1500 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

You're in a good spot with a 1500. That's about the 99th percentile, and you can aim at highly selective schools like Stanford and MIT, even though both stay reaches because they admit so few students. About 1,570 colleges match this score, including more than 120 where you have a good shot.

How 1500 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 99th - higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~34 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,570 schools (122 target, 53 reach, 1,395 safety).

Is a 1500 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1500 SAT is an excellent score. Harvard's middle 50% runs 1510-1580 and Brown's is the same, so you are right at the low end. Both are still reaches because they admit only a sliver of applicants.

You also have a good shot at University of Michigan, where 1500 is inside the 1360-1530 middle 50%, and at UT Austin, where you land at the high end of 1250-1510. Those are more comfortable targets than the most selective private colleges.

Admissions officers still weigh your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations, not just this number. A 1500 will not save a thin application, and a slightly lower score with a stronger story can beat a higher one.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1500 SAT

Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Chicago all report 1510-1580 in the middle 50%, so a 1500 is just under those bands and they stay reaches. UCLA is a reach too even though 1500 falls inside 1300-1530, mainly because so many students apply. University of Florida is a clearer target, since you come in above its 1320-1480 range. The tables below group schools into tougher admits, good-fit matches, and likely backups.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

At University of Florida (1320-1480) and Michigan (1360-1530), a 1500 is inside or above the middle 50%. You have a good shot at these if the rest of your application is solid.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Gainesville, FL

 1320-1480 1400 24% Medium

Austin, TX

 1250-1510 1380 27% Medium

Ann Arbor, MI

 1360-1530 1445 16% Medium

Tallahassee, FL

 1270-1410 1340 24% Medium

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% Medium

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Medium

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% Medium

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% Medium

San Diego, CA

 1090-1300 1195 36% Medium

Columbus, OH

 1310-1480 1395 61% Medium

Irvine, CA

 1230-1430 1330 29% Medium

Waco, TX

 1200-1400 1300 51% Medium
View all 122 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Even with a 1500, many top schools stay reaches. MIT (1520-1580) and Johns Hopkins (1520-1570) are good examples. Your score is a bit below their typical middle 50%, and they turn down plenty of students with higher numbers.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Pasadena, CA

 1530-1580 1555 3% Low

Cambridge, MA

 1520-1580 1550 5% Low

Cambridge, MA

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Stanford, CA

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Chicago, IL

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

New York, NY

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Princeton, NJ

 1510-1580 1545 5% Low

Providence, RI

 1510-1580 1545 5% Low

Baltimore, MD

 1520-1570 1545 6% Low

Philadelphia, PA

 1510-1570 1540 5% Low

Evanston, IL

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low

Houston, TX

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low
View all 53 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

You are well above the middle 50% at Penn State (1240-1420) and Texas A&M (1150-1400). Odds look strong at these schools, and you have plenty of comfortable backups.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% High

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% High

East Lansing, MI

 1180-1360 1270 85% High

Tuscaloosa, AL

 1170-1400 1285 77% High

Orlando, FL

 1200-1350 1275 40% High

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% High

Lexington, KY

 1070-1290 1180 93% High

College Station, TX

 1150-1400 1275 57% High

Greenville, NC

 1070-1240 1155 89% High

Honolulu, HI

 1081-1293 1187 87% High

Tucson, AZ

 1150-1420 1285 86% High

Boulder, CO

 1240-1430 1335 78% High
View all 1,395 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1500 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1500 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1500 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1500 SAT Midwest 1500 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1500 SAT New England 1500 SAT Pacific Northwest 1500 SAT South 1500 SAT Southeast 1500 SAT West 1500 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1500?

You probably do not need another SAT sitting unless you are aiming at the most selective schools. A 1500 already holds up almost everywhere. If MIT or Caltech is your top choice and your practice tests are trending higher, one more try can make sense.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
Could move you into MIT or Caltech score ranges Takes time from essays, grades, and activities
Helps if your top choices are still just out of reach Score jumps get smaller once you are at 1500

Focused prep often adds about 50-100 SAT points, but gains shrink when you start at 1500. Drill your weaker section and take a couple of timed practice tests instead of restudying everything. If your practice scores are stuck, another official test may not change much.

Apply with this 1500 if your school mix already feels right, or retake only if a higher score would change your targets.

1500 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1500 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1440 32
1460 33
1480 33
1500 34
1520 34
1540 35
1560 35

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1500 SAT places you in about the 99th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026