What Is the Average SAT Score?

If you've taken the SAT, you're probably curious about how your score stacks up against the average SAT scores. There are lots of different ways to look at averages on the SAT. What is the average SAT score overall? How many types of average SAT scores are there? And which SAT score averages are important for you?

We'll answer all of these questions and more to tell you which SAT average scores actually matter for your future. We'll review the most recent data available, from 2023.

Feature image source: mcmurryjulie/Pixabay

So what is an average SAT score? That really depends on which group of people you're looking at. Below, we look at national averages as well as averages by gender, ethnicity, family income, high school type, and state.

National SAT Average Score

According to the College Board's 2023 total group report, the national SAT average scores (for all 2023 high school graduates) are as follows:

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 520
• Math: 508
• Total: 1028

As you can see, if you score higher than 1028 on the SAT, you'll be above the national average and will have scored better than most test takers. If you score less than 1028, however, you'll be below the national average and will have scored lower than most test takers.

Bonus: Review how to find the average of a set of numbers for yourself here.

The Average SAT Scores by Gender

The College Board has also calculated the average SAT scores by gender. These averages are based on members of the class of 2023 who took the SAT.

There are two sections on the SAT: Math and Reading and Writing. (Before the SAT went digital, the Reading and Writing section was called Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW)). Each section is out of 800 points and then combined for a total score out of 1600.

As you can see, males outperform females on Math by 15 points, while females exceed males on EBRW by 6 points.

According to a statistical significance test (t-test), the differences in EBRW and Math scores here are considered extremely significant (in technical terms, the P value is less than 0.0001, meaning roughly that it is very unlikely these differences are due to chance).

The difference in math* test scores across genders has been explored by academic researchers and is a controversial topic. It should be a goal of the educational system to close this achievement gap between genders, and it’s only one of several factors regarding equity that we have to consider when asking what an average SAT score is.

*I looked for research to back up the differences between EBRW scores for male and female students but was unable to find anything both relevant and peer-reviewed from the last 15 years. We'll update this article with more information as and when it comes out.

The Average SAT Scores by Ethnicity

When registering for the SAT, the College Board gives you the option to specify your ethnicity, with most students opting to share it. Here are the average SAT scores by ethnicity:

Source: Total Group Report 2023

The implications of these results are important to consider. The black-white test score gap, for example, has been researched extensively to try to find the root causes of it. In the other direction, Asians have the highest SAT score averages, which has led some to question whether colleges discriminate against Asians. (Of course, the disparity in sizes of the different groups taking the SAT and socioeconomic inequality also play a key role in creating these differences.)

As with gender, reducing achievement gaps between ethnicities is a critical priority for educators.

The Average SAT Score by Income and Fee Waiver Use

Historically, the SAT has had problems with students from lower-income households scoring lower on average than students from higher-income households. Here are the average SAT scores by family income and students who have and have never used a fee waiver to take the SAT:

Source: Total Group Report 2023

Source: Total Group Report 2023

As you can see, a higher average score on the SAT is typically associated with students whose family is in the highest income quintile and who never used a fee waiver, which in turn is associated with higher family income. This is a trend that's been observed for some time.

There are many reasons why those from higher-income families tend to score higher on the SAT—they are likely to attend better schools and have more resources to devote to preparation, to name a couple. This is another key equity issue facing educators, and another factor we have to consider when asked what an average SAT score is.

One of the stated reasons for the 2016 SAT redesign was to try to make test results less correlated with income, but so far, at least, it's unclear how successful the College Board has been.

The Average SAT Score by School Location

Under the old, pre-2016 SAT, annual score reporting provided average score data based on the type of school students attended: public, religiously affiliated, independent, and other or unknown. However, when the College Board launched the 2016 SAT redesign, they stopped including average score data based on school type. And with the new Digital SAT, they now provide average score data based on school location instead of school type.  

Here’s how average SAT scores differed based on school location in 2023: 

Source: Total Group Profile Report 2023

As you can see, students who didn’t report their location type earned the highest average scores, followed by students who live in the suburbs, those who live in rural areas, and finally students who live in cities. 

Students living in suburbs often report higher family income and have access to more stable educational environments and opportunities than those living in rural and urban areas. Many rural students do not have consistent Internet access, which is another factor contributing to the average score differences based on school location. The College Board is aware of these differences in educational and technological access and is working to bridge the gap today. 

Educational achievement is an incredibly complex issue, with environmental, social, and economic factors all at play. Reducing achievement gaps by gender, ethnicity, income, and location is a big priority for educators.

The Average SAT Score by State

Below, I've given the 2022-2023 average SAT scores for the class of 2023 by state (as well as for Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC).

Source: The College Board

There's a lot of variation in average SAT scores by state. This is due to a lot of factors, but one big one is whether or not the state requires all public school students to take the SAT. In these cases, scores tend to be lower because even students who might not typically take the SAT (or prepare for it) must take it in school.

By contrast, in states where the SAT is not required, students who take the SAT take it specifically to prepare their college applications. As a result, the subsample of students who take the SAT will, in general, be more prepared and get higher scores.

For more info on this topic, check out our complete guide to average SAT scores by state.

You're unique. That means an "average" score may or may not be enough for you to achieve your dreams...especially if your dream is to become a rocket scientist.

What Average SAT Scores Really Matter for YOU?

While we've gone through a lot of interesting SAT data based on gender, ethnicity, family income, school type, and state, most of it won't be particularly relevant to your own interests and goals. It's helpful to know what an average SAT score is nationally and by state, but there's more you need to know in order to get into your top school.

The truth is, what SAT score you need depends entirely on the schools you're applying to. The average SAT scores that matter most for you are the averages for the colleges you're interested in. If you can score above a school's average SAT score, you'll have a far better chance of getting in.

But what score should you aim for specifically? The score you need to hit to give yourself your best chance of admission is your SAT goal score. We explain more about how to find this in our article on what makes a good SAT score.

Briefly, though, here's what you'll need to do: on a chart, record the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores (i.e., the middle 50% or average range) for each of the schools you're applying to. Once you've filled everything out, look for the highest 75th percentile score to get your goal score.

Hit this score on test day, and you'll have a great shot at getting into your dream school!

What's Next?

Are you ready for the new digital SAT? Don't miss our ultimate guide to the new Digital SAT format.

Not sure whether you should take the SAT? Here are 10 reasons to consider taking the test.

Want to know the average SAT scores from past years? Maybe you want help predicting your own SAT score, or are wondering whether there's a minimum SAT score requirement for college.

Need help preparing for the SAT? Then check out our total guide to studying for the test. We also have a one-month cramming plan and some tips for balancing your test prep with school!