All About SAT Scores: National Average and Full Statistics

In 2023, the average total SAT score was 1028. Read on to find average SAT scores by school, state, race/ethnicity, and gender.

Jane Nam is a staff writer for BestColleges' Data Center. Before her work on higher education data trends, Jane was a news writer and the managing editor for an academic journal. She has graduate degrees in social and political philosophy and women's.

Higher Education Research Analyst

Lyss Welding is a higher education analyst and senior editor for BestColleges who specializes in translating massive data sets and finding statistics that matter to students. Lyss has worked in academic research, curriculum design, and program evalua.

Jane Nam is a staff writer for BestColleges' Data Center. Before her work on higher education data trends, Jane was a news writer and the managing editor for an academic journal. She has graduate degrees in social and political philosophy and women's.

Higher Education Research Analyst

Lyss Welding is a higher education analyst and senior editor for BestColleges who specializes in translating massive data sets and finding statistics that matter to students. Lyss has worked in academic research, curriculum design, and program evalua.

Data Summary

More than 1.9 million high school students took the SAT in 2023, the majority of them juniors and seniors. Note Reference [1] By comparison, 1.4 million students took the alternative standardized test, the American College Test (ACT), in the same year.

A growing number of colleges no longer require standardized test scores, including all of the Ivy League schools. However, the SAT remains a common standard, with colleges making score submissions optional rather than completely abandoning the practice. [2], [3]

This report outlines key statistics about the SAT, including the national average score, scores broken down by demographic, and average scores among enrollees at top schools.

What Is the Average SAT Score?

The average total SAT score was 1028 in 2023, the lowest since the test changed formats in 2016. Note Reference [1]

From 2006-2016, the SAT was scored on a 2400-point scale.

The current average SAT score of 1028 reflects the scores of students who graduated from high school in 2023.

• As with the ACT, SAT scores have been historically low in recent years.
• Within the past six years, 2018 saw the highest SAT scores, with an average result of 1068.

Average SAT Scores by State

The percentage of high school students who took the SAT differed significantly by state. For example, in Mississippi and North Dakota, only 1% of students took the SAT. In contrast, 100% of students took the SAT in the District of Columbia, and 95% of students in Rhode Island.

• North Dakota and Nebraska had the highest average total SAT scores, with mean scores of 1287 and 1252, respectively.
• New Mexico and West Virginia had the lowest average total SAT scores, with mean scores of 901 and 923, respectively.
• Several states experienced drastic drops in scores from 2022-2023 (+20 points), including Arizona (1159 to 1183), California (1115 to 1083), Indiana (1073 to 971), Texas (1001 to 978), and Wyoming (1244 to 1200).

Average SAT Scores by State, Graduating Class of 2023

Average SAT Score 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.

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 1,000 colleges were test-optional. According to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), over 1,900 four-year colleges and universities were ACT/SAT-optional or test-free as of the 2023-2024 application cycle. [6]

This means almost 80% of bachelor's degree-granting institutions no longer require tests.

Average SAT Score for Ivy Leagues

The Ivy Leagues are some of the U.S.'s oldest and most prestigious universities. The eight private colleges are all located in the Northeast and are known for their highly selective, single-digit acceptance rates.

As of 2022-2023 application cycle, standardized test scores are optional at all Ivy League colleges. The data below reflects the scores of accepted students who did submit test scores.

Average SAT Scores for Other Selective Universities

Below are average SAT scores for other selective schools throughout the U.S. Many of these schools' average SAT scores are comparable to those of the Ivy Leagues.

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.

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. [7]

In a class of 1,650 students, there were roughly 114 "extra students" from the top 1% despite them having comparable standardized test scores to students of lower income brackets. Note Reference [7] Higher admission rates for these students from high-income families were primarily due to legacy preferences, higher non-academic ratings, and athletic recruitment.

Why Does This Matter?

Getting a degree from an "Ivy-Plus" school can lead to many opportunities. Less than 1% of Americans attend one of these 12 highly selective, private institutions, yet graduates of these schools make up nearly 12% of Fortune 500 CEOs, 25% of current U.S. senators, and over 70% of Supreme Court Justices. By changing admissions practices, "Ivy-Plus" institutions could shift the makeup of the country's highest earners and leaders. Note Reference [7]

Students largely support changes in admissions practices, including the elimination of legacy-based admissions.

Average SAT Score by Race/Ethnicity

SAT scores broken down by race/ethnicity showed similar trends to those of the ACT.

• In 2023, Asian students achieved the highest average SAT score of 1219.
• Asian students' average score was 318 points higher than the average SAT score of Black American Indian/Alaska Native students, which was 901.
• The group with the second-highest SAT score was "Two or More Races" with 1091, slightly higher than white students.
• Black students had the second-lowest average SAT score at 908. They comprised just 12% of test-takers.

Average SAT Score by Gender

Men have consistently outscored women in the SAT since 2017. However, women have scored higher on the ERW section every year. Men scored higher on the math section.

• In 2023, men scored higher than women in total score by 9 points.
• Men score roughly 20 points higher than women in the math section each year. Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields, such as engineering and computer science.
• The scores of people who reported their gender as "Another/No Response" have significantly increased over time. In 2022, they were the highest scoring group by gender for the first time and were again in 2023.

College admissions officers consider total SAT scores but also scores by section.

Average SAT Score by First Language

Those who grew up speaking English and another language had the highest total SAT score overall by a narrow four-point margin. In 2022, native English speakers who grew up only speaking English had the highest total SAT score.

• Unlike previous years, the first language learned did not make a huge difference in score.
• Those who learned English along with another language scored the highest overall, but behind English only speakers in the ERW section.
• Those who answered "No Response" scored the lowest on both sections and had the lowest overall score.

Average SAT Score by Highest Level of Parental Education

The highest level of education that one's parents received appears to heavily influence how students perform on the SAT.

• Students with parents who have graduate degrees achieved the highest total SAT score and section scores.
• Students with parents without high school diplomas had the lowest total SAT scores and section scores, with an average total of 910 points.
• The majority of test-takers have parents with bachelor's degrees or higher.

First-generation college students — students whose immediate family members do not have four-year degrees — make up more than 40% of all college students.

Imposter syndrome can be a common challenge for these students, but getting guidance from academic counselors or professors can help relieve some of that stress.

In addition, many schools provide resources, such as academic advising or scholarship opportunities specific to first-generation students. Check with your financial aid office or career center to see what your campus has to offer.

Average SAT Score by Family Income

SAT performance also correlates with family income.

• Families in the lowest quintile — the lowest 20% — of income made less than $53,264 in 2023. Test takers from this group scored the lowest with a total average SAT score of 891.
• Test takers from the highest quintile (>$113,341) of family income level, received the highest total average SAT score of 1148.
• The difference between test takers from the lowest quintile and the highest quintile was 257 points in total score.

Frequently Asked Questions About the SAT

How many times can you take the SAT?

There is no limit to the number of times you can take the SAT. [8] The organization that administers the SAT, College Board, recommends that students take the test at least twice because many schools "superscore" your results. That means they combine your highest math score with your highest ERW score even if they are from different tests. Note Reference [8]

It's common for students to take the SAT in the spring of their junior year and another time in the fall of their senior year.

What is the highest SAT score?

The math and ERW sections are each 800 points each, making the total possible score 1600. [9] As of January 2021, the optional SAT essay was discontinued, along with SAT subject tests. [10] Your two scores, one from math and one from ERW, make up your total SAT score.

Is the SAT or ACT easier?

The ACT and SAT are similar in many ways. For example, they are both approximately three hours long, and both tests cover reading and math. Some key differences include the number of questions (the ACT has 215 while the SAT has 154) and the scoring scale (the ACT is scored from 1-36 while the SAT is scored from 400-1600).

Another major difference is that the ACT has an additional science section that the SAT doesn't have.

Keeping in mind these differences, you can decide which test is a better fit for you. You can also check the websites of prospective colleges and see if they state which test the majority of their accepted students took.

References

1. 2023 Total Group SAT Suite Annual Report. College Board. September 2023. (back to footnote 1 in content ⤶)
2. Admissions Update for the 2023-2026 Application Cycles. Harvard. 2023. (back to footnote 2 in content ⤶)
3. Standardized Testing FAQS. Yale Admissions. 2023. (back to footnote 3 in content ⤶)
4. SAT Suite Data and Reports Archive. CollegeBoard. 2023. (back to footnote 4 in content ⤶)
5. 2023 State Reports. College Board. (back to footnote 5 in content ⤶)
6. Test Optional and Test Free Colleges. FairTest. Accessed November 2023. (back to footnote 6 in content ⤶)
7. Chetty, R., D. Deming, J. Friedman. Diversifying Society's Leaders? The Determinants and Consequences of Admissions to Highly Selective Colleges. Opportunity Insights. October 2023. (back to footnote 7 in content ⤶)
8. Frequently Asked Questions. College Board. 2023. (back to footnote 8 in content ⤶)
9. Understanding Your Score Report. College Board. 2021. (back to footnote 9 in content ⤶)
10. College Board Will No Longer Offer SAT Subject Tests or SAT with Essay. College Board. January 2021. (back to footnote 10 in content ⤶)