1220 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

Michigan State and Texas A&M both enroll plenty of students around a 1220 SAT. You're looking at about 1,500 colleges that match this score, including well-known state universities and private colleges. You're in a good spot as you start comparing options.

How 1220 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 79th - higher than about 79% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~25 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,496 schools (619 target, 98 reach, 779 safety).

Is a 1220 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1220 SAT is a good score, and it lines up with the middle 50% at schools like the University of Central Florida (1200-1350) and San Diego State (1090-1300). You are well above the national average, so you are ahead of most testers.

Purdue (1200-1480) and the University of Washington (1200-1453) also take many students near this range, though 1220 is toward the low end there. More selective publics such as Florida State (1270-1410) and Clemson (1240-1410) usually look higher, so those are tougher admits.

Colleges still weigh your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations alongside the test. A 1220 will not carry an application on its own, especially at the more competitive schools.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1220 SAT

Alabama, Tennessee, and Arizona State all enroll students around a 1220. You will also see reaches like UT Austin and Ohio State, where admitted students typically scored higher. The tables sort those into good-fit schools, harder ones, and likely backups.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

A 1220 is inside the middle 50% at Michigan State (1180-1360) and Baylor (1200-1400). You have a good shot at these if the rest of your application is solid.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% Medium

East Lansing, MI

 1180-1360 1270 85% Medium

Tuscaloosa, AL

 1170-1400 1285 77% Medium

Orlando, FL

 1200-1350 1275 40% Medium

San Diego, CA

 1090-1300 1195 36% Medium

Waco, TX

 1200-1400 1300 51% Medium

Seattle, WA

 1200-1453 1326 39% Medium

Knoxville, TN

 1200-1370 1285 42% Medium

Lexington, KY

 1070-1290 1180 93% Medium

West Lafayette, IN

 1200-1480 1340 50% Medium

College Station, TX

 1150-1400 1275 57% Medium

Greenville, NC

 1070-1240 1155 89% Medium
View all 619 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

UCLA (1300-1530) and the University of Florida (1320-1480) typically enroll students with higher SAT scores. A 1220 is a reach at both, and low admit rates make them tougher.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Gainesville, FL

 1320-1480 1400 24% Low

Austin, TX

 1250-1510 1380 27% Low

Ann Arbor, MI

 1360-1530 1445 16% Low

Los Angeles, CA

 1300-1530 1415 9% Low

Tallahassee, FL

 1270-1410 1340 24% Low

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% Low

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Low

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% Low

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% Low

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% Low

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% Low

Columbus, OH

 1310-1480 1395 61% Low
View all 98 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

You score above the usual band at Cal State Fullerton (1000-1180) and Georgia Southern (986-1133). Odds look strong at plenty of backups like these.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

San Marcos, TX

 980-1200 1090 89% High

Boca Raton, FL

 1040-1200 1120 66% High

San Francisco, CA

 930-1130 1030 96% High

Pullman, WA

 1020-1210 1115 87% High

Allendale, MI

 940-1190 1065 83% High

Los Angeles, CA

 870-1060 965 91% High

Boise, ID

 1030-1210 1120 87% High

Fullerton, CA

 1000-1180 1090 91% High

Sacramento, CA

 930-1130 1030 94% High

Atlanta, GA

 880-1120 1000 64% High

Baltimore, MD

 840-1070 955 82% High

Statesboro, GA

 986-1133 1059 88% High
View all 779 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1220 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1220 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1220 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1220 SAT Midwest 1220 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1220 SAT New England 1220 SAT Pacific Northwest 1220 SAT South 1220 SAT Southeast 1220 SAT West 1220 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1220?

A retake is optional at 1220. If you want a better shot at highly selective publics, another test date can help. If you like the targets already in range, skip the extra test and spend the time on grades and essays.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
May open more selective targets Time away from grades and activities
Helps where 1220 is at the low end Score jumps are not guaranteed
Useful if practice tests run higher You already have hundreds of solid options

With focused prep, many students gain about 50 to 100 SAT points. Work the sections that dragged you down, take timed practice tests, and review every miss. A couple of months of steady work beats last-minute cramming.

Apply with 1220 if your target colleges already fit, or book another test date if you want a shot at the more selective ones.

1220 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1220 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1160 24
1180 24
1200 25
1220 25
1240 26
1260 27
1280 27

Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1220 SAT places you in about the 79th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 79% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026