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    Is a 1400 SAT score good?

    Yes. A 1400 is a strong score on the SAT. It's at the 93rd percentile of recent SAT takers and at the 97th 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 865 of the 925 colleges we track with published SAT ranges.

    Updated

    percentile of recent SAT takers
    93rd
    percentile of all U.S. 11th and 12th graders
    97th
    colleges where it's in or above the middle 50%
    865 of 925
    ACT equivalent
    31

    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

    • The two public universities where a 1400 is below range are Maryland and Virginia (1410). Among private colleges, it's below the 25th percentile at the most selective.
    • Below range isn't always a reason to hold: a 1400 is worth sending at Northeastern by our estimates, a close call at Tulane, and below the line at Vanderbilt.
    • Oklahoma's top non-resident tier, $17,500 a year, starts at 1390; Alabama's top out-of-state tier starts at 1420.

    How a 1400 compares across colleges

    Where 1400 falls against the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen who sent scores, at public and at private colleges.

    Where a 1400 falls in colleges' middle 50% SAT ranges
    Where a 1400 fallsPublic (378)Private (547)
    Above the 75th percentile335407
    Inside the middle 50%4182
    Below the 25th percentile258
    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 1400 is in range

    The largest public universities where 1400 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 1400 is in range
    CollegeMiddle 50% SAT (Fall 2025)2026-27 test policySent an SAT
    Ohio State University-Main Campus1300-1440Required25%
    Purdue University-Main Campus1220-1470Required84%
    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus1280-1410Optional29%
    Indiana University-Bloomington1200-1410Optional43%
    University of Wisconsin-Madison1400-1490Optional12%
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign1390-1520Optional43%
    University of Florida1330-1490Required78%
    University of Michigan-Ann Arbor1370-1530Optional55%
    Florida State University1300-1410Required64%
    University of Georgia1250-1420Required70%
    Sources: each college's Common Data Set (or College Scorecard) and admissions page, linked in the table.

    Selective private colleges where a 1400 is in range

    The private colleges with the highest middle 50% that still includes 1400, most selective first.

    Selective private colleges where a 1400 is in range
    CollegeMiddle 50% SAT (Fall 2025)2026-27 test policySent an SAT
    Occidental College1400-1510Optional25%
    University of Rochester1400-1510Optional16%
    Kenyon College1400-1495Optional8%
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute1380-1500Optional53%
    Lehigh University1380-1480Optional33%
    Wesleyan University1350-1510Optional44%
    Lafayette College1360-1490Optional27%
    Mount Holyoke College1365-1485Optional15%
    Oberlin College1370-1480Optional34%
    Brandeis University1370-1470Optional28%
    Sources: each college's Common Data Set (or College Scorecard) and admissions page, linked in the table.

    Where does a 1400 fall short?

    The two public universities where a 1400 is below range are Maryland and Virginia, each with a 25th percentile of 1410. Among private colleges, it is below the 25th percentile at the most selective: Georgetown (1405), Boston University (1420), Tulane (1430), Northeastern (1440), Notre Dame (1460), USC (1470) and NYU (1480).

    Being in range doesn't predict the outcome either. At Georgia Tech and Michigan, a 1400 is 30 points above the 25th percentile at universities that admitted 13% and 16% of applicants: the range describes students who enrolled, and the admit rate describes everyone who applied.

    Should you send a 1400 to test-optional colleges?

    It depends on the college, and the range alone won't tell you. A 1400 is below the 25th percentile at Northeastern, Tulane and Vanderbilt, and our estimates of the typical score of freshmen who enrolled without one put it in three different places: above it at Northeastern (1390), a close call at Tulane (1410) and well below it at Vanderbilt (1470).

    Some of the most selective colleges require a score: Georgetown does for 2026-27, so you send one there either way. Where you can choose, consider your high school as well as the range. Dartmouth's admissions office wrote, when it reinstated its requirement, that it reads a score against the student's school, so a 1400 from a school where few students score above 1200 can count as high even below the college's range. Other colleges may weigh that context differently.

    Which scholarships does a 1400 earn?

    At public universities with automatic grids, a 1400 is in or near the top tiers:

    • Oklahoma. Non-residents with a 3.5 GPA receive the Award of Excellence, $17,500 a year, from 1390.
    • Alabama. For out-of-state students with a 3.50 GPA, 1360 to 1410 earns $24,000 a year and 1420 or higher earns $28,000. Alabama uses a single test date, not a superscore.
    • Kentucky. The Bluegrass Scholarship pays out-of-state students $16,000 a year from 1360 with a 3.5.

    The University of Dallas pays $37,000 a year from 1400 or a 3.9 GPA. Grids change every year, so check each college's current page before counting on an award. 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 1400 fits, college by college

    Each college we track, with its middle 50% of enrolled freshmen, where 1400 falls in it, whether to send it, and the merit aid whose SAT minimum it meets. Pick a score within 20 points of 1400 or a state to redraw the lists.

    At 1400: 129 target, 15 reach and 727 likely colleges; worth sending to 732 of 762 test-optional colleges.

    Target colleges for 1400 (129)

    1400 is inside the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen, or at a test-optional college it's worth sending. Most selective first.

    Target colleges for 1400
    University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · Admits 17%SAT, middle 50%1400 to 1530Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional; required below a 2.8 GPA. Send from 1330
    Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI · Admits 19%SAT, middle 50%1396 to 1530Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1320
    Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Admits 45%SAT, middle 50%1400 to 1510Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1350
    University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Admits 37%SAT, middle 50%1390 to 1520Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1300
    University of RochesterRochester, NY · Admits 42%SAT, middle 50%1400 to 1510Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1340
    William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · Admits 37%SAT, middle 50%1390 to 1520Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1340
    University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Admits 16%SAT, middle 50%1370 to 1530Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1360
    Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH · Admits 30%SAT, middle 50%1400 to 1495Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1340
    University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · Admits 41%SAT, middle 50%1400 to 1490Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1310
    Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · Admits 67%SAT, middle 50%1380 to 1500Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1320

    Reach colleges for 1400 (15)

    1400 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 1400
    Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Admits 13%SAT, middle 50%1405 to 1530Below the middle 50%Send this score?RequiredTest required
    Davidson CollegeDavidson, NC · Admits 13%SAT, middle 50%1410 to 1500Below the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1370
    Boston UniversityBoston, MA · Admits 13%SAT, middle 50%1420 to 1510Below the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1370
    Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA · Admits 15%SAT, middle 50%1430 to 1520Below the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1380
    Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Admits 14%SAT, middle 50%1430 to 1500Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1410
    Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · Admits 14%SAT, middle 50%1430 to 1530Below the middle 50%Send this score?Close callYour GPA decides. Send from 1410
    Webb InstituteGlen Cove, NY · Admits 14%SAT, middle 50%1430 to 1530Below the middle 50%Send this score?RequiredTest required
    Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · Admits 6%SAT, middle 50%1440 to 1550Below the middle 50%Send this score?RequiredTest required
    Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaNew York, NY · Admits 49%SAT, middle 50%1440 to 1580Below the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateTest optional
    Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA · Admits 13%SAT, middle 50%1370 to 1530Lower half of the middle 50%Send this score?RequiredTest required

    Not listed: 39 more colleges where 1400 is under roughly the 10th percentile of freshmen.

    Likely colleges for 1400 (352)

    1400 is above the 75th percentile of enrolled freshmen at a college admitting 15% or more. Closest first.

    Likely colleges for 1400
    Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA · Admits 82%SAT, middle 50%1265 to 1395Above the middle 50%Send this score?No estimateTest optional
    Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Admits 88%SAT, middle 50%1133 to 1391Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1080
    DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN · Admits 56%SAT, middle 50%1170 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1170
    Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY · Admits 73%SAT, middle 50%1260 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1230
    Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Admits 75%SAT, middle 50%1220 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1200
    Providence CollegeProvidence, RI · Admits 51%SAT, middle 50%1250 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1240
    Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ · Admits 73%SAT, middle 50%1220 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1220
    Simmons UniversityBoston, MA · Admits 70%SAT, middle 50%1220 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1210
    Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · Admits 52%SAT, middle 50%1160 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1170
    The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Admits 69%SAT, middle 50%1170 to 1390Above the middle 50%Send this score?Send itTest optional. Send from 1170

    Not listed: 375 more colleges where 1400 is more than 150 points above the middle 50%.

    Automatic scholarships with an SAT minimum at or below 1400

    129 colleges we track publish an automatic merit award with an SAT minimum at or below 1400, 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 1450, 59 colleges move up a band, 20 test-optional colleges become worth sending to, and 23 colleges have a larger scholarship whose SAT minimum it meets. See every college at 1450.

    Moves up a band (59)

    Becomes worth sending (20)

    Meets a larger award's SAT minimum (23)

    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 1400?

    At 1400 you can miss about 5 to 8 Reading and Writing questions and 4 to 6 Math questions (see how many questions you can miss at each score). Going from 1400 to 1500 means cutting your misses roughly in half, and the ones that remain skew toward the hardest questions.

    Sort your misses by skill. In Math, the hardest questions come at the end of each module and often involve nonlinear functions, equations with a parameter ("for what value of k does this system have no solution") and circle and triangle geometry. In Reading and Writing, they tend to be inferences, questions built on a table or graph, and cross-text comparisons. We've written more about going from 1400 to 1500.

    Other SAT scores

    1350 is 50 lower; 1450 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 1400 SAT

    Is a 1400 a good SAT score?
    Yes. A 1400 is a strong score on the SAT. It's at the 93rd percentile of recent SAT takers and at the 97th 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 865 of the 925 colleges we track with published SAT ranges.
    What percentile is a 1400 on the SAT?
    A 1400 is at the 93rd percentile among students who took the SAT and graduated in the past three school years (College Board's user group percentiles): about 7% 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 97th percentile.
    What colleges can I get into with a 1400 SAT?
    By score alone, a 1400 makes 129 colleges we track a target, including University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rhode Island School of Design and Occidental College, and 727 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 1400 to test-optional colleges?
    At 732 of the 762 test-optional colleges where we estimate the typical score of freshmen who enrolled without one, a 1400 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 1400 SAT?
    A 1400 SAT matches a 31 on the ACT, by the concordance tables ACT and College Board published together in 2018.
    Should I retake the SAT with a 1400?
    It depends on your list. Fifty more points, 1450, would move up a band at 59 colleges, become worth sending at 20 colleges and meet a richer scholarship's SAT minimum at 23 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.