1540 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

A 1540 puts MIT and Stanford in range, something only the top 1% of testers can say. You have about 1,570 colleges that fit this score, from highly selective private schools to well-known public universities. That's a strong score.

How 1540 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: ~35 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,570 schools (98 target, 53 reach, 1,419 safety).

Is a 1540 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1540 SAT is an outstanding score. It overlaps the middle 50% at Harvard (1510-1580) and sits near the low end at Caltech (1530-1580), so your number lines up with what those schools enroll.

Both are still reaches because they admit so few students. A 1540 keeps you competitive there, but it does not make admission likely on its own.

Colleges still look at GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations, not just this number. Those pieces are what separate applicants once everyone in the pool has a score like yours.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1540 SAT

Princeton, University of Chicago, and Brown post middle 50% ranges of 1510-1580, so a 1540 is right in the mix. Low admit rates still keep all three harder to get into. UCLA is another reach even with your score above its middle 50% (1300-1530). UT Austin is a more comfortable fit, with 1540 above its usual band (1250-1510).

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

Your 1540 sits above the middle 50% at University of Florida (1320-1480) and near the top at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1360-1530). You have a good shot at both.

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

Irvine, CA

 1230-1430 1330 29% Medium

College Park, MD

 1400-1530 1465 45% Medium

Madison, WI

 1380-1520 1450 45% Medium

Seattle, WA

 1200-1453 1326 39% Medium

Raleigh, NC

 1300-1470 1385 42% Medium
View all 98 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Many top schools are still reaches even with a 1540. MIT (1520-1580) and Harvard (1510-1580) include your score in their middle 50%, but tiny admit rates make them possible, not likely.

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)

A 1540 is well above the middle 50% at Ohio State (1310-1480) and Virginia Tech (1280-1450). Your odds look strong at both, and this backup group is large.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% High

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% High

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% High

East Lansing, MI

 1180-1360 1270 85% High

Tuscaloosa, AL

 1170-1400 1285 77% High

Orlando, FL

 1200-1350 1275 40% High

San Diego, CA

 1090-1300 1195 36% High

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% High

Columbus, OH

 1310-1480 1395 61% High

Waco, TX

 1200-1400 1300 51% High

Knoxville, TN

 1200-1370 1285 42% High

Lexington, KY

 1070-1290 1180 93% High
View all 1,419 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1540 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1540 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1540 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1540 SAT Midwest 1540 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1540 SAT New England 1540 SAT Pacific Northwest 1540 SAT South 1540 SAT Southeast 1540 SAT West 1540 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1540?

You probably do not need another SAT. A 1540 already reaches the middle 50% at almost every college in the country. One more sitting mainly helps if you are chasing a 1570 or higher at the most selective schools and think you left points on the table.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
Could push you toward 1570 or 1600 Time away from grades and activities
May help at the most selective schools Gains are often small at this level
Lets you try for a more even section split Another Saturday you may not need

Serious prep often adds about 50-100 SAT points, but jumps that big are less common once you are already at 1540. If you do sit again, target your weaker section with official practice tests and a tight review of missed question types. A few focused weeks beat a long, vague study slog.

Apply with the 1540 if you are happy with your mix of schools, or schedule one more test only if a higher number is a clear goal.

1540 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1540 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1480 33
1500 34
1520 34
1540 35
1560 35
1580 36
1600 36

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1540 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