United States Private Colleges Ranked by Highest SAT Score
Below is a list of the 783 private colleges in the United States with the highest SAT Score for incoming freshmen. California Institute of Technology leads the list with an average SAT Score of 1555. Alternatively, check out the ACT version of these rankings.
The SAT is a standardized test used by colleges to evaluate applicants. It is not a guarantee of success in college, but it is a strong indicator of academic potential.
| College | Average SAT Score |
|---|---|
|
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois |
1145 |
|
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana |
1145 |
|
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan |
1145 |
|
York College of Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania |
1145 |
|
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia |
1145 |
|
Piedmont University
Demorest, Georgia |
1141 |
|
Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, Indiana |
1140 |
|
Bellarmine University
Louisville, Kentucky |
1140 |
|
Curry College
Milton, Massachusetts |
1140 |
|
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan |
1140 |
|
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota |
1140 |
|
Lees McRae College
Banner Elk, North Carolina |
1140 |
|
Oklahoma Christian University
Edmond, Oklahoma |
1140 |
|
Saint Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania |
1140 |
|
Hampden Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia |
1140 |
|
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Daytona Beach, Florida |
1140 |
|
Concordia University Nebraska
Seward, Nebraska |
1137 |
|
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
1137 |
This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: August 2026
Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.