What Qualifies as a Good SAT Score in 2025?

If the SAT is on your horizon, the biggest question on your mind is likely, "What's a good score?" The answer, however, isn't a single number. A "good" score depends entirely on your perspective: are you comparing yourself to every other test-taker in the nation, or to the students who get accepted into your dream schools?

This guide will show you how to define a strong SAT score from both angles and, most importantly, help you calculate the specific score you need to aim for.

A National Perspective: Averages and Percentiles

One way to gauge your performance is to see how it stacks up nationally. This involves looking at the average scores and percentile rankings from the most recent group of test-takers.

According to the latest data from the College Board for the graduating class of 2024, the average total SAT score is 1024 (out of 1600). This breaks down into an average of 519 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and 505 for Math. Scoring above 1024 means you performed better than the majority of students.

Percentiles offer a more detailed comparison. A percentile rank tells you the percentage of students you scored higher than. For example, a 75th-percentile score means you did better than 75% of all test-takers.

Here’s a breakdown of 2024 scores by percentile, which gives a clear picture of what constitutes a poor, good, or great score on a national level:

As you can see, you don't need a perfect 1600 to be in the top 10% of students nationwide. A score of 1360 already places you in that excellent bracket. Conversely, a score at or below the 25th percentile (870) will not be competitive for most four-year colleges.

While national percentiles are a useful benchmark, they aren't the most important metric. What truly matters is how your score stacks up for the specific colleges on your list.

Your Personal Target: What's a Good SAT Score for You?

The most meaningful definition of a "good" SAT score is one that makes you a competitive applicant at the colleges you want to attend. This is your personal SAT goal score. Hitting this score significantly increases your odds of acceptance.

This target score is completely dependent on your ambitions. If you're aiming for highly selective schools like Stanford or MIT, you'll need a score that approaches 1600. If your list includes less selective universities like the University of Iowa, your target will be closer to 1310.

To find your goal score, you need to research the typical SAT scores of students admitted to your target schools. Your goal should be to match or exceed the highest 75th-percentile score on your list. This strategy ensures you're a strong candidate for every school you apply to.

3 Steps to Find Your 2025 SAT Goal Score

Follow this simple process to determine the exact score to aim for.

Step 1: List Your Target Colleges

Create a simple chart with the names of the schools you plan to apply to. Focus on your match schools (where your academic profile is similar to the average admitted student) and reach schools (where your profile is slightly below the average). You can leave out safety schools, as your score will likely already be well above their requirements.

Example Chart: | School Name | 25th Percentile SAT | 75th Percentile SAT | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Penn State | | | | Juniata College | | | | Villanova University | | | | University of Pittsburgh| | |

Step 2: Research Their Admitted Student SAT Scores

Next, find the SAT score range for the middle 50% of admitted students at each school. This range between the 25th and 75th percentile is the most important data point.

The easiest way to find this is by searching online for "[School Name] average SAT scores" or "[School Name] common data set." College websites often publish this in their admissions sections under "Freshman Profile" or "Facts and Figures."

Fill in your chart with the 25th and 75th percentile composite SAT scores for each school.

Example Chart (Filled In): | School Name | 25th Percentile SAT | 75th Percentile SAT | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Penn State | 1230 | 1390 | | Juniata College | 1070 | 1280 | | Villanova University| 1380 | 1500 | | University of Pittsburgh| 1270 | 1450 |

Step 3: Set Your Target Score

Identify the highest 75th-percentile score in your chart. This number is your goal score. Aiming for this score gives you a competitive edge for all the schools on your list.

In the example above, the highest 75th percentile score is 1500 from Villanova University. Therefore, your target score would be 1500. This score puts you in the 98th percentile nationally.

If this target feels too high, a reasonable alternative is to aim for the second-highest 75th percentile score on your list (1450 in the example). Once you have your total goal score, you can divide it by two to get a rough target for each section (e.g., a 1500 goal means aiming for about 750 on both ERW and Math).

A Note on Test-Optional Policies & Score History

Many schools have become test-optional, meaning you can choose whether or not to submit your scores. This trend can sometimes make it harder to find recent SAT score data for admitted students, as schools are not always required to report it. However, if you can find the data and your score is strong, submitting it can still enhance your application.

Do good scores change much from year to year? Generally, no. While national averages can fluctuate slightly due to factors like the shift to the digital SAT, the scores required for certain percentile ranks remain remarkably stable. A score that was in the 90th percentile five years ago is likely still in or very near the 90th percentile today. You can confidently use the most recent data to plan for 2025.

Summary: Defining Your Success

Ultimately, there are three ways to look at your SAT score:

1. The National Average: A score above 1024 puts you in the top half of all test-takers.

2. Percentile Rankings: Scores in the 75th percentile (1200) are good, and scores in the 90th percentile (1360) or higher are excellent on a national scale.

3. Your Personal Goal Score: This is the most crucial metric. By finding the 75th-percentile score of the most selective college on your list, you set a target that is tailored specifically to your own aspirations.

Once you have your goal score, you have a clear target to work toward as you begin your SAT prep.