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.

List of United States Private Colleges Ranked by Highest SAT Score
College Average SAT Score

Grand Rapids, Michigan

1095

Keuka Park, New York

1095

Houston, Texas

1095

Newton, Massachusetts

1094
1094

Columbia, South Carolina

1092

Clarksville, Arkansas

1090
1090
1090

Orange City, Iowa

1090

Rosemont, Pennsylvania

1090

Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

1090

Clinton, South Carolina

1090
1090

Pella, Iowa

1088

Jackson, Mississippi

1087

Boiling Springs, North Carolina

1086
1086

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.