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 |
|---|---|
|
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, Michigan |
1095 |
|
Keuka College
Keuka Park, New York |
1095 |
|
University of St Thomas
Houston, Texas |
1095 |
|
Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts |
1094 |
|
University of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, New York |
1094 |
|
Columbia International University
Columbia, South Carolina |
1092 |
|
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, Arkansas |
1090 |
|
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, California |
1090 |
|
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Ankeny, Iowa |
1090 |
|
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa |
1090 |
|
Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania |
1090 |
|
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania |
1090 |
|
Presbyterian College
Clinton, South Carolina |
1090 |
|
Houston Christian University
Houston, Texas |
1090 |
|
Central College
Pella, Iowa |
1088 |
|
Millsaps College
Jackson, Mississippi |
1087 |
|
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina |
1086 |
|
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, Texas |
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.