Is 1500 a Good SAT Score?
Yes. A 1500 is an excellent SAT score.
It puts you in the 96th percentile. That means you scored higher than 96 out of every 100 students who took the SAT. Only 4 people in a room of 100 did better than you.
But is it good enough for the college you want? That depends on your list. Keep reading and you will know exactly where you stand.
But is it good enough for the college you want? That depends on your list. Keep reading and you will know exactly where you stand.
CURRENT PERCENTILE
96th
NEXT TARGET
99th+
Not sure where your score could go?
Take a free practice test on ScoreSmart. Get your score instantly and see a full breakdown of where you are losing points.
What does 96th Percentile Mean?
A percentile tells you how you rank against everyone else who took the SAT.
Think of it this way. Picture 100 students in a room. Everyone just got their SAT scores back. If you scored 1500, you scored higher than 96 of those students. Only 4 did better. That is 96th percentile.
Think of it this way. Picture 100 students in a room. Everyone just got their SAT scores back. If you scored 1500, you scored higher than 96 of those students. Only 4 did better. That is 96th percentile.
SAT Score Percentile Table
The national average SAT score is
1060
A 1500 is significantly above that.
SAT Score
Percentile
What It Means
1600
99th+
Perfect score. Top 1%.
1500
96th
Excellent. Top 4%. (This page)
1400
94th
Very strong. Top 6%.
1300
87th
Above average. Top 13%.
1200
74th
Average range. Top 26%.
1060
50th
National average.
What Colleges Can You Get Into With a 1500?
A 1500 makes you a strong applicant at the large majority of colleges in the US. Here is how schools break down based on your score:
Strong Match (Your score is above their average)
School
Your Position
SAT Range
University of Michigan
Above average
1360 - 1530
Georgetown University
Above average
1380 - 1540
UCLA
Above average
1280 - 1530
NYU
Above average
1350 - 1540
Boston University
Above average
1330 - 1510
Ivy League and Top Schools (Reach, but you are in range)
School
Middle 50% SAT
1500 Position
Harvard
1490 - 1580
Lower end
MIT
1510 - 1580
Just below 25th percentile
Stanford
1500 - 1570
Lower end
Yale
1490 - 1570
Lower end
At Ivy League schools, a 1500 gets your application read seriously. But your essays, grades, and activities need to be very strong too.
Is 1500 Good Enough for Scholarships?
Yes. A 1500 qualifies you for most merit scholarships in the US.
Scholarship Type
Score Needed
1500 Qualifies?
Most college merit scholarships
1200+
Yes
Automatic full-ride at many state schools
1400+
Yes
National Merit (competitive states)
1520+
Close, not guaranteed
If scholarships are a big goal, pushing from 1500 to 1520 can make a real difference.
Should You Retake the SAT With a 1500?
For most students, a 1500 is already very strong. Time spent on your essays may help more than another SAT attempt.
You probably do not need to retake if:
-
Your target schools have average SAT scores below 1450
-
You already have strong grades and activities
-
Test prep is taking time away from your essays
You should consider retaking if:
-
You are targeting Harvard, MIT, or Stanford
-
Your practice tests consistently show 1540 or higher
-
You need to hit 1520+ for a specific scholarship
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 1500
- Find your weak question types
- Fix your timing
- Take full-length tests
- Review wrong answers the right way
Frequently Asked Questions
A 1500 is in range at Ivy League schools but puts you at the lower end of admitted students. Essays, grades, and activities need to be very strong.
A 1500 is in the 96th percentile based on College Board 2024 data. You scored higher than 96% of all test takers.
Yes, for most. If you need National Merit or specific full-ride scholarships, you may need to push to 1520 or above.
Only if your target schools have medians above 1520, or your practice scores show you can do better. For most schools, 1500 is already very strong.
Yes. The national average is around 1050. A 1500 puts you well above average and makes you competitive at the large majority of US colleges.
