1250 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

Clemson and Penn State both enroll plenty of students around a 1250 SAT. You're near the 86th percentile, and you're in a good spot for well-known publics and private colleges. About 1,500 schools match this score, including hundreds where you have a realistic shot.

How 1250 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 83rd - higher than about 83% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~26 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,503 schools (525 target, 81 reach, 897 safety).

Is a 1250 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1250 SAT is a solid score. It lands well above the national average of 1050. You're at the low end of the middle 50% at UT Austin (1250-1510), and you overlap Baylor's range (1200-1400) more comfortably.

A few popular schools will be tougher. The University of Florida's middle 50% starts at 1320, and Ohio State typically looks for 1310 and up. Those are possible, but they're reaches with a 1250.

Your SAT is only one piece. Colleges also look at your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations, and those can matter as much as a few extra test points.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1250 SAT

Look through the tables and you'll see big publics mixed with private colleges. Michigan State (1180-1360) and Alabama (1170-1400) are good fits at this score. Arizona State is even more comfortable, since 1250 sits toward the high end of its middle 50%. Reaches like Virginia Tech and Auburn ask for a bit more, so those will be harder to get into.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

A 1250 falls inside or near the middle 50% at these schools, so you have a good shot. The University of Tennessee (1200-1370) and UCF (1200-1350) are two examples.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Austin, TX

 1250-1510 1380 27% Medium

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% Medium

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% Medium

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% 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

Irvine, CA

 1230-1430 1330 29% Medium

Waco, TX

 1200-1400 1300 51% Medium

Seattle, WA

 1200-1453 1326 39% Medium

Knoxville, TN

 1200-1370 1285 42% Medium
View all 525 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

These colleges usually admit students with higher SAT scores, or they're simply more selective. Florida State (1270-1410) and NC State (1300-1470) are examples where 1250 sits below the typical band.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Gainesville, FL

 1320-1480 1400 24% Low

Ann Arbor, MI

 1360-1530 1445 16% Low

Los Angeles, CA

 1300-1530 1415 9% Low

Tallahassee, FL

 1270-1410 1340 24% Low

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Low

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% Low

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% Low

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% Low

Columbus, OH

 1310-1480 1395 61% Low

Madison, WI

 1380-1520 1450 45% Low

Raleigh, NC

 1300-1470 1385 42% Low

Berkeley, CA

 1310-1530 1420 11% Low
View all 81 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Your score is clearly above the middle 50% at a long list of schools, so the odds look strong. East Carolina (1070-1240) and Texas State (980-1200) are two of those backups.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Greenville, NC

 1070-1240 1155 89% High

San Marcos, TX

 980-1200 1090 89% High

San Jose, CA

 1010-1240 1125 85% High

Boca Raton, FL

 1040-1200 1120 66% High

San Francisco, CA

 930-1130 1030 96% High

Pullman, WA

 1020-1210 1115 87% High

Fort Myers, FL

 1040-1200 1120 63% High

Denton, TX

 980-1230 1105 72% High

Allendale, MI

 940-1190 1065 83% High

Morgantown, WV

 1010-1220 1115 89% High

Los Angeles, CA

 870-1060 965 91% High

Boise, ID

 1030-1210 1120 87% High
View all 897 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1250 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1250 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1250 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1250 SAT Midwest 1250 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1250 SAT New England 1250 SAT Pacific Northwest 1250 SAT South 1250 SAT Southeast 1250 SAT West 1250 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1250?

A retake is optional with a 1250. If schools like Clemson, Baylor, or Michigan State already feel like the right mix, you can apply with this score. Another sitting mainly helps if you want a better shot at more selective publics such as Michigan, UCLA, or Florida.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
May improve your odds at schools like Florida Time away from grades and activities
Could pull a few reaches closer to target range Another sitting may not raise your score

With focused prep, many students gain about 50-100 SAT points. Spend extra time on the section that dragged you down, and take a couple of timed practice tests so the real thing feels familiar. Even a 50-point bump can change how you look at some of those reaches.

You can apply with your 1250 now, or prep for a retake if those higher-score schools really matter to you.

1250 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1250 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1190 24
1210 25
1230 26
1250 26
1270 27
1290 27
1310 28

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1250 SAT places you in about the 83rd percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 83% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026