average sat scores by state (2024): how does your state stack up?

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rachel kapelke-dale

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sat scores by state - image by magoosh

when it comes to figuring out your ideal score on the sat, a comparison is always helpful, particularly if you’re applying to in-state, public colleges–they tend to put more emphasis on comparing the scores from the states in which they’re located. however, average scores by state can also be important for college admissions in general (no matter where you’re from or where you’re applying), as schools often have admissions officers who focus on particular regions. in this post, we’ll share college board’s most recent data and examine how students, and parents of students, should consider the data in terms of the big picture.

what is the national average sat score?

the national average is 1024. and, if you’re curious about the reading & writing and math national averages, here they are:

average reading and writing: 519

average math: 505

sat scores by state

state average composite (overall) sat scores average evidence-based reading and writing sat scores average math sat scores
alabama 1157 591 566
alaska 1079 555 524
arizona 1185 599 586
arkansas 1188 612 575
california 1086 549 537
colorado 998 510 488
connecticut 990 502 685
delaware 948 484 464
district of columbia 937 480 457
florida 948 493 455
georgia 1039 532 507
hawaii 1124 570 554
idaho 998 508 490
illinois 966 491 476
indiana 969 489 480
iowa 1195 606 589
kansas 1256 633 623
kentucky 1197 612 585
louisiana 1195 611 584
maine 1074 550 524
maryland 998 512 487
massachusetts 1109 559 550
michigan 965 492 473
minnesota 1215 608 607
mississippi 1197 612 585
missouri 1193 603 590
montana 1204 613 592
nebraska 1227 622 605
nevada 1180 599 581
new hampshire 1023 520 503
new jersey 1050 531 519
new mexico 885 453 431
new york 1035 522 513
north carolina 1161 590 571
north dakota 1229 624 605
ohio 1025 516 509
oklahoma 966 495 470
oregon 1117 572 546
pennsylvania 1075 546 529
puerto rico 98 514 466
rhode island 954 488 465
south carolina 1015 521 494
south dakota 1214 613 602
tennessee 1191 607 584
texas 971 495 477
utah 1230 622 609
vermont 1097 562 535
virginia 1107 564 537
virgin islands 948 498 450
washington 1081 549 531
west virginia 919 477 442
wisconsin 1221 610 610
wyoming 1253 636 616

what do average sat scores by state tell us?

when analyzing sat scores across the united states, certain trends emerge, particularly among the top-performing states. according to the most recent data, the five states with the highest average sat scores are massachusetts, new hampshire, minnesota, new jersey, and virginia. while these scores may seem impressive, several factors can influence these averages, making them less indicative of individual performance or college readiness.

for instance, the size of a state and the number of students taking the sat can significantly impact average scores. states like massachusetts have a smaller, more academically inclined population, which may lead to higher averages. conversely, states where the act is more popular, such as illinois and michigan, may see fewer students opting for the sat, skewing the data. additionally, some states require standardized tests like the sat or act for graduation, while others do not, leading to a varying number of test-takers and potentially lower average scores.

ultimately, while these state averages provide interesting insights, they should not be the sole metric for evaluating sat performance or setting score goals. it’s crucial to consider your own performance in the context of your peers, especially in states with similar participation rates, rather than relying solely on state averages. understanding the nuances behind these scores can help students set more realistic and personalized goals on their path to college admission.

a better way to put your score in context

what should you do if you need more information about whether you score is “good”? look at sat score ideal score on the sat percentiles. these numbers compare sat scores to those of all other students who took the test. particularly if you’re applying to colleges with stiff, nation-wide competition, knowing the broader context of your scores is important.

a final word on average sat scores by state

taking a peek at the average sat scores by state can help you put your scores (or your student’s scores) in context. however, remember that these average scores are not the be-all-and-end-all of college admissions! at the end of the day, the best way to evaluate individual scores is by seeing how they measure up to individual goals. yes, that means looking up the average sat score for each and every institution to which you’re thinking about applying. that’s the best way to determine whether a score will be competitive for admissions.

wherever you happen to be in your sat prep journey, magoosh is here to help. check out our magoosh sat prep plans, and let the experts at magoosh help guide you to your dream score!

author

  • rachel kapelke-dale

    rachel is a magoosh content creator. she writes and updates content on our high school and gre blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. as a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the sat, act, toefl, gre, and gmat, and she is one of the authors of our magoosh act prep book. rachel has a bachelor of arts in comparative literature from brown university, an ma in cinematography from the université de paris vii, and a ph.d. in film studies from university college london. for over a decade, rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. her novel, the ballerinas, is forthcoming in december 2021 from st. martin’s press, while her memoir, graduates in wonderland, co-written with jessica pan, was published in 2014 by penguin random house. her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including vanity fair hollywood. when she isn’t strategically stringing words together at magoosh, you can find rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. join her on twitter, instagram, or facebook!

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