Is a 1500 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
Yes. A 1500 is an excellent SAT score.
About 40,099 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 1500 or higher.
What a 1500 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 1500 in the 98th percentile, so you scored higher than about 98 percent of test takers. Scores this high clear the bar at nearly every college in the country and put the most selective schools within reach. At this level the SAT is doing its job, and your time is better spent on the rest of the application than on squeezing out a few more points.
Whether a 1500 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 776 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 1500 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 1500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| YaleCT | 1470 to 1570 | 3.9% |
| NortheasternMA | 1440 to 1540 | 5.2% |
| DartmouthNH | 1500 to 1570 | 5.4% |
| DukeNC | 1500 to 1570 | 5.7% |
| VanderbiltTN | 1500 to 1570 | 5.9% |
| PomonaCA | 1490 to 1560 | 7.1% |
| ColbyME | 1460 to 1550 | 7.1% |
| BowdoinME | 1470 to 1550 | 7.1% |
| SwarthmorePA | 1490 to 1560 | 7.5% |
| WilliamsMA | 1490 to 1570 | 8.3% |
| CornellNY | 1500 to 1570 | 8.8% |
| BarnardNY | 1470 to 1560 | 8.8% |
| AmherstMA | 1490 to 1580 | 9.0% |
| NYUNY | 1480 to 1560 | 9.2% |
| Claremont McKennaCA | 1470 to 1560 | 9.6% |
| USCCA | 1450 to 1550 | 9.8% |
| EmoryGA | 1470 to 1550 | 10.7% |
| MiddleburyVT | 1445 to 1550 | 10.8% |
| Boston UniversityMA | 1420 to 1530 | 11.1% |
| Notre DameIN | 1455 to 1560 | 11.3% |
| TuftsMA | 1470 to 1560 | 11.5% |
| Carnegie MellonPA | 1500 to 1570 | 11.7% |
| Washington University in St LouisMO | 1500 to 1570 | 12.1% |
| HaverfordPA | 1460 to 1550 | 12.4% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 1500 keeps you in range at 776 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+11
more colleges in range at a 1550
787
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 1500 and a 1550.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 1500 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 1500 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
1500 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 1500 a good SAT score?
- A 1500 is in the 98th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 98 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 1500 SAT score?
- A 1500 is in the 98th percentile. About 40,099 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 1500 SAT score?
- A 1500 is in range at 776 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 1500 good enough for the Ivy League?
- A 1500 is inside or near the middle 50 percent at most Ivy League schools, whose ranges generally run from about 1500 to 1580. It keeps you competitive on the score front, though admission at these schools depends on far more than the SAT.
- How can I raise a 1500 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 1500 is leaking points.
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