1240 SAT: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

You're in a good spot with this 1240 SAT. It lands around the 85th percentile and lines up with familiar schools like Penn State and Clemson. Across the country, about 1,500 colleges match this score, including hundreds where you have a good shot.

How 1240 SAT Compares Nationally

Percentile: 83rd - higher than about 83% of recent test-takers.
National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
ACT equivalent: ~26 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
College options: Competitive at 1,497 schools (561 target, 79 reach, 857 safety).

Is a 1240 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1240 SAT is a good score, and it already overlaps the middle 50% at Michigan State (1180-1360) and at a private college like Baylor (1200-1400). UC Irvine's range starts at 1230, so you're at the low end there, not out of range.

It also clears the national average of 1050 by a lot and lines up with about a 26 ACT, which is why so many well-known state universities are realistic. A couple of more selective publics, like the University of Florida (1320-1480) or Ohio State (1310-1480), still look for higher scores, so those stay reaches.

A 1240 will not carry an application by itself. Colleges still look hard at your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations, and those pieces can matter as much as the test.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1240 SAT

Arizona State and Alabama look like comfortable matches for a 1240, while the University of Washington puts you toward the bottom of its middle 50% (1200-1453). Tougher schools such as UT Austin (1250-1510) and Virginia Tech (1280-1450) typically enroll higher scorers, so treat those as stretches.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

At the University of Central Florida (1200-1350) and Tennessee (1200-1370), a 1240 falls inside the middle 50%. That usually means a good shot when your grades and the rest of your application are solid.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Clemson University Clemson, SC	1240-1410	1325	38%	Medium
Arizona State University Tempe, AZ	1100-1320	1210	90%	Medium
Penn State Main Campus University Park, PA	1240-1420	1330	61%	Medium
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	1180-1360	1270	85%	Medium
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL	1170-1400	1285	77%	Medium
University of Central Florida Orlando, FL	1200-1350	1275	40%	Medium
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	1090-1300	1195	36%	Medium
University of California Irvine Irvine, CA	1230-1430	1330	29%	Medium
Baylor University Waco, TX	1200-1400	1300	51%	Medium
University of Washington Seattle Campus Seattle, WA	1200-1453	1326	39%	Medium
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville, TN	1200-1370	1285	42%	Medium
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	1070-1290	1180	93%	Medium

View all 561 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Your 1240 is below the middle 50% at Michigan (1360-1530) and UCLA (1300-1530). Admission is possible but clearly tougher, and low admit rates make those even harder.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
University of Florida Gainesville, FL	1320-1480	1400	24%	Low
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX	1250-1510	1380	27%	Low
University of Michigan Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI	1360-1530	1445	16%	Low
University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	1300-1530	1415	9%	Low
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL	1270-1410	1340	24%	Low
University of Miami Coral Gables, FL	1320-1480	1400	19%	Low
University of Georgia Athens, GA	1270-1480	1375	38%	Low
Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA	1280-1450	1365	55%	Low
Auburn University Auburn, AL	1260-1390	1325	46%	Low
Ohio State University Main Campus Columbus, OH	1310-1480	1395	61%	Low
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC	1300-1470	1385	42%	Low
University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA	1310-1530	1420	11%	Low

View all 79 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

You have hundreds of backups in this range, including Texas State (980-1200) and Boise State (1030-1210), where a 1240 is clearly above the middle 50%.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
Texas State University San Marcos, TX	980-1200	1090	89%	High
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL	1040-1200	1120	66%	High
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	930-1130	1030	96%	High
Washington State University Pullman, WA	1020-1210	1115	87%	High
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL	1040-1200	1120	63%	High
University of North Texas Denton, TX	980-1230	1105	72%	High
Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI	940-1190	1065	83%	High
West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	1010-1220	1115	89%	High
California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	870-1060	965	91%	High
Boise State University Boise, ID	1030-1210	1120	87%	High
California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA	1000-1180	1090	91%	High
California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA	930-1130	1030	94%	High

View all 857 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1240 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1240 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1240 SAT

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East 1240 SAT Midwest 1240 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1240 SAT New England 1240 SAT Pacific Northwest 1240 SAT South 1240 SAT Southeast 1240 SAT West 1240 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1240?

You don't need to retake the SAT if schools like Clemson or Michigan State already feel like the right fit. Another sitting is optional and helps most if you're aiming at highly selective publics where the middle 50% starts well above 1240.

Pros of retaking	Cons of retaking
May open more selective targets	Time away from grades and activities
Useful if practice tests were higher	No guarantee you will score higher

Focused prep often raises an SAT score by about 50-100 points. Drill the section that dragged you down. Take a couple of timed practice tests, and go over every missed question instead of cramming new tricks the week before.

Send the 1240 if your targets already fit, or prep for one more test date if you want those selective reaches to feel more realistic.

1240 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1240 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score	ACT Equivalent
1180	24
1200	25
1220	25
1240	26
1260	27
1280	27
1300	28

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentile is a 1240 SAT?

A 1240 SAT places you in about the 83rd percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 83% of recent test-takers.

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1240 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

How 1240 SAT Compares Nationally

Is a 1240 SAT Score Good?

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1240 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Local Options for a 1240 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1240?

1240 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentile is a 1240 SAT?

Can I get into an Ivy League or highly selective school with a 1240 SAT?

Is a 1240 SAT good for state schools?

What ACT score is equivalent to 1240 SAT?

Should I submit a 1240 SAT to test-optional schools?

How many colleges accept a 1240 SAT?

What are some of the best colleges for a 1240 SAT?

What GPA do I need with a 1240 SAT?

Is a 1240 SAT competitive for Florida State or the University of Georgia?

Should most of my schools be targets with a 1240 SAT?

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