If you've achieved a score of 1280 on your SATs, this places you squarely within the average range for accepted students at 324 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
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.
Let's examine how a 1280 SAT score stacks up to the national averages across various demographic groups
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.
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.
Here are some of the top ranked colleges which have historically accepted students in this test score range. Scroll down further to explore, search, sort and filter the full list.
College | Average SAT |
---|---|
University of Richmond | 1370 |
Skidmore College | 1360 |
Yeshiva University | 1280 |
Trinity University | 1370 |
Loyola Marymount University | 1340 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 1260 |
Gettysburg College | 1360 |
Union College | 1360 |
University of Denver | 1300 |
College of the Holy Cross | 1330 |
University of Washington Seattle Campus | 1330 |
University of California San Diego | 1380 |
University of Connecticut | 1330 |
University of California Irvine | 1330 |
DePauw University | 1290 |
324 results nationwide
Displaying 324 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 1,098 target schools (good chance), 180 reach (harder) schools and 3,102 safety (easier) schools you can consider.
Public 4 Year
0 reviews
1250 Average SAT Composite
#1 Best Value in Delaware
Applications Due Jan 15
Private 4 Year
3 reviews
1310 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#18 Best Private Colleges in New York
Applications Due Jan 1
Public 4 Year
2 reviews
1250 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia
Applications Due Feb 1
Public 4 Year
1 reviews
1270 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio
Applications Due Feb 1
Public 4 Year
4 reviews
1190 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#1 Best Public Universities in Oregon
Applications Due Jan 15
Public 4 Year
2 reviews
1270 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana
Public 4 Year
1 reviews
1250 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#2 Best Public Universities in Oregon
Applications Due Feb 1
Public 4 Year
4 reviews
1210 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#2 Best Public Universities in Iowa
Public 4 Year
1 reviews
1360 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts
Applications Due Jan 15
Private 4 Year
0 reviews
1290 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#13 Best Private Colleges in California
Applications Due Jan 15
Public 4 Year
5 reviews
1350 Average SAT Composite
Applications Due Dec 31
Public 4 Year
5 reviews
1360 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#1 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania
Public 4 Year
3 reviews
1230 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia
Applications Due Jan 15
Public 4 Year
2 reviews
1200 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois
Applications Due Feb 1
Public 4 Year
2 reviews
1190 Average SAT Composite
#9 Best Public Universities in New York
Applications Due Feb 1
Private 4 Year
0 reviews
1340 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#8 Best Private Colleges in California
Applications Due Jan 15
Public 4 Year
4 reviews
1240 Average SAT Composite
#4 Best Public Universities in Florida
Applications Due May 1
Private 4 Year
1 reviews
1230 Average SAT Composite
Test Optional
#3 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina
Applications Due Jan 10
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.
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.
A 1280 ranks in the top 86th percentile of all students who take the SAT exam.
A 1280 converts to a 27 on the ACT using College Board / ACT concordance tables. Explore the colleges: Colleges for a 27 ACT score.