What's a good SAT score?

1. What the raw numbers say: averages, ranges and percentiles

The SAT total score runs from 400 to 1600; that maximum and how section scores combine are explained in College Board and exam guides ^{[5] [4]}. Independent trackers report a national mean around 1,029–1,050 for 2025, so scoring near or above 1,050 is at or above the national average ^{[1] [2]}. Different sites translate these data into benchmarks: several consumer-facing guides call anything above ~1,200 “good,” and some set 1,350+ as top-10% territory or 1,450+ as the range for top-tier admits ^{[2] [6] [4] [3]}.

2. “Good” depends on your target — colleges and scholarships

Multiple sources emphasize that a score is only meaningful relative to your college list: aiming for the middle 50% (or top 25%) of admitted students at your target institutions is the usual strategy ^{[4] [7]}. For highly selective universities, counselors and guides recommend aiming 1,450–1,580+; Ivy+ goals and top business programs report admitted cohorts with averages often well above national averages, so a score that’s “good” for a state school may be insufficient for elite admission or merit awards ^{[3] [8] [9]}.

3. Different definitions used by prep sites — why they vary

Prep sites use three main frames: (a) national average benchmarks (e.g., ~1,029–1,050); (b) percentile/“top x%” targets (e.g., 1,350+ for top 10%); and (c) school-specific goals (aim for the top of a school’s reported middle 50%) ^{[1] [4] [7]}. This produces variation: one guide might say “good = >1,024” as above-average while another uses >1,200 as a practical standard for competitiveness — both are accurate within their chosen frame ^{[10] [2]}.

4. Test-optional and policy shifts — interpret scores with care

Admissions policies changed during and after the pandemic; some schools remain test-optional, some reinstated requirements, and others use scores selectively. Reporting practices can skew the published averages because test-optional schools report only applicants who chose to submit scores ^{[4] [8]}. That means institutional averages may overstate how representative scores are of all applicants — always check each college’s current policy and the middle 50% they publish ^{[4] [8]}.

5. Practical rule-of-thumb and action steps

If you need a quick benchmark: beating the national average (~1,030–1,050) is a reasonable starting point; scoring above ~1,200 is widely described as “good” for many competitive programs; and 1,450+ is the practical target for elite universities ^{[1] [2] [3]}. To choose a personal target, consult the middle 50% SAT range for each college on your list and aim for the top quartile of that range — that’s the approach recommended by prep authorities ^{[4] [7]}.

6. Limits of available reporting and what’s not covered

Available sources provide averages, suggested cutoffs, and admission-focused guidance, but they do not offer a single, authoritative “good score” number because the College Board and counseling sites recommend school-specific targets ^{[5] [4]}. Sources do not provide a uniform percentile conversion table here — for precise percentile-to-score mappings or scholarship-specific cutoffs, consult College Board percentile tables and each scholarship’s published criteria (not found in current reporting).

If you want, I can: (a) pull the published middle‑50 SAT ranges for three specific colleges you name; (b) convert a target school’s 25th/75th into a concrete score goal; or (c) suggest a study plan to move from your current score to a concrete target. Which would be most helpful?