Is a 820 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
A 820 is below the national average, and it is a starting point you can build on.
About 1,784,419 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 820 or higher.
What a 820 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 820 in the 11th percentile, so you scored higher than about 11 percent of test takers. A 820 is below where most enrolled students land, which narrows the list of colleges where it helps. The upside is that score is the most improvable part of an application, and a focused stretch of prep moves it faster than almost anything else you can do.
Whether a 820 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 23 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 820 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 820 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Southern University and A&MLA | 790 to 1020 | 35.1% |
| Huston TillotsonTX | 800 to 1160 | 39.1% |
| Alcorn StateMS | 670 to 998 | 45.3% |
| Delaware StateDE | 800 to 1020 | 46.6% |
| Puerto Rico CarolinaPR | 809 to 1057 | 54.5% |
| Alabama A&MAL | 810 to 1040 | 58.0% |
| HamptonVA | 790 to 1090 | 62.3% |
| CUNY YorkNY | 790 to 960 | 64.1% |
| Northwestern Oklahoma StateOK | 803 to 1036 | 65.5% |
| LincolnPA | 820 to 960 | 65.7% |
| Southwest BaptistMO | 810 to 1210 | 68.4% |
| Siena HeightsMI | 806 to 1073 | 68.9% |
| BaltimoreMD | 740 to 1330 | 78.7% |
| Southern University at New OrleansLA | 820 to 1050 | 78.9% |
| Puerto Rico AguadillaPR | 791 to 1023 | 81.4% |
| AvilaMO | 800 to 960 | 87.8% |
| Jackson StateMS | 820 to 1070 | 93.2% |
| West Virginia StateWV | 760 to 1040 | 96.0% |
| Texas SouthernTX | 800 to 1000 | 96.9% |
| Alabama StateAL | 749 to 967 | 97.5% |
| Fairmont StateWV | 810 to 1070 | 98.6% |
| the Virgin IslandsVI | 783 to 1030 | 99.0% |
| Columbus StateGA | 800 to 1060 | 99.1% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 820 keeps you in range at 23 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+33
more colleges in range at a 870
56
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 820 and a 870.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 820 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 820 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
820 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 820 a good SAT score?
- A 820 is in the 11th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 11 percent of the roughly 2 million students who take the SAT each year. It is below the middle 50 percent at selective schools, so it is the clearest place to improve if your list runs competitive.
- What percentile is a 820 SAT score?
- A 820 is in the 11th percentile. About 1,784,419 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 820 SAT score?
- A 820 is in range at 23 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 820 good enough for the Ivy League?
- The Ivy League middle 50 percent generally runs from about 1500 to 1580, so a 820 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 820 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 820 is leaking points.
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