Nationally, the average SAT score for the class of 2026 was 1045, and half of test takers scored 1030 or lower. A 1220 put a student in the top quarter, and 9% scored 1400 or higher. But whether a score is "good" depends on the colleges you're looking at. At the typical college in Lens's college search, the median enrolled student scored about 1260; a 1200 is at or above the median at 121 of 335 colleges, and a 1300 at 205. For the ACT, the class of 2026 average was 19.2.
Where these numbers come from
- National SAT scores come from the College Board's 2026 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report: 1,954,833 students in the high school class of 2026, counting each student's most recent score.
- National ACT scores come from ACT's 2026 national Profile Report: 1,463,293 graduates in the class of 2026. Since September 2025, the ACT Composite is the average of English, math and reading; science is now optional.
- College scores come from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS admissions survey for students who enrolled in fall 2024. Colleges report the 25th, 50th (median) and 75th percentile scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted the SAT, for each section. We added the two sections together, which closely approximates the combined range. 335 of the 395 colleges in Lens's college search report all three.
- Which colleges: Lens's college search includes four-year public and private nonprofit colleges with more than 8,000 applicants and an acceptance rate below 90%. That makes it more selective than U.S. colleges as a whole, so a given score clears more colleges nationally than these counts suggest.
- A caution about test-optional colleges: where scores are optional, students with higher scores are more likely to send them, so the published ranges run high.
The national picture
| SAT total score | Share of the class of 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1400–1600 | 9% |
| 1200–1390 | 19% |
| 1000–1190 | 28% |
| 800–990 | 29% |
| 600–790 | 13% |
| 400–590 | 2% |
Source: College Board, 2026 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report (Total Group). Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100.
The middle half of test takers scored between 870 and 1220. The average Reading and Writing score was 528 and the average Math score 517.
One detail explains a lot: 65% of the class took the SAT at least once on a school day, often because their state or district tests every junior. Students who tested only on a weekend, by their own choice, averaged 1179. So the national average includes many students who weren't planning on a four-year college, and it can make a score look stronger than it will look to selective colleges.
How far your score reaches
For each score, the number of colleges (out of 335) where it falls at or above the median, and where it falls below, within or above the middle 50% of enrolled students' scores:
| Your SAT | At or above the median | Below the middle 50% | Within the middle 50% | Above the middle 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 20 | 268 | 65 | 2 |
| 1,050 | 33 | 244 | 82 | 9 |
| 1,100 | 61 | 209 | 108 | 18 |
| 1,150 | 88 | 171 | 139 | 25 |
| 1,200 | 121 | 127 | 162 | 46 |
| 1,250 | 161 | 108 | 146 | 81 |
| 1,300 | 205 | 85 | 136 | 114 |
| 1,350 | 234 | 64 | 112 | 159 |
| 1,400 | 255 | 48 | 88 | 199 |
| 1,450 | 276 | 30 | 73 | 232 |
| 1,500 | 304 | 11 | 66 | 258 |
| 1,550 | 334 | 0 | 35 | 300 |
Source: IPEDS admissions data for fall 2024 entering students, 335 colleges in Lens's college search that report SAT percentiles; counts calculated by Lens. Section percentiles added together.
Being within a college's middle 50% means your score looks like those of most students who enrolled there. Being below it doesn't rule a college out: a quarter of enrolled students scored lower, and colleges weigh grades, courses, essays and more.
Where colleges' scores fall
| Median SAT of enrolled students | Colleges | Public | Private | Typical acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1000 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 67% |
| 1000–1090 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 82% |
| 1100–1190 | 67 | 56 | 11 | 75% |
| 1200–1290 | 84 | 45 | 39 | 76% |
| 1300–1390 | 49 | 18 | 31 | 55% |
| 1400–1490 | 48 | 16 | 32 | 28% |
| 1500 and up | 37 | 0 | 37 | 8% |
Source: IPEDS admissions data (fall 2024), 335 colleges in Lens's college search; "typical" is the median acceptance rate in each group. Calculated by Lens.
Most of these colleges have a median between 1100 and 1300. The very high medians are concentrated at a few dozen private colleges that admit a small share of applicants.
What about the ACT?
The national average ACT Composite for the class of 2026 was 19.2. Among the 319 colleges in Lens's college search that report an ACT median for fall 2024 entrants, the typical median was 28. A 24 is at or above the median at 91 of them, a 28 at 176 and a 32 at 261. Those college medians reflect the older four-section ACT, including science.
So what's a good score for you?
A good score is one that sits comfortably within or above the middle 50% at the colleges that fit you. That's more useful than any single national number, because the same 1250 that's strong at one college may be below the range at another. A few things to keep in mind:
- Look at the range, not just the median. Half of enrolled students scored inside the middle 50%, and a quarter scored below it.
- Test-optional means a choice. At test-optional colleges, consider sending your score if it's within or above the middle 50%. Many highly selective colleges now require scores again; see Ivy League testing policies.
- Scores are one part of an application. Grades in challenging courses usually matter more.
Lens shows where your SAT or ACT falls in each college's middle 50%, alongside how well the college fits you, using seven research-backed assessments. Start with Lens →
FAQ
What is a good SAT score? Nationally, a 1220 put a student in the top quarter of the class of 2026, and 1400 or higher in the top 9%. For college admission, a good score is one within or above the middle 50% at the colleges you're considering.
What is the average SAT score? 1045 for the class of 2026, according to the College Board, with an average of 528 in Reading and Writing and 517 in Math. The median was 1030.
Is 1200 a good SAT score? It's above the national median of 1030 and just below the top quarter. Among the 335 colleges in Lens's college search that report scores, a 1200 is at or above the median at 121 and within the middle 50% at 162.
Is 1400 a good SAT score? Yes, by most measures. About 9% of the class of 2026 scored 1400 or higher, and a 1400 is at or above the median at 255 of the 335 colleges.
What is a good ACT score? The class of 2026 average was 19.2. Among colleges in Lens's college search, the typical median for enrolled students was 28.
What is the average ACT score? 19.2 for the class of 2026, according to ACT's national Profile Report, based on 1,463,293 graduates.
Related
- Do Ivy League schools require the SAT? 2026–27 testing policies
- What college should I go to? What the research says matters most
- Big school or small college?
Sources
- College Board, 2026 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, Total Group.
- ACT, The ACT Profile Report 2026: National.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS admissions survey (fall 2024).