California Colleges for a 1260 on the SAT

With a 1260 SAT, you are competitive at 97 four-year colleges in California (26 target, 8 reach, 63 safety). Your score is roughly equivalent to a 27 ACT.

Colleges in California for a 1260 SAT

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Target schools have middle 50% ranges that include 1260 - your score fits squarely in the admitted pool.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Diego State University San Diego, CA	1090-1300	1195	36%	Medium
University of California Irvine Irvine, CA	1230-1430	1330	29%	Medium
University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA	1230-1460	1345	33%	Medium
University of California Davis Davis, CA	1160-1400	1280	42%	Medium
California State University Long Beach Long Beach, CA	1020-1240	1130	46%	Medium
University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA	1190-1390	1290	62%	Medium
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA	1260-1430	1345	45%	Medium
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	1220-1410	1315	31%	Medium
University of California Riverside Riverside, CA	1080-1280	1180	76%	Medium
Chapman University Orange, CA	1260-1440	1350	65%	Medium
University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA	1160-1360	1260	66%	Medium
University of the Pacific Stockton, CA	1183-1480	1331	71%	Medium

View all 26 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
University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	1300-1530	1415	9%	Low
University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA	1310-1530	1420	11%	Low
Pepperdine University Malibu, CA	1290-1450	1370	63%	Low
University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA	1270-1480	1375	27%	Low
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA	1350-1490	1420	48%	Low
Occidental College Los Angeles, CA	1380-1520	1450	44%	Low
Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA	1333-1510	1421	43%	Low
Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CA	1265-1395	1330	82%	Low

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Safety schools have average SAT scores well below 1260; you have a very high chance of acceptance.

College	SAT Range	Avg SAT	Acceptance Rate	Your Chance
San Jose State University San Jose, CA	1010-1240	1125	85%	High
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA	930-1130	1030	96%	High
California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	870-1060	965	91%	High
California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA	1000-1180	1090	91%	High
California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA	930-1130	1030	94%	High
California State University Chico Chico, CA	970-1170	1070	93%	High
California State University Fresno Fresno, CA	890-1100	995	95%	High
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA	983-1238	1110	88%	High
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA	950-1150	1050	93%	High
California State University Northridge Northridge, CA	900-1110	1005	93%	High
University of California Merced Merced, CA	960-1140	1050	91%	High
California State University San Marcos San Marcos, CA	950-1130	1040	95%	High

View all 63 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1260 SAT in California

See all colleges nationally for a 1260 SAT

1260 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1260 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score	ACT Equivalent
1200	25
1220	25
1240	26
1260	27
1280	27
1300	28
1320	28

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

Published: August 19, 2026