California Colleges for a 1080 on the SAT

With a 1080 SAT, you are competitive at 86 four-year colleges in California (34 target, 15 reach, 37 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 21 ACT.

Colleges in California for a 1080 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 1080 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Jose State University San Jose, CA	1010-1240	1125	85%	Medium
California State University Long Beach Long Beach, CA	1020-1240	1130	46%	Medium
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	930-1130	1030	96%	Medium
California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA	1000-1180	1090	91%	Medium
California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA	930-1130	1030	94%	Medium
University of California Riverside Riverside, CA	1080-1280	1180	76%	Medium
California State University Chico Chico, CA	970-1170	1070	93%	Medium
California State University Fresno Fresno, CA	890-1100	995	95%	Medium
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA	983-1238	1110	88%	Medium
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA	950-1150	1050	93%	Medium
California State University Northridge Northridge, CA	900-1110	1005	93%	Medium
University of California Merced Merced, CA	960-1140	1050	91%	Medium

View all 34 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Reach schools typically enroll students with higher average SAT scores; admission is possible but more competitive.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	1090-1300	1195	36%	Low
University of California Irvine Irvine, CA	1230-1430	1330	29%	Low
University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	1230-1460	1345	33%	Low
University of California Davis Davis, CA	1160-1400	1280	42%	Low
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA	1190-1390	1290	62%	Low
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	1220-1410	1315	31%	Low
University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA	1160-1360	1260	66%	Low
University of the Pacific Stockton, CA	1183-1480	1331	71%	Low
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA	1175-1365	1270	84%	Low
University of Redlands Redlands, CA	1107-1350	1228	83%	Low
Whittier College Whittier, CA	1140-1340	1240	81%	Low
Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA	1240-1450	1345	77%	Low

View all 15 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average SAT scores well below 1080; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	870-1060	965	91%	High
Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, CA	-	-	100%	High
Bethesda University Anaheim, CA	-	-	100%	High
Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos, CA	-	-	100%	High
American Jewish University Los Angeles, CA	-	-	100%	High
Pacific States University Los Angeles, CA	-	-	100%	High
Los Angeles Pacific University San Dimas, CA	-	-	100%	High
Lincoln University Oakland, CA	-	-	100%	High
Providence Christian College Pasadena, CA	-	-	100%	High
University of the West Rosemead, CA	-	-	100%	High
California College of ASU Los Angeles, CA	-	-	100%	High
Horizon University Indianapolis, CA	-	-	100%	High

View all 37 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1080 SAT in California

See all colleges nationally for a 1080 SAT

1080 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1080 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score	ACT Equivalent
1020	19
1040	20
1060	21
1080	21
1100	21
1120	21
1140	23

Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.

Published: August 19, 2026