Is a 870 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
A 870 is below the national average, and it is a starting point you can build on.
About 1,664,121 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 870 or higher.
What a 870 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 870 in the 17th percentile, so you scored higher than about 17 percent of test takers. A 870 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 870 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 56 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 870 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 870 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% |
| Arkansas at Pine BluffAR | 845 to 1108 | 41.2% |
| West AlabamaAL | 860 to 1120 | 42.6% |
| Alcorn StateMS | 670 to 998 | 45.3% |
| Delaware StateDE | 800 to 1020 | 46.6% |
| Puerto Rico at CayeyPR | 843 to 1073 | 53.0% |
| Puerto Rico CarolinaPR | 809 to 1057 | 54.5% |
| CUNY LehmanNY | 850 to 1150 | 56.6% |
| Alabama A&MAL | 810 to 1040 | 58.0% |
| Bethel (TN)TN | 830 to 1120 | 60.2% |
| 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% |
| MillikinIL | 860 to 1130 | 66.7% |
| Southwest BaptistMO | 810 to 1210 | 68.4% |
| Clayton StateGA | 860 to 1078 | 68.5% |
| Siena HeightsMI | 806 to 1073 | 68.9% |
| Abraham Baldwin AgriculturalGA | 860 to 1080 | 75.7% |
| Winston Salem StateNC | 830 to 1020 | 78.3% |
| BaltimoreMD | 740 to 1330 | 78.7% |
| Southern University at New OrleansLA | 820 to 1050 | 78.9% |
| Prairie View A&MTX | 860 to 1080 | 79.3% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 870 keeps you in range at 56 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+56
more colleges in range at a 920
112
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 870 and a 920.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 870 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 870 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
870 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 870 a good SAT score?
- A 870 is in the 17th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 17 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 870 SAT score?
- A 870 is in the 17th percentile. About 1,664,121 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 870 SAT score?
- A 870 is in range at 56 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 870 good enough for the Ivy League?
- The Ivy League middle 50 percent generally runs from about 1500 to 1580, so a 870 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 870 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 870 is leaking points.
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