North Carolina Colleges for a 820 on the SAT

With a 820 SAT, you are competitive at 26 four-year colleges in North Carolina (4 target, 15 reach, 7 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 14 ACT.

Colleges in North Carolina for a 820 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 820 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance
780-940 860 34% Medium
800-980 890 45% Medium

Salisbury, NC

800-960 880 59% Medium

Greensboro, NC

820-1060 940 51% 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

Winston-Salem, NC

830-1020 925 78% Low
890-1090 990 82% Low
970-1200 1085 93% Low

Belmont, NC

960-1200 1080 75% Low

Boiling Springs, NC

975-1198 1086 77% Low

Elizabeth City, NC

920-1080 1000 64% Low

Greensboro, NC

900-1100 1000 70% Low

Wilson, NC

970-1150 1060 94% Low

Murfreesboro, NC

880-1145 1012 69% Low

Brevard, NC

870-1220 1045 42% Low

Misenheimer, NC

891-1165 1028 96% Low
880-1130 1005 80% Low

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average SAT scores well below 820; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Laurinburg, NC

- - 100% High

Winston Salem, NC

- - 100% High
- - 100% High
- - 100% High
- - 100% High
- - 100% High
- - 100% High

View the full list of colleges that accept a 820 SAT in North Carolina

See all colleges nationally for a 820 SAT

820 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 820 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
760 13
780 14
800 14
820 14
840 15
860 15
880 16

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

Published: August 19, 2026