1270 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

Florida State and Clemson both take plenty of students around a 1270 SAT, and you're looking at more than 1,500 colleges that fit this score. That's about the 88th percentile, and it puts you in range at a lot of well-known state universities. A few popular names will still be tougher, but you have real options.

How 1270 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 87th - higher than about 87% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~27 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,508 schools (486 target, 67 reach, 955 safety).

Is a 1270 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1270 SAT is a strong score for well-known public universities. It lines up with the middle 50% at the University of Georgia (1270-1480) and Penn State (1240-1420), so you look like a real match there.

Some bigger names usually want more. Ohio State (1310-1480) and UCLA (1300-1530) sit above 1270, so those are possible but tougher to get into.

Colleges still weigh your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations alongside the test. A 1270 opens a lot of doors, and the rest of your application is what makes you stand out.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1270 SAT

Your 1270 overlaps the usual SAT range at UT Austin (1250-1510) and Auburn (1260-1390), and it lands near the high end at Arizona State (1100-1320). Virginia Tech (1280-1450) and the University of Florida (1320-1480) typically enroll students with slightly higher scores. Those are harder to get into even if you're close. The tables below sort colleges by how realistic they look with this score.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

At Clemson (1240-1410) and Michigan State (1180-1360), a 1270 falls inside the middle 50%. You have a good shot if the rest of your application is solid.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Austin, TX

 1250-1510 1380 27% Medium

Tallahassee, FL

 1270-1410 1340 24% Medium

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% Medium

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% Medium

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% 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

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% Medium

Irvine, CA

 1230-1430 1330 29% Medium
View all 486 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Michigan (1360-1530) and UNC Chapel Hill (1390-1530) usually look for SAT scores well above 1270, and both are selective. Admission is possible, just a lot less certain.

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

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Low

Chapel Hill, NC

 1390-1530 1460 15% Low

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% 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

Washington, DC

 1390-1550 1470 13% Low

Atlanta, GA

 1370-1540 1455 14% Low
View all 67 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

You are clearly above the middle 50% at West Virginia University (1010-1220) and Texas State (980-1200). Odds look strong at these schools, and there are hundreds more like them.

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 955 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1270 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1270 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1270 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1270 SAT Midwest 1270 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1270 SAT New England 1270 SAT Pacific Northwest 1270 SAT South 1270 SAT Southeast 1270 SAT West 1270 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1270?

A retake is optional with a 1270 SAT. You already match plenty of selective public universities. Extra points mainly help if you're chasing schools that typically want 1320 or higher.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
May help at Florida, UCLA, or Ohio State Time away from grades and activities
A 50-100 point jump widens tougher options Gains are not guaranteed without focused prep

Serious prep often adds about 50-100 SAT points. Focus on the section that held you back, take a few timed practice tests, and review every miss. Steady work over several weeks beats last-minute cramming.

Apply with your 1270 if you like your current options, or prep for one more test if those higher-score schools are a priority.

1270 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1270 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1210 25
1230 26
1250 26
1270 27
1290 27
1310 28
1330 29

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1270 SAT places you in about the 87th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 87% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026