Colleges for a 1280 on the SAT

What colleges accept a 1280 SAT score?

These colleges are a good match for you

If you've achieved a score of 1280 on your SATs, this places you squarely within the average range for accepted students at 379 U.S. colleges. This list features popular colleges where your application will likely be competitive, given their historical acceptance of students with a 1280 SAT score. However, it's crucial to remember that a good SAT score is not the sole criterion for admission. In fact, may colleges are now test optional. It's equally significant to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) that aligns with the college's expectations for incoming students. The creation of this list is rooted in a comprehensive analysis of SAT scores from students admitted to all U.S. colleges

Is a 1280 SAT good?

Yes, you have a lot of opportunities at very good schools with a score of 1280. It situates you in the top 86th percentile on the national scale, outperforming the majority of the 1.7 million SAT test takers. This score signifies your significantly above average performance in answering questions in the Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing sections of the exam. The SAT is scored out of a maximum of 1600 and a minimum of 400, meaning your 1280 score represents 80% of the total possible points. If a 1280 does not meet the requirements of your preferred college, you might want to consider enrolling in a test prep course to potentially enhance your score.

Demographic comparisons for a 1280

Let's examine how a 1280 SAT score stacks up to the national averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 1280 is 213 points (20%) higher than the average male SAT score of 1067
  • Female: A 1280 is 226 points (21%) higher than the average female SAT score of 1054

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 1280 is 168 points (15%) higher than the average white SAT score of 1112
  • Black: A 1280 is 346 points (37%) higher than the average black SAT score of 934
  • Hispanic: A 1280 is 313 points (32%) higher than the average Hispanic SAT score of 967
  • Asian: A 1280 is 41 points (3%) higher than the average Asian SAT score of 1239
  • Pacific Islander: A 1280 is 330 points (35%) higher than the average Pacific Islander SAT score of 950
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: A 1280 is 353 points (38%) higher than the average American Indian/Alaska Native SAT score of 927
  • Two or more races: A 1280 is 164 points (15%) higher than the average two or more races SAT score of 1116

All groups

  • All Students: A 1280 is 220 points higher than the average SAT score for all students of 1060

What is the ACT equivalent to a 1280 SAT score?

A 1280 on the SAT translates to a 27 on the ACT according to the concordance provided by the College Board and ACT. It's important to note that not all colleges disclose admission data for both the SAT and ACT. As such, we recommend checking our listings for each test to identify schools with similar academic profiles.

What percentile is a 1280 SAT score?

Scoring a 1280 on the SAT places you in the 86th percentile nationwide. This implies that your performance surpassed 86% of all test takers. To put this in perspective, about 1.7 million students sit for the SAT each year. Thus, with your score, you've outperformed about 1,462,000 students placing you ahead of the majority with only 238,000 test takers achieving a higher score.

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SAT 1280 Public Private 4 year

379 results nationwide

List of 1280 SAT Colleges

Displaying 379 colleges where your 1280 SAT score is within the typical range of past accepted students. You have a chance at being accepted but admission may be challenging at more selective colleges. Hint: Filter by admission chance for 1,278 target schools (good chance), 195 reach (harder) schools and 3,402 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Purdue University Main Campus
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P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

1340 Average SAT Score

 

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,528enrollment
  • $12,576net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1470SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance46%

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University of California Santa Barbara
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C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1350 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance20%

Applications Due Nov 30

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Texas A & M University College Station
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T
College Station, TX

Texas A & M University College Station

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

1270 Average SAT Score

 

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 74,014enrollment
  • $20,375net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Dec 1

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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

1180 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,074enrollment
  • $13,639net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance83%

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University of Arizona
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A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1260 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#1 Best Value in Arizona

  • 49,403enrollment
  • $17,075net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance88%

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University of Colorado Boulder
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C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

1280 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 39,585enrollment
  • $21,836net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance81%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Texas Tech University
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T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

1190 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,378enrollment
  • $17,896net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance79%

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University of Houston
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H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

1250 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 46,700enrollment
  • $14,056net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance72%

Applications Due May 31

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University of California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

1280 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance37%

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of South Carolina Columbia
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S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

1280 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 35,653enrollment
  • $22,427net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due Dec 1

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Colorado State University Fort Collins
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C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1190 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#3 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 33,403enrollment
  • $16,926net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance95%

Applications Due Jul 1

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Howard University
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H
HBCU
Washington, DC

Howard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

1170 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#4 Best Private Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 12,886enrollment
  • $28,279net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1290SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance67%

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of California San Diego
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C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1380 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 42,006enrollment
  • $16,111net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance15%

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Delaware
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D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1280 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#1 Best Value in Delaware

  • 24,039enrollment
  • $18,044net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance75%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Syracuse University
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S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

1350 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,698enrollment
  • $43,651net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance40%

Applications Due Jan 1

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George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1250 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 39,049enrollment
  • $18,479net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance92%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

1300 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 19,107enrollment
  • $23,031net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance87%

Applications Due Feb 1

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Savannah College of Art and Design
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S
Savannah, GA

Savannah College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

1170 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#11 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 16,414enrollment
  • $45,976net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1280SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA
Your 1280 SAT
Admission Chance90%

Compare Calculate my chances 

FAQs

Is a 1280 a good SAT score?

Yes, you have a lot of opportunities at very good schools with a score of 1280. The score puts you in the top 86th percentile of those who take the test. Explore colleges you can get into with a 1280 SAT score.

What colleges can I get into with a 1280 SAT score?

The University of Texas at Austin, Florida State University and Clemson University are some of the best colleges that you have a competitive chance of getting into. Explore the full list: Colleges for a 1280 SAT score.

What percentile is 1280 on the SAT?

A 1280 ranks in the top 86th percentile of all students who take the SAT exam.

What is the equivalent ACT score to a 1280 SAT?

A 1280 converts to a 27 on the ACT using College Board / ACT concordance tables. Explore the colleges: Colleges for a 27 ACT score.