Is 740 a Good SAT Score? Understanding Your Score in the Context of College Admissions

The SAT is an important test for college admissions, and a good score can improve your chances of getting accepted. While some selective colleges have recently reinstated testing, it's crucial to check with your target schools to see if they require or recommend applicants send in standardized test scores before sitting for the exam. Understanding what constitutes a "good" SAT score is essential for setting realistic goals and strategizing your college application process.

What is a Good SAT Score Overall?

In 2024, the average total SAT score was 1024. In general, any SAT score above the 50th percentile can be considered a decent score, since this means you’ve performed better than the majority of test-takers. Scoring in the 50th percentile, however, won’t cut it at most selective colleges. The standard for a good SAT score increases considerably depending on how competitive the applicant pool is. This is why it’s typically better to aim for at least the 75th percentile, or a 1200 or higher.

According to test prep expert Ben Paris, there are two important ways that an SAT/ACT score can be “good.” First, it can be strong enough to help you gain admission into your target colleges. To see if that’s true for you, look up the scores of admitted students at your target schools and see how your score compares, Paris said. Second, your score can be “good” if it’s close to the best you can do, he continued. To know what you can reach, you need expert advice, feedback on how you’re doing, and lots of practice.

The SAT Score Range (2025): How the 400-1600 Scale Works

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, with two section scores: Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (each out of 800). The maximum SAT score possible is 1600. This is often referred to as a perfect SAT score. Each section is scored independently, then combined for a total score between 400 and 1600. In 2025, the SAT score range remains the same, with students aiming to achieve their best possible score within this range.

What a 740 SAT Score Means

A score of 740 on the SAT is considered low, placing you around the 8th percentile nationwide. This means you've scored higher than only 8% of test-takers. With the national average SAT score sitting around 1020-1050, a 740 score suggests considerable room for improvement. A 740 SAT score puts you in the bottom 10% of test-takers nationwide. Most students score between 1050-1100, so a 740 is below the average benchmark used by many four-year colleges. If you’re aiming for colleges with average SAT scores above 900, retaking the SAT is highly recommended. A 740 SAT score is approximately equivalent to a 13-14 on the ACT. Like your SAT score, this ACT equivalent is below the national average (which is around 20-21).

Good SAT Scores by College Tier (Top 20, Top 50, Top 100)

A "good" SAT score is not one-size-fits-all. It depends heavily on the selectivity of the colleges you are targeting. Many colleges publish the middle 50% SAT range of their admitted students. To figure out what to aim for, find the middle 50% of scores for each school you’re applying to. The middle 50% is a range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. Your goal should be to earn a score around your school’s 75th percentile. You can either search online for the school’s name and the phrase SAT score range or look for a first-year class profile page or a general facts and figures page.

*Data Source: College board and US News. Reported SAT ranges may not reflect all enrolled students.

For Top 20 universities, the middle 50% SAT ranges confirm this pattern. Harvard (1500-1580), MIT (1520-1570), and Stanford (1510-1570) admit students with almost exclusively 1500+ scores. Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, and Northwestern cluster around 1470-1570. Public flagships show more range.

Here's a look at the middle 50% SAT scores for popular colleges:

Middle SAT Scores by School:

Colgate University: 1480-1540
Colorado College: 1250-1450
Columbia University: 1520-1560
Indiana University Bloomington: 1230-1430
Miami University: 1220-1390
Pennsylvania State University - University Park Campus: 1320-1480
University of Georgia: 1270-1470
University of Pennsylvania: 1510-1560
University of Pittsburgh: 1280-1440
University of Richmond: 1460-1530
Villanova University: 1450-1520
Washington University in St. Louis: 1500-1570

Note that many of these schools are now test-optional, and a large percentage of applicants may have chosen not to submit their scores. For Miami University, for example, just under half - 42.8% - of students chose to send in their ACT or SAT scores for admission.

Ivy League & Top 20 Mid-50% SAT Ranges (updated August 2025)

If you're aiming for Ivy League or Top 20 schools, you'll need to aim for the higher end of the SAT score spectrum. These institutions are highly selective, and a strong SAT score can significantly boost your application.

Target the Top 25% of a School’s Middle-50% Range

For example, say you’re applying to Emory University. The class profile page for Emory’s Oxford College, an undergraduate division of the university, lists the middle 50% of SAT Math and Reading and Writing scores for the class of 2028. Based on this data, you know to aim for between 730-770 on the Reading and Writing section and between 760 and 790 on the Math section - both incredibly high scores.

The exact SAT score you should aim for will vary depending on the colleges you apply to. Less selective institutions admit applicants with SAT scores closer to the national average, whereas highly selective universities often prefer scores in the 1400-1600 range.

Read also: Beyond College: 1420 SAT Score

SAT vs. ACT Scores: Score Comparison

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, with two section scores: Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (each out of 800). The ACT uses a composite score from 1 to 36, which averages four section scores: English, Math, Reading, and Science (each out of 36).

How to Choose: SAT or ACT?

First, figure out if the SAT or ACT is better for you. Either is fine. Colleges don’t prefer one or the other. Take a practice test in each (make sure that it’s an official one) and then analyze your results to make a decision. Then pick a test date that allows you to put in the work.

How Colleges Count SAT Scores: Superscore vs. Single Date vs. All Scores

Different colleges handle SAT scores in different ways. Always check each school’s score policy.

New SAT vs. Old SAT: 1600 vs. 2400

Before 2016, the SAT was scored out of 2400 points, with separate sections for Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Today’s SAT is out of 1600, combining Reading and Writing into one section (ERW) and keeping Math as the other.

What Is a Good SAT Essay Score?

The SAT used to offer an optional essay. In 2021, however, the College Board announced it would no longer offer the SAT essay. The only exception to this policy is if your state requires the SAT, in which case you may need to take the essay on an SAT School Day.

Even though colleges can’t require the SAT essay anymore, some students taking the SAT on a school day may be interested in getting a good essay score for their own satisfaction. The SAT essay is scored separately from Math and Reading and Writing. You’ll get 50 minutes to write an essay that analyzes the author’s claims and argument in a given passage.

Two graders will read your essay and assign you a score on a scale of 1-4 in three categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. The total score range is 2-8 for each category. A perfect SAT essay score would be three 8’s - that’s a 4 from both graders in all three categories.

Expert Advice: How to Improve SAT Scores Q&A

Test prep expert Ben Paris answers more questions regarding standardized testing, including what score you should aim for and strategies on how to get there.

Great grades are required, but they aren’t enough because so many people have flawless GPAs. Think about what will make your application stand out. Test scores could be a part of that story.

Nowadays, lots of people aren’t submitting scores that would help them, and others aren’t putting in the work for top scores because they think that “test-optional” means that tests don’t matter. They do.

More of the Ivies require scores, and people who don’t submit scores are sending the message that their scores are low. Instead of viewing the SAT/ACT as a barrier that will keep you out of college, think of it as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from your competition.

For most people, 1-3 months is enough if you’re really taking it seriously. Imagine that it’s another academic class that you’re taking in terms of time commitment. Try to focus your prep instead of doing a tiny bit at a time.

Most of the people who spend six months or more prepping could have done it in much less time if they got organized.

Private tutoring is the most expensive per hour, but you can often spend less time because it’s all about you and your needs.

One of the best ways to boost your SAT score is through math acceleration. Think Academy, a leading K-12 math education provider under TAL Education Group, delivers high-impact SAT prep with a proven track record. In 2023, over 60% of students scored above 1500, including 4 perfect scorers. That momentum continues in 2024, with dozens achieving 1450+, 1500+, and 1550+.

What Is a Bad SAT Score - And Should I Worry About Mine?

What is a low SAT score? Find the bottom SAT scores for popular and competitive colleges. A 740 SAT score may be well below the national average, but it doesn’t mean college is out of reach. Many colleges-especially open-admission institutions, community colleges, and certain regional public and private universities-still welcome students with scores in this range.

Alternatives and Strategies if You Have a 740 SAT Score

While a 740 SAT score may close the door to some highly selective universities, plenty of options remain. Not all colleges weigh SAT scores equally. Some schools emphasize GPA, extracurricular activities, personal statements, and recommendation letters more than test scores. A 740 SAT score may be well below the national average, but it doesn’t mean college is out of reach. Many colleges-especially open-admission institutions, community colleges, and certain regional public and private universities-still welcome students with scores in this range.

If you’re aiming for colleges with average SAT scores above 900, retaking the SAT is highly recommended.

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