Lists · 2026–27
US universities for a 1550 SAT score: 41 where it's in the middle 50%
At these 41 US universities on the Common App, a 1550 SAT falls within the middle 50% of first-year students who enrolled in fall 2024 and sent the SAT. They're sorted from the lowest acceptance rate. A score in the middle 50% makes you competitive on tests; grades, essays and activities decide the rest.
Updated September 25, 2026
Your plan checks deadlines, fees and tests against the rest of your list.
41 of 41 universities
| University | SAT middle 50% | Acceptance rate | SAT/ACT | Intl fee | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 1510–1580 | 3.6% | Required | $95 | Cambridge |
| Stanford University | 1510–1580 | 3.6% | Required | $100 | Stanford |
| Yale University | 1470–1570 | 3.9% | Required | $85 | New Haven |
| Columbia University | 1510–1580 | 4% | Optional | $85 | New York |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) | 1510–1580 | 4.5% | Optional | $90 | Chicago |
| Princeton University | 1510–1580 | 4.6% | Optional | $85 | Princeton |
| Brown University | 1510–1580 | 5.4% | Required | $80 | Providence |
| Dartmouth College | 1500–1570 | 5.4% | Required | $85 | Hanover |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) | 1510–1570 | 5.4% | Required | $75 | Philadelphia |
| Duke University | 1500–1570 | 5.7% | Optional | $85 | Durham |
| Vanderbilt University | 1500–1570 | 5.9% | Optional | $50 | Nashville |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) | 1520–1570 | 6.4% | Required | $70 | Baltimore |
| Bowdoin College | 1470–1550 | 7.1% | Optional | $70 | Brunswick |
| Colby College | 1460–1550 | 7.1% | Optional | $0 | Waterville |
| Pomona College | 1490–1560 | 7.1% | Optional | $80 | Claremont |
| Swarthmore College | 1490–1560 | 7.5% | Optional | $60 | Swarthmore |
| Northwestern University | 1510–1570 | 7.7% | Flexible | $75 | Evanston |
| Rice University | 1510–1570 | 8% | Optional | $75 | Houston |
| Williams College | 1490–1570 | 8.3% | Optional | $65 | Williamstown |
| Barnard College | 1470–1560 | 8.8% | Optional | $75 | New York |
| Cornell University | 1500–1570 | 8.8% | Required | $85 | Ithaca |
| Amherst College | 1490–1580 | 9% | Optional | $75 | Amherst |
| New York University (NYU) | 1480–1560 | 9.2% | Optional | $85 | New York |
| Claremont McKenna College | 1470–1560 | 9.6% | Optional | $70 | Claremont |
| University of Southern California (USC) | 1450–1550 | 9.8% | Optional | $85 | Los Angeles |
| Emory University | 1470–1550 | 10.6% | Optional | $75 | Atlanta |
| Middlebury College | 1445–1550 | 10.7% | Optional | $0 | Middlebury |
| University of Notre Dame | 1455–1560 | 11.3% | Optional | $85 | Notre Dame |
| Tufts University | 1470–1560 | 11.5% | Optional | $75 | Medford |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) | 1500–1570 | 11.7% | Sometimes | $75 | Pittsburgh |
| Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) | 1500–1570 | 12.1% | Optional | $75 | St. Louis |
| Haverford College | 1460–1550 | 12.4% | Optional | $65 | Haverford |
| Harvey Mudd College | 1500–1570 | 12.7% | Optional | $70 | Claremont |
| Georgetown University | 1390–1550 | 12.9% | Required | $80 | Washington |
| Hamilton College | 1450–1550 | 13.6% | Optional | $65 | Clinton |
| Wellesley College | 1460–1560 | 14% | Optional | $0 | Wellesley |
| Vassar College | 1450–1550 | 18.6% | Optional | $65 | Poughkeepsie |
| Carleton College | 1450–1560 | 20.4% | Optional | $0 | Northfield |
| Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering | 1493–1558 | 25.2% | Optional | $85 | Needham |
| List College The Jewish Theological Seminary | 1440–1580 | 48.6% | Optional | $65 | New York |
| University of Missouri- Kansas City | 1290–1550 | 72.2% | Sometimes | $75 | Kansas City |
Built from each university's 2026–27 requirements as published on the Common App (updated September 25, 2026). Universities can change them during the season: confirm on the official page before you apply. Acceptance rates, international enrollment and costs come from the US Department of Education (IPEDS): fall 2024 admissions and enrollment, 2024–25 published tuition and fees. Download as CSV
Questions
Is 1550 a good SAT score?
It sits in the middle 50% of enrolled students at 41 US universities on the Common App, and above the middle 50% at 650 more.
What colleges can I get into with a 1550 SAT?
Your score is in range at universities such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University and Columbia University. Admission also depends on your grades, essays and activities.
Should I send a 1550 SAT to a test-optional university?
At a test-optional university, send it if it's at or above the middle of that university's range. 29 universities on this list are test-optional or test-blind for 2026–27.
How is the range calculated?
We add the 25th and the 75th percentiles of the two SAT sections (Math, Reading and Writing) published by the US Department of Education for fall 2024. It's the usual approximation of the total-score range.