Sharp SAT prep home

    Is a 1050 SAT score good?

    A 1050 SAT is above average. It's at the 55th percentile of recent SAT takers and at the 58th percentile of all U.S. 11th and 12th graders, by College Board's percentiles. Whether it's good for you depends on your colleges: it's inside or above the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen at 435 of the 925 colleges we track with published SAT ranges.

    Updated

    percentile of recent SAT takers
    55th
    percentile of all U.S. 11th and 12th graders
    58th
    colleges where it's in or above the middle 50%
    435 of 925
    ACT equivalent
    20

    Percentiles: College Board, SAT Nationally Representative and User Percentiles. User group percentiles count students who graduated in the past three school years; nationally representative ones are weighted to stand for all U.S. 11th and 12th graders. Checked October 31, 2026. ACT equivalent: ACT and College Board concordance (2018).

    Key takeaways

    • A 1050 is within 50 points of the 25th percentile at Kentucky, Oklahoma State, FIU, Kansas, Arizona, Michigan State and Alabama. At 1100, it's inside all seven ranges.
    • At Kentucky and Kansas, fewer than one first-year in ten sent an SAT, so their ranges describe a small group.
    • The largest awards near 1050 are out-of-state tuition reductions at New Mexico and Louisiana-Lafayette, both starting at 1030.

    How a 1050 compares across colleges

    Where 1050 falls against the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen who sent scores, at public and at private colleges.

    Where a 1050 falls in colleges' middle 50% SAT ranges
    Where a 1050 fallsPublic (378)Private (547)
    Above the 75th percentile1711
    Inside the middle 50%207200
    Below the 25th percentile154336
    Colleges we track with a published SAT range: each college's Common Data Set, or the federal College Scorecard where it has none.

    Large public universities where a 1050 is in range

    The largest public universities where 1050 is inside the middle 50%. Each range links to its source and each policy to the college's admissions page. "Sent an SAT" is the share of enrolled first-years the range describes.

    Large public universities where a 1050 is in range
    CollegeMiddle 50% SAT2026-27 test policySent an SAT
    Kennesaw State University1010-1210Required41%
    Texas State University990-1200Varies by applicant41%
    University of North Texas960-1210Optional40%
    The University of Texas at San Antonio1010-1210Optional61%
    University of Arkansas1020-1210Optional31%
    University of Nevada-Las Vegas1030-1240Optional10%
    Florida Atlantic University1050-1220Required76%
    University of Illinois Chicago1030-1300Optional47%
    Georgia Southern University980-1140Required35%
    University of Mississippi990-1175Optional27%
    Sources: each college's Common Data Set (or College Scorecard) and admissions page, linked in the table.

    Selective private colleges where a 1050 is in range

    The private colleges with the highest middle 50% that still includes 1050, most selective first.

    Selective private colleges where a 1050 is in range
    CollegeMiddle 50% SAT2026-27 test policySent an SAT
    North Central College1040-1310Optional21%
    Manhattan University1008-1325Optional9%
    Howard University1050-1270Optional47%
    Augustana College1020-1280Optional49%
    Moravian University1030-1240Optional18%
    University of Detroit Mercy1030-1240Optional46%
    Lee University1030-1230Optional22%
    York College of Pennsylvania1020-1240Optional20%
    Saint Vincent College1045-1210Optional51%
    Regent University1000-1220Optional11%
    Sources: each college's Common Data Set (or College Scorecard) and admissions page, linked in the table.

    Where does a 1050 fall short?

    A 1050 is where many flagship public universities come within reach. It is below the 25th percentile, by 50 points or less, at Kentucky (1058), Oklahoma State (1060), FIU (1070), Kansas (1080), Arizona (1090), Michigan State (1100) and Alabama (1100). At 1100, it's inside all seven ranges.

    Several of these admit most applicants: Kentucky admitted 94% for Fall 2025 and Kansas 93%. At both, fewer than one first-year in ten sent an SAT (9% at Kentucky, 7% at Kansas), so most of the class enrolled without one.

    Should you send a 1050 to test-optional colleges?

    At many regional universities, yes. A 1050 is at or above our estimate of the typical SAT of freshmen who enrolled without one at North Texas (1040), Kent State (1040), UTSA (1050) and Illinois State (1050), so sending it helps there.

    At the flagships a little further up, it's closer. At Arizona, Kansas and Oklahoma State, where we estimate 1080, it's a close call and your GPA decides. At Michigan State and Alabama (1120 at both), apply without it.

    Which scholarships does a 1050 earn?

    Near 1050, the largest automatic awards are for out-of-state students. New Mexico's Lobo Undergraduate Exchange Plus pays $23,149 a year from 1030 with a 3.0 GPA, and Louisiana-Lafayette's out-of-state fee waiver ($6,864 a semester) also starts at 1030, with a 2.5. Bowling Green State covers half of its non-resident fee from 1040 with a 3.0.

    Fifty more points reach larger private awards: the University of Dallas pays $31,000 a year from 1100 or a 3.40 GPA. This page counts only awards with an SAT minimum. Many colleges also give merit aid on GPA alone; our merit aid calculator estimates awards from your GPA and score together.

    Where 1050 fits, college by college

    Each college we track, with its middle 50% of enrolled freshmen, where 1050 falls in it, whether to send it, and the merit aid whose SAT minimum it meets. Pick a score within 20 points of 1050 or a state to redraw the lists.

    At 1050: 403 target, 182 reach and 28 likely colleges; worth sending to 248 of 762 test-optional colleges.

    Target colleges for 1050 (403)

    1050 is inside the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen, or at a test-optional college it's worth sending. Most selective first.

    Target colleges for 1050
    Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis, TN · Admits 87%SAT, middle 50%1020 to 1380Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1050Merit at this score$16,000 a yearMaurelian Scholarship. 3.25+ GPA or 1030+ SAT or 20+ ACT, Meet any one: GPA, ACT or SAT minimum
    SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUtica, NY · Admits 81%SAT, middle 50%1025 to 1370Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateTest optional
    Northwest UniversityKirkland, WA · Admits 89%SAT, middle 50%1040 to 1350Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1090
    Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater, VA · Admits 92%SAT, middle 50%1020 to 1360Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1090
    University of OregonEugene, OR · Admits 87%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1320Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1110
    Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMount Vernon, OH · Admits 84%SAT, middle 50%1046 to 1315Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1050
    Carroll CollegeHelena, MT · Admits 71%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1300Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Apply without itTest optional; required below a 2.9 GPA. Send from 1100
    North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · Admits 77%SAT, middle 50%1040 to 1310Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Apply without itTest optional. Send from 1100
    Rutgers University-CamdenCamden, NJ · Admits 66%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1300Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Apply without itTest optional. Send from 1100
    Harding UniversitySearcy, AR · Admits 71%SAT, middle 50%1050 to 1290Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?RequiredTest required

    Reach colleges for 1050 (182)

    1050 is below the middle 50% but above the bottom 10% or so, or the college admits under 15% of applicants, a reach for everyone. Closest first.

    Reach colleges for 1050
    Emory & Henry UniversityEmory, VA · Admits 84%SAT, middle 50%1051 to 1223Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1070
    Rivier UniversityNashua, NH · Admits 83%SAT, middle 50%1055 to 1175Below the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateTest optional
    University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgGreensburg, PA · Admits 93%SAT, middle 50%1055 to 1253Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1080
    Central CollegePella, IA · Admits 86%SAT, middle 50%1056 to 1120Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1080
    Franklin Pierce UniversityRindge, NH · Admits 93%SAT, middle 50%1057 to 1282Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1080
    University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Admits 94%SAT, middle 50%1058 to 1270Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1090
    Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA · Admits 88%SAT, middle 50%1060 to 1263Below the middle 50%Send this score?Apply without itTest optional. Send from 1110
    Centenary College of LouisianaShreveport, LA · Admits 56%SAT, middle 50%1060 to 1210Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1070Merit at this score$24,000 a yearCentenary Award (out-of-state). 2.50+ GPA, 1030+ SAT or 20+ ACT, GPA calculated by TOPS rules. Out-of-state students
    Christopher Newport UniversityNewport News, VA · Admits 86%SAT, middle 50%1060 to 1290Below the middle 50%Send this score?Apply without itTest optional. Send from 1110
    Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC · Admits 70%SAT, middle 50%1060 to 1210Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1090

    Not listed: 297 more colleges where 1050 is under roughly the 10th percentile of freshmen.

    Likely colleges for 1050 (26)

    1050 is above the 75th percentile of enrolled freshmen at a college admitting 15% or more. Closest first.

    Likely colleges for 1050
    Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO · Admits 57%SAT, middle 50%960 to 1045Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1000
    Alabama A & M UniversityNormal, AL · Admits 58%SAT, middle 50%810 to 1040Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 900
    West Virginia State UniversityInstitute, WV · Admits 96%SAT, middle 50%760 to 1040Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 910
    Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY · Admits 99%SAT, middle 50%875 to 1038Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 950
    Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OK · Admits 65%SAT, middle 50%803 to 1036Above the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateTest optional; required below a 2.7 GPA
    Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Admits 99%SAT, middle 50%800 to 1030Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional; required below a 3.0 GPA. Send from 930
    Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VA · Admits 88%SAT, middle 50%823 to 1030Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 910
    University of the Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, VI · Admits 99%SAT, middle 50%783 to 1030Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 900
    University of Saint MaryLeavenworth, KS · Admits 87%SAT, middle 50%806 to 1028Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional; required below a 2.8 GPA. Send from 1000
    University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaAguadilla, PR · Admits 81%SAT, middle 50%791 to 1023Above the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateVaries by applicant

    Not listed: 2 more colleges where 1050 is more than 150 points above the middle 50%.

    Automatic scholarships with an SAT minimum at or below 1050

    52 colleges we track publish an automatic merit award with an SAT minimum at or below 1050, including colleges not listed above. Each award's other requirements, usually a GPA, are listed with it, and the college's page has every rule. Largest first.

    What 50 more points changes

    At 1100, 164 colleges move up a band, 150 test-optional colleges become worth sending to, and 43 colleges have a larger scholarship whose SAT minimum it meets. See every college at 1100.

    Moves up a band (164)

    Becomes worth sending (150)

    Meets a larger award's SAT minimum (43)

    We sort by score alone, with the same rules as our college pages, because this page doesn't ask for your GPA. SAT ranges are the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen who sent scores, mostly the Fall 2025 entering class, from each college's Common Data Set or the federal College Scorecard. Test policies are for fall 2027. "Send from" is our estimate of the typical SAT of freshmen who enrolled without one. Scholarships come from each college's published policy, linked.

    What costs points at a 1050?

    Between 1000 and 1200, the work is accuracy and pacing. Reading and Writing gives you about 70 seconds per question and Math about 95. Use the Desmos graphing calculator built into Bluebook: graphing a system of equations or a quadratic and reading off the intersection or vertex is often faster and less error-prone than solving by hand.

    Keep a log of every miss and why it happened. Content gaps left over from below 1000 still cost points here, usually in Algebra and Standard English Conventions, and execution errors (an unread "not," a skipped step) start to make up a larger share. We've written more about what to practice between 1000 and 1200.

    Other SAT scores

    1000 is 50 lower; 1100 is 50 higher. Every score from 900 to 1600 is on the SAT scores page. To check one college against your score and GPA, use the submit or retake tool.

    Common questions about a 1050 SAT

    Is a 1050 a good SAT score?
    A 1050 SAT is above average. It's at the 55th percentile of recent SAT takers and at the 58th percentile of all U.S. 11th and 12th graders, by College Board's percentiles. Whether it's good for you depends on your colleges: it's inside or above the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen at 435 of the 925 colleges we track with published SAT ranges.
    What percentile is a 1050 on the SAT?
    A 1050 is at the 55th percentile among students who took the SAT and graduated in the past three school years (College Board's user group percentiles): about 45% of them scored higher. Against all U.S. 11th and 12th graders, including those who don't take the SAT (College Board's nationally representative percentiles), it's at the 58th percentile.
    What colleges can I get into with a 1050 SAT?
    By score alone, a 1050 makes 403 colleges we track a target, including Christian Brothers University, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Northwest University, and 28 colleges likely: it's above the middle 50% of their freshmen. Grades, courses and the rest of your file count too, and colleges admitting under 15% of applicants are a reach for everyone.
    Should I send a 1050 to test-optional colleges?
    At 248 of the 762 test-optional colleges where we estimate the typical score of freshmen who enrolled without one, a 1050 is at or above it, so sending it helps. Elsewhere, applying without it is usually the better call, unless the score earns a scholarship. Each college's row in the table gives the call.
    What ACT score is a 1050 SAT?
    A 1050 SAT matches a 20 on the ACT, by the concordance tables ACT and College Board published together in 2018.
    Should I retake the SAT with a 1050?
    It depends on your list. Fifty more points, 1100, would move up a band at 164 colleges, become worth sending at 150 colleges and meet a richer scholarship's SAT minimum at 43 colleges. If none of those colleges is on your list, you may get more from spending that time on the rest of your application.

    Have another question? Email us at team@getsharp.app.