Eastern Colleges for a 1530 on the SAT

With a 1530 SAT, you are competitive at 380 four-year colleges in the East (41 target, 28 reach, 311 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 35 ACT.

Colleges in the East for a 1530 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 1530 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Villanova University Villanova, PA	1395-1510	1452	27%	Medium
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY	1270-1440	1355	46%	Medium
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA	1440-1540	1490	16%	Medium
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY	1330-1500	1415	49%	Medium
Binghamton University Vestal, NY	1340-1500	1420	39%	Medium
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA	1310-1500	1405	60%	Medium
Rutgers University New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ	1310-1500	1405	58%	Medium
Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA	1310-1470	1390	29%	Medium
CUNY Hunter College New York, NY	1100-1420	1260	54%	Medium
University of Connecticut Storrs, CT	1210-1440	1325	52%	Medium
Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI	1396-1530	1463	19%	Medium
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA	1370-1500	1435	26%	Medium

View all 41 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average SAT scores; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA	1520-1580	1550	5%	Low
Harvard University Cambridge, MA	1510-1580	1545	4%	Low
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY	1510-1580	1545	4%	Low
Princeton University Princeton, NJ	1510-1580	1545	5%	Low
Brown University Providence, RI	1510-1580	1545	5%	Low
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA	1510-1570	1540	5%	Low
Dartmouth College Hanover, NH	1500-1570	1535	5%	Low
Cornell University Ithaca, NY	1500-1570	1535	9%	Low
Amherst College Amherst, MA	1490-1580	1535	9%	Low
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA	1500-1570	1535	12%	Low
Williams College Williamstown, MA	1490-1570	1530	8%	Low
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA	1490-1560	1525	7%	Low

View all 28 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average SAT scores well below 1530; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Penn State Main Campus University Park, PA	1240-1420	1330	61%	High
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA	1280-1460	1370	58%	High
University at Albany Albany, NY	1120-1320	1220	69%	High
Fordham University Bronx, NY	1320-1480	1400	59%	High
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA	1240-1440	1340	79%	High
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT	1150-1320	1235	72%	High
University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY	1210-1380	1295	74%	High
West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA	1100-1270	1185	78%	High
University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI	1020-1280	1150	72%	High
Emerson College Boston, MA	1270-1420	1345	51%	High
St. John's University New York Queens, NY	1150-1340	1245	83%	High
Kean University Union, NJ	930-1150	1040	76%	High

View all 311 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1530 SAT in the East

See all colleges nationally for a 1530 SAT

1530 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1530 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score	ACT Equivalent
1470	33
1490	34
1510	34
1530	35
1550	35
1570	36
1590	36

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

Published: August 19, 2026