Colleges for a 980 on the SAT

What colleges accept a 980 SAT score?

These colleges are a good match for you

If you've achieved a score of 980 on your SATs, this places you squarely within the average range for accepted students at 457 U.S. colleges. This list features popular colleges where your application will likely be competitive, given their historical acceptance of students with a 980 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 980 SAT bad?

You can probably do better than a score of 980. It situates you in the bottom 36th percentile on the national scale, underperforming the majority of the 1.7 million SAT test takers. This score signifies your below 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 980 score represents 61% of the total possible points. If a 980 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 980

Let's examine how a 980 SAT score stacks up to the national averages across various demographic groups

Gender

  • Male: A 980 is 87 points (8%) lower than the average male SAT score of 1067
  • Female: A 980 is 74 points (7%) lower than the average female SAT score of 1054

Race/ethnicity

  • White: A 980 is 132 points (12%) lower than the average white SAT score of 1112
  • Black: A 980 is 46 points (5%) higher than the average black SAT score of 934
  • Hispanic: A 980 is 13 points (1%) higher than the average Hispanic SAT score of 967
  • Asian: A 980 is 259 points (21%) lower than the average Asian SAT score of 1239
  • Pacific Islander: A 980 is 30 points (3%) higher than the average Pacific Islander SAT score of 950
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: A 980 is 53 points (6%) higher than the average American Indian/Alaska Native SAT score of 927
  • Two or more races: A 980 is 136 points (12%) lower than the average two or more races SAT score of 1116

All groups

  • All Students: A 980 is 80 points lower than the average SAT score for all students of 1060

What is the ACT equivalent to a 980 SAT score?

A 980 on the SAT translates to a 18 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 980 SAT score?

Scoring a 980 on the SAT places you in the 36th percentile nationwide. This implies that your performance surpassed 36% 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 612,000 students with only 1,088,000 test takers achieving a higher score.

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SAT 980 Public Private 4 year

457 results nationwide

List of 980 SAT Colleges

Displaying 457 colleges where your 980 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 1,314 target schools (good chance), 1,509 reach (harder) schools and 1,350 safety (easier) schools you can consider.

Clayton State University
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C
Morrow, GA

Clayton State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

990 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 5,847enrollment
  • $9,792net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 890-1090SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance54%

Applications Due Jul 17

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University of Hawaii at Hilo
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H
Hilo, HI

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1080 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#3 Best Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,977enrollment
  • $13,867net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 960-1200SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance75%

Applications Due Jul 1

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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
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S
Shippensburg, PA

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1100 Average SAT Score

 

#10 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 5,162enrollment
  • $21,462net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 980-1210SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance79%

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Huston Tillotson University
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H
HBCU
Austin, TX

Huston Tillotson University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

920 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $21,069net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 840-1000SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 2.92Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance64%

Applications Due May 1

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Eastern Washington University
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E
Cheney, WA

Eastern Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

990 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#6 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 10,910enrollment
  • $12,827net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 880-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance96%

Applications Due Sep 10

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Central Connecticut State University
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C
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1050 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#4 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 9,468enrollment
  • $17,088net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 940-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance69%

Applications Due Aug 26

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Missouri State University Springfield
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M
Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1100 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 22,535enrollment
  • $17,677net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 973-1230SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance88%

Compare Calculate my chances 
Paul Quinn College
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P
HBCU
Dallas, TX

Paul Quinn College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

940 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 938enrollment
  • $8,994net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 855-1015SAT range
  • 14-17ACT range
  • 2.6Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance66%

Applications Due Jun 1

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Northeastern Illinois University
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N
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

910 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#9 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 5,756enrollment
  • $14,262net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 810-1010SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance73%

Applications Due Jul 15

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California State University Monterey Bay
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C
Seaside, CA

California State University Monterey Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1060 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#22 Best Public Universities in California

  • 7,045enrollment
  • $11,435net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance87%

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount St. Mary's College
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M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

1010 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#27 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,440enrollment
  • $28,717net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance73%

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
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N
Pembroke, NC

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

1020 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#14 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 7,666enrollment
  • $8,208net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance88%

Applications Due May 1

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SUNY College at Buffalo
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B
Buffalo, NY

SUNY College at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1060 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#26 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,445enrollment
  • $13,812net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 940-1178SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.84Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance80%

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Winthrop University
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W
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

1090 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#5 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,712enrollment
  • $17,008net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 980-1195SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance55%

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Benedict College
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B
HBCU
Columbia, SC
 

Benedict College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

920 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#14 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,840enrollment
  • $17,845net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 820-1020SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance76%

Applications Due Feb 15

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PennWest California
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P
California, PA

PennWest California

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1050 Average SAT Score

 

#20 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 6,509enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT

Applications Due Aug 22

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Cleveland State University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

1010 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

#7 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 14,385enrollment
  • $15,719net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 880-1130SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.31Estimated Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance83%

Applications Due Aug 15

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College of Coastal Georgia
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C
Brunswick, GA

College of Coastal Georgia

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

1020 Average SAT Score

Test Optional

 

  • 3,147enrollment
  • $12,117net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA
Your 980 SAT
Admission Chance98%

Applications Due Aug 5

Compare Calculate my chances 

FAQs

Is a 980 a good SAT score?

You can probably do better than a score of 980. The score puts you in the bottom 36th percentile of those who take the test. Explore colleges you can get into with a 980 SAT score.

What colleges can I get into with a 980 SAT score?

Texas State University, San Francisco State University and Grand Valley State University are some of the best colleges that you have a competitive chance of getting into. Explore the full list: Colleges for a 980 SAT score.

What percentile is 980 on the SAT?

A 980 ranks in the bottom 36th percentile of all students who take the SAT exam.

What is the equivalent ACT score to a 980 SAT?

A 980 converts to a 18 on the ACT using College Board / ACT concordance tables. Explore the colleges: Colleges for a 18 ACT score.