California Colleges for a 1600 on the SAT

With a 1600 SAT, you are competitive at 105 four-year colleges in California (9 target, 8 reach, 88 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 36 ACT.

Colleges in California for a 1600 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 1600 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University of California Irvine Irvine, CA	1230-1430	1330	29%	Medium
University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	1230-1460	1345	33%	Medium
University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA	1270-1480	1375	27%	Medium
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	1220-1410	1315	31%	Medium
Occidental College Los Angeles, CA	1380-1520	1450	44%	Medium
Scripps College Claremont, CA	1440-1540	1490	38%	Medium
Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA	1333-1510	1421	43%	Medium
Northeastern University Oakland Oakland, CA	1420-1520	1470	17%	Medium
Hope International University Fullerton, CA	840-1220	1030	33%	Medium

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
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA	1530-1580	1555	3%	Low
Stanford University Stanford, CA	1510-1580	1545	4%	Low
Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA	1500-1570	1535	13%	Low
Pomona College Claremont, CA	1490-1560	1525	7%	Low
Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA	1470-1560	1515	10%	Low
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA	1450-1550	1500	10%	Low
University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA	1310-1530	1420	11%	Low
University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	1300-1530	1415	9%	Low

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average SAT scores well below 1600; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	1090-1300	1195	36%	High
University of California Davis Davis, CA	1160-1400	1280	42%	High
San Jose State University San Jose, CA	1010-1240	1125	85%	High
Pepperdine University Malibu, CA	1290-1450	1370	63%	High
California State University Long Beach Long Beach, CA	1020-1240	1130	46%	High
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	930-1130	1030	96%	High
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA	1190-1390	1290	62%	High
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA	1260-1430	1345	45%	High
California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	870-1060	965	91%	High
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA	1350-1490	1420	48%	High
California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA	1000-1180	1090	91%	High
California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA	930-1130	1030	94%	High

View all 88 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1600 SAT in California

See all colleges nationally for a 1600 SAT

1600 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1600 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score	ACT Equivalent
1540	35
1560	35
1580	36
1600	36

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

Published: August 19, 2026