All About SAT Scores: National Average and Full Statistics
All About SAT Scores: National Average and Full Statistics
The current average SAT score stands at 1024 for students who graduated high school in 2024. Much like the ACT, SAT scores have remained historically low in recent years; among the past six graduating classes, 2021 recorded the highest average SAT score at 1060.
| Graduating Class | Average ERW Score | Average Math Score | Average Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 531 | 528 | 1059 |
| 2020 | 528 | 523 | 1051 |
| 2021 | 533 | 528 | 1060 |
| 2022 | 529 | 521 | 1050 |
| 2023 | 520 | 508 | 1028 |
| 2024 | 519 | 505 | 1024 |
Average SAT Score for the Ivy League
The Ivy League comprises some of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious universities, all located in the Northeastern United States. Renowned for their single-digit acceptance rates, these eight private institutions have long been test-optional or test-required.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, every Ivy League school adopted a test-optional policy; however, many have since reinstated standardized test requirements for the 2024–2025 application cycle. Currently, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton University remain test-optional. Brown University, Harvard University, Yale University, and Dartmouth College require applicants to submit standardized test scores, while Cornell University will remain test-optional for the 2024–2025 cycle but plans to revert to requiring scores in 2026.
| School | SAT Score (25th-75th Percentile) |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | 1480-1580 |
| Yale University | 1480-1580 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1480-1570 |
| Columbia University | 1470-1570 |
| Dartmouth University | 1470-1570 |
| Brown University | 1460-1570 |
| Princeton University | 1460-1570 |
| Cornell University | 1450-1560 |
Average SAT Scores for Other Selective Universities
Below is a selection of average SAT scores for other highly selective schools across the United States. Many of these scores align closely with those at the Ivy League institutions.
| School | SAT Score (25th-75th Percentile) |
|---|---|
| University of Chicago | 1510-1580 |
| Vanderbilt University | 1480-1570 |
| Stanford University | 1470-1570 |
| Duke University | 1468-1558 |
| Northwestern University | 1460-1560 |
| New York University | 1450-1570 |
| Emory University | 1420-1540 |
| Georgetown University | 1410-1550 |
| University of Notre Dame | 1410-1550 |
| University of Southern California | 1410-1540 |
| Boston University | 1360-1520 |
| Villanova University | 1350-1490 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | 1330-1510 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 1310-1500 |
| University of Florida | 1300-1470 |
| University of Georgia | 1270-1450 |
| Ohio State University | 1250-1440 |
| University of Texas, Austin | 1230-1500 |
| Clemson University | 1220-1420 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 1210-1410 |
| Purdue University | 1190-1430 |
| Texas A&M University, College Station | 1140-1380 |
| University of North Carolina | 1140-1380 |
| Pennsylvania State University | 1140-1360 |
SAT Score Demographics
Examining SAT score data by specific demographic groups can reveal important trends. In this section, we look at average SAT scores across race/ethnicity, gender, first language, parental education level, and family income.
Understanding Differences in SAT Scores Across Demographics
For years, scholars and educators have debated whether the SAT inherently favors wealthier or white students. A 2023 study by a Harvard-based research team found compelling evidence to support this concern. Specifically, “Ivy-Plus” colleges—12 highly selective private institutions that include the eight Ivy League schools alongside the University of Chicago, Duke, MIT, and Stanford—were twice as likely to admit students from the highest-income families compared to low- or middle-income families, even when their standardized test scores were similar .
In a sample class of 1,650 students, approximately 114 “extra” admits from the top 1% were enrolled despite having comparable scores to lower-income applicants. Researchers suggest that this disparity arises in part from legacy preferences, higher non-academic ratings, and athletic recruitment .
Why Does This Matter?
Attending an “Ivy-Plus” institution can significantly impact a student’s future opportunities. Though these schools enroll fewer than 1% of Americans, their graduates account for nearly 12% of Fortune 500 CEOs, 25% of current U.S. senators, and over 70% of Supreme Court Justices. By adjusting admissions policies, these universities could meaningfully influence the socioeconomic makeup of future leaders and high earners .
Many students favor revising admissions practices to reduce or eliminate advantages like legacy preferences.
Average SAT Score by Race/Ethnicity
Breaking down 2024 SAT scores by race/ethnicity reveals patterns consistent with recent ACT data:
•Asian students achieved the highest average score at 1228, which is 347 points higher than the 881 average for American Indian/Alaska Native students.
•The second-highest average belonged to students identifying as Two or More Races (1090), slightly above the average score for white students.
•Black students recorded the second-lowest average at 907, representing 12% of total test-takers.
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage of Test-Takers | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% | 449 | 432 | 881 |
| Asian | 10% | 599 | 629 | 1228 |
| Black/African American | 12% | 467 | 440 | 907 |
| Hispanic/Latino/a | 25% | 481 | 458 | 939 |
| Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander | 0% | 475 | 452 | 926 |
| White | 37% | 551 | 532 | 1083 |
| Two or More Races | 4% | 556 | 534 | 1090 |
| No Response | 12% | 477 | 471 | 949 |
Average SAT Score by Gender
Men have consistently scored higher overall on the SAT than women since 2017, despite women outperforming men each year on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section. By contrast, men tend to lead in the Math section by roughly 20 points annually, a gap that underscores persistent gender disparities in STEM fields.
•In 2024, men’s total average SAT score exceeded that of women by 11 points.
•For those who identified as “Another/No Response,” scores have significantly increased over the years. This group became the highest-scoring gender category for the first time in 2022, maintaining that distinction through 2023 and 2024.
Although admissions officers focus on composite SAT scores, they also pay close attention to scores in individual sections when reviewing applications.
| Gender | SAT ERW Average Score | SAT Math Average Score | Total Average SAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 522 | 496 | 1018 |
| Men | 516 | 514 | 1029 |
| Another/No Response | 556 | 511 | 1067 |
| Total | Men | Women | Another or No Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1070 | 1050 | N/A |
| 2018 | 1076 | 1061 | 779 |
| 2019 | 1066 | 1053 | 802 |
| 2020 | 1055 | 1048 | 967 |
| 2021 | 1067 | 1054 | 1041 |
| 2022 | 1056 | 1043 | 1091 |
| 2023 | 1032 | 1023 | 1058 |
| 2024 | 1029 | 1018 | 1067 |
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