | 526 | 531 | 567 |
| 2023 | 517 | 523 | 552 |
| 2024 | 516 | 522 | 556 |
| Source: College Board |
Average Math Section Score by Gender Over Time, 2017-2024
| Math | Math Men | Math Women | Another or No Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 538 | 516 | N/A |
| 2018 | 542 | 522 | 374 |
| 2019 | 537 | 519 | 393 |
| 2020 | 531 | 516 | 468 |
| 2021 | 537 | 519 | 501 |
| 2022 | 530 | 512 | 524 |
| 2023 | 515 | 500 | 506 |
| 2024 | 514 | 496 | 511 |
| Source: College Board |
Average SAT Score by First Language Learned
| First Language Learned | Percentage of Test Takers | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Only | 52% | 536 | 514 | 1050 |
| English and Another Language | 16% | 534 | 530 | 1064 |
| Another Language | 11% | 522 | 537 | 1060 |
| No Response | 20% | 461 | 444 | 905 |
| Source: College Board |
Average SAT Score by Highest Level of Parental Education
| Parent’s Highest Level of Education Achieved | Percentage of Test Takers | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No High School Diploma | 6% | 457 | 446 | 903 |
| High School Diploma | 19% | 491 | 470 | 961 |
| Associate Degree | 4% | 512 | 488 | 1001 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 24% | 560 | 548 | 1108 |
| Graduate Degree | 20% | 597 | 589 | 1186 |
| No Response | 26% | 457 | 440 | 897 |
| Source: College Board |
Average SAT Score Based on Family Income Level
| Family Income Group | Yearly Income | Percentage of Test Takers | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest Quintile (Lowest 20%) | $0-$55,667 | 10% | 455 | 431 | 887 |
| Second-Lowest Quintile | $55,668-$71,991 | 11% | 482 | 457 | 939 |
| Middle Quintile | $71,992-$89,465 | 13% | 502 | 479 | 981 |
| Second-Highest Quintile | $89,466-$117,609 | 17% | 530 | 509 | 1038 |
| Highest Quintile | At least $117,610 | 25% | 582 | 570 | 1152 |
| Unknown | 24% | 499 | 500 | 999 | |
| Source: College Board |
Understanding Differences in Average SAT Scores Across Demographics
Whether the SAT is implicitly biased to favor wealthy and white students has long been a subject of debate. A 2023 study by a team of researchers based at Harvard University, however, was able to back this argument with data. They found that “Ivy-Plus” colleges -- a group of 12 highly selective, private schools including the eight Ivy League schools and the University of Chicago, Duke, MIT, and Stanford - were twice as likely to admit students from the highest-income families compared to students from low- or middle-income families even when they had comparable test scores.
Setting Your SAT Goal Score
The average SAT scores that matter most for you are the averages for the colleges you're interested in. But what score should you aim for specifically? The score you need to hit to give yourself your best chance of admission is your SAT goal score. Briefly, though, here's what you'll need to do: on a chart, record the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores (i.e., the middle 50% or average range) for each of the schools you're applying to.
Strategies to Improve Your SAT Score
- Set goals: Determine your target score by researching the 25th and 75th percentiles of accepted students at your potential colleges.
- Take practice tests: Practicing tests with time limits, breaks, and no cheating helps you prepare for the real deal.
- Create a game plan: If you perform weak in the math section, you'll want to study the questions and principles you answered incorrectly.
- Use resources: Prepare for test day. Don't crunch the night before.
- Take the test more than once: Sit for the exam at least once during your junior year, and continue taking it in the coming months to improve your score.
The Digital SAT
In March 2024, the SAT went fully digital, and it got shorter. The paper test lasted three hours, but the digital offering lasts two hours. According to CollegeBoard, over 99% of digital test-takers completed the exam successfully. Most students (84%) and support staff (99%) reported better experiences with the digital SAT compared to the paper version.
Test-Optional Policies
Today, fewer colleges are requiring standardized test scores for admissions. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which schools closed and concerns emerged about whether students had adequate access to testing, colleges became more lax about their testing policies.
In September 2019, before the pandemic, more than 1,700 colleges were test-optional. The eight private colleges are all located in the Northeast and are known for their highly selective, single-digit acceptance rates.
Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions
All of the Ivy League colleges implemented test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the 2024-2025 application cycle, however, many of them have reinstated their standardized test requirements.
For the 2025-2026 application cycle, only Columbia University, Princeton University, and Cornell University remain test-optional. Many of these schools’ average SAT scores are comparable to those of the Ivy Leagues.
How Many Times Can You Take the SAT?
Per CollegeBoard guidance, there is no limit to the number of times you can take the SAT. The organization that administers the SAT, College Board, recommends that students take the test at least twice because many schools “superscore” your results.
SAT vs. ACT
The SAT or ACT might be easier or harder depending on your strengths and preferences. Both tests cover math and reading, but the ACT has an additional science section that the SAT doesn’t have.
