Is a 1280 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
Yes. A 1280 is a strong SAT score.
About 320,794 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 1280 or higher.
What a 1280 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 1280 in the 84th percentile, so you scored higher than about 84 percent of test takers. A 1280 keeps you competitive across a wide range of colleges, including many selective ones. It is not a score you need to apologize for. The question worth asking is whether your specific target schools sit above it, because a handful of the most selective ones will.
Whether a 1280 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 677 of the 787 colleges below that report SAT data. Find your target schools in that group, and if the ones you want sit higher, the tools on this page show exactly how far you have to climb.
What Colleges Can You Get Into With a 1280 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 1280 lands against each one, or search for a specific college. Every name links to its full scores and admissions page.
Your score sits inside their middle 50 percent.
| College | SAT middle 50 | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|
| United States Naval AcademyMD | 1210 to 1410 | 9.3% |
| United States Military AcademyNY | 1200 to 1430 | 12.4% |
| United States Air Force AcademyCO | 1230 to 1440 | 14.1% |
| College of the Holy CrossMA | 1240 to 1410 | 17.6% |
| ColoradoCO | 1230 to 1460 | 18.5% |
| BereaKY | 1156 to 1335 | 19.3% |
| United States Coast Guard AcademyCT | 1240 to 1400 | 22.4% |
| Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSC | 1085 to 1285 | 22.7% |
| Florida StateFL | 1270 to 1410 | 24.2% |
| SpelmanGA | 1108 to 1320 | 24.9% |
| UT AustinTX | 1250 to 1510 | 26.6% |
| Bryn MawrPA | 1280 to 1510 | 29.4% |
| FairfieldCT | 1260 to 1390 | 33.3% |
| FiskTN | 1140 to 1510 | 37.4% |
| GeorgiaGA | 1270 to 1480 | 37.7% |
| LeTourneauTX | 990 to 1330 | 38.0% |
| ClemsonSC | 1240 to 1410 | 38.3% |
| GettysburgPA | 1270 to 1460 | 38.9% |
| Illinois WesleyanIL | 1120 to 1340 | 39.3% |
| UCFFL | 1200 to 1350 | 40.1% |
| HowardDC | 1090 to 1320 | 41.3% |
| Tennessee KnoxvilleTN | 1200 to 1370 | 41.6% |
| FurmanSC | 1260 to 1430 | 43.0% |
| SouthwesternTX | 1130 to 1300 | 43.0% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 1280 keeps you in range at 677 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+28
more colleges in range at a 1330
705
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 1280 and a 1330.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 1280 SAT Score
The fastest gains come from the section costing you the most points, not from grinding what you already know. Our score plans break a target into weekly work by section, and the diagnostic shows exactly where a 1280 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
1280 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 1280 a good SAT score?
- A 1280 is in the 84th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 84 percent of the roughly 2 million students who take the SAT each year. It is a strong score that keeps you competitive at most colleges.
- What percentile is a 1280 SAT score?
- A 1280 is in the 84th percentile. About 320,794 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored the same or higher.
- What colleges can you get into with a 1280 SAT score?
- A 1280 is in range at 677 of the 787 colleges we track that report SAT data. Use the explorer above to filter them by target, likely, and reach, and open any school for its full admissions picture.
- Is a 1280 good enough for the Ivy League?
- The Ivy League middle 50 percent generally runs from about 1500 to 1580, so a 1280 is below the typical admitted range. A stronger score helps, but these schools weigh essays, rigor, and activities heavily, so it is never the whole story.
- How can I raise a 1280 SAT score?
- Start by finding the section and the specific topics costing you the most points, then drill those with real questions until they stop being misses. Cheetah Prep builds a plan around your weakest skills and shows your projected score as you go. The diagnostic on this page is the fastest way to see where a 1280 is leaking points.
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