Is 1100 a Good SAT Score?
It’s an okay score, but it limits your options.
A 1100 score means you’ve cleared the baseline, but the journey doesn't stop here. While it keeps you in the running for many state schools, you’ll need a higher score to stand out in more competitive pools.
A 1100 is right at the edge of two very different worlds. For some colleges, you are a strong applicant. For others, you are too low to even be considered. This page tells you exactly which world your target school lives in.
A 1100 is right at the edge of two very different worlds. For some colleges, you are a strong applicant. For others, you are too low to even be considered. This page tells you exactly which world your target school lives in.
CURRENT PERCENTILE
63rd
NEXT TARGET
81st
Is your 1100 hiding a higher score?
Most students at 1100 are losing points in just 2 or 3 question types. ScoreSmart shows you exactly which ones after your first free practice test.
What Does 63rd Percentile Mean for a 1100?
It means you scored higher than 63 out of every 100 students who took the SAT. That is above average.
But here is what makes 1100 special compared to higher scores. At this score range, every 50 points you gain moves your percentile dramatically. Going from 1100 to 1250 moves you from the 63rd to the 81st percentile. That is 18 percentile points for 150 points of improvement.
But here is what makes 1100 special compared to higher scores. At this score range, every 50 points you gain moves your percentile dramatically. Going from 1100 to 1250 moves you from the 63rd to the 81st percentile. That is 18 percentile points for 150 points of improvement.
SAT Score Percentile Table
The national average SAT score is
1060
A 1100 sits just slightly above that average.
SAT Score
Percentile
What It Means
1600
99th+
Perfect score. Top 1%.
1400
94th
Excellent. Top 6%.
1250
81st
Strong. Top 19%.
1100
63rd
Above average. (This page)
1029
50th
National average (2025)
900
27th
Below average.
What Colleges Can You Get Into With a 1100?
A 1100 works well at many colleges. But it also closes doors at many others. Here is a clear picture of both.
Schools Where 1100 Makes You a Strong Applicant
School
Location
SAT Mid-50% Range
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
1130-1350
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
1100-1330
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
1080-1290
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
1050-1240
Howard University
Washington, DC
1060-1270
Schools Where 1100 Is Too Low
School
Location
SAT Mid-50% Range
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
1360-1530
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
1280-1530
NYU
New York, NY
1350-1540
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
1290-1480
Is 1100 Good Enough for Scholarships?
Some. A 1100 qualifies you for scholarships at schools where it is a competitive score. But it puts you below the threshold at most merit scholarship programs at selective colleges.
Scholarship Type
Score Needed
1100 Qualifies?
Open-admission school merit aid
1050+
Yes
Most state university merit aid
1200+
No
Competitive private scholarships
1300+
No
Think of 1100 as the scholarship floor. Pushing to 1200 or 1300 unlocks a much bigger pool of merit money. That extra money often pays for itself many times over.
Should You Retake the SAT With a 1100?
For most students, yes. And here is why the math works in your favor more than it does for higher scorers.
At 1100, you are in the zone where small improvements create the biggest percentile jumps. A 150 point gain moves you 18 percentile points. That same effort from a student at 1450 only moves them 3 points.
help more than another SAT attempt.
At 1100, you are in the zone where small improvements create the biggest percentile jumps. A 150 point gain moves you 18 percentile points. That same effort from a student at 1450 only moves them 3 points.
help more than another SAT attempt.
You probably do not need to retake if:
-
Your target schools have SAT averages at or below 1100
- You are applying test-optional with a strong GPA
-
You are past application deadlines
You should consider retaking if:
-
Your target schools have SAT averages above 1200
-
You want to qualify for merit scholarships
-
Your practice tests show scores of 1200 or higher
ScoreSmart shows you exactly where you are losing points.
After each practice test you get a full breakdown by question type and time spent per question. Free to start. No credit card needed.
How to Improve From a 1100?
- Find the leak, not the subject
- Your section split matters
- Stop guessing on questions you do not know
- Do at least two full-length practice tests
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, above average. The national SAT average in 2025 was 1029. A 1100 puts you in the 63rd percentile. It is competitive at many colleges but not at selective or flagship universities.
A 1100 is the 63rd percentile among actual SAT test takers based on College Board 2024-2025 data. You scored higher than 63% of students who took the SAT.
Many four-year colleges with mid-range admissions standards accept a 1100, including many state schools and HBCUs. Schools like Arizona State, University of Alabama, and University of Kentucky fall in this range. Selective and flagship universities typically expect 1300 or higher.
Yes, for most students. The percentile gains from 1100 are bigger per point than almost anywhere else on the scale. A 150 point improvement moves you 18 percentile points and opens up significantly more colleges and scholarships.
It is above the 2025 national average of 1029. But for most competitive four-year colleges, you need to be higher. Think of 1100 as a strong starting point, not a finishing line.
