1181 SAT Colleges: Best Schools for 1181 SAT Score

Best colleges for 1181 SAT Score are listed here. If you have achieved a SAT score of 1181, then you must choose at least 5 of the below listed colleges, as not only your chances of admissions will be good but also these colleges will be a good match for you. The following list of best suitable colleges for 1181 SAT scores is given so that you can choose a more suitable college, and may not choose a less competitive college or loose admissions because you have applied to a more competitive college.

Is a 1181 SAT Score Good for 2026?

Yes, a 1181 SAT score is considered Average to Above Average. Nationally, this performance puts you in the 55th-72nd percentile of nearly 2 million annual test-takers.

Strategic Admissions Guidance

A 1181 is a respectable result that demonstrates college readiness. You will find many excellent options among mid-sized state schools and private liberal arts colleges. Since many schools in this range remain test-optional for 2026, evaluate each school: if your 1181 is above their reported average, submit it. If it is below, consider leaning on your high school transcript and personal achievements instead.

What does a 1181 mean for your applications?

In the 2026 admissions cycle, universities are increasingly looking for 'data-backed' proof of academic readiness. A 1181 serves as a standardized metric that complements your GPA. However, remember that admissions officers also weigh your extracurricular involvement, leadership roles, and the difficulty of your high school curriculum (AP/IB classes).

To help you build a balanced college list, we have analyzed thousands of data points from the Common Data Set (CDS) to categorize the schools below into Reach, Match, and Safety categories specifically for a 1181 applicant.

Best Colleges for 1181 SAT Score

Following is the list of colleges that accept 1181 SAT Score.

LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Math ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Maths ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
Earlham College Earlham CollegeIndiana1261 590 - 710540 - 670 73.24% Match
St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's College of MarylandMaryland1261 590 - 710540 - 660 77.3% Match
University of Mary Washington University of Mary WashingtonVirginia1260 610 - 690560 - 650 85.79% Match
Valparaiso University Valparaiso UniversityIndiana1260 580 - 680560 - 680 94.15% Match
University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAlabama1259 613 - 700613 - 730 78.1% Reach
Champlain College Champlain CollegeVermont1259 603 - 698560 - 650 55.68% Match
Washington College Washington CollegeMaryland1259 620 - 710570 - 680 74.71% Reach
Saint Mary's College Saint Mary's CollegeIndiana1259 560 - 680540 - 648 83.89% Match
California Lutheran University California Lutheran UniversityCalifornia1258 580 - 660570 - 660 87.18% Match
Goucher College Goucher CollegeMaryland1258 580 - 688533 - 640 80.24% Match
Duquesne University Duquesne UniversityPennsylvania1257 590 - 670570 - 660 87.49% Match
Western Washington University Western Washington UniversityWashington1257 590 - 690540 - 650 92.69% Match
Bryant University Bryant UniversityRhode Island1256 580 - 650583 - 670 68.81% Match
University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Carolina School of the ArtsNorth Carolina1256 590 - 690525 - 660 31.78% Match
George Mason University George Mason UniversityVirginia1255 580 - 670560 - 680 90% Match
University of Massachusetts-Lowell University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusetts1255 580 - 668590 - 680 85.95% Match
State University of New York at New Paltz State University of New York at New PaltzNew York1254 590 - 680570 - 660 58.27% Match
Saint Michael's College Saint Michael's CollegeVermont1253 600 - 678560 - 637 85.15% Match
Cornell College Cornell CollegeIowa1253 600 - 690570 - 690 79.33% Match
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth Dakota1252 570 - 680590 - 698 82.69% Match
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOhio1252 580 - 670580 - 690 86.22% Match
Cedarville University Cedarville UniversityOhio1250 580 - 690550 - 690 64.88% Match
Biola University Biola UniversityCalifornia1250 565 - 695540 - 670 56.63% Match
Hastings College Hastings CollegeNebraska1250 0 - 00 - 0 71.33% Safety
Transylvania University Transylvania UniversityKentucky1250 580 - 700540 - 660 90.79% Match
University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-ColumbiaMissouri1249 580 - 670560 - 670 79.13% Match
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideFlorida1247 570 - 650550 - 630 57.67% Match
Westminster College Westminster CollegeUtah1247 608 - 700558 - 673 69.75% Match
Hendrix College Hendrix CollegeArkansas1246 580 - 680553 - 648 60.28% Match
Truman State University Truman State UniversityMissouri1246 510 - 650560 - 680 45.05% Match
Drew University Drew UniversityNew Jersey1245 580 - 690540 - 650 72.66% Match
Manhattan College Manhattan CollegeNew York1245 570 - 660570 - 670 82.3% Match
Michigan Technological University Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan1245 560 - 670570 - 680 93.68% Match
Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson UniversityPennsylvania1244 570 - 670560 - 680 88.85% Match
Juniata College Juniata CollegePennsylvania1244 570 - 680550 - 660 76.16% Match
Austin College Austin CollegeTexas1243 580 - 690580 - 680 54.37% Match
Saint Joseph's University Saint Joseph's UniversityPennsylvania1242 580 - 670570 - 660 88.68% Match
University of Houston University of HoustonTexas1241 580 - 660580 - 670 66.24% Match
James Madison University James Madison UniversityVirginia1241 580 - 670560 - 650 78.31% Match
Luther College Luther CollegeIowa1241 520 - 640555 - 690 75.32% Match
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahoma1240 570 - 670560 - 660 72.92% Match
Nazareth College Nazareth CollegeNew York1240 570 - 660570 - 660 83.94% Match
Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOhio1239 570 - 678553 - 680 52.18% Match
LeTourneau University LeTourneau UniversityTexas1239 560 - 690560 - 690 48.83% Match
College of Charleston College of CharlestonSouth Carolina1239 580 - 660550 - 640 75.69% Match
University of Tulsa University of TulsaOklahoma1239 540 - 680538 - 670 69.18% Match
Eckerd College Eckerd CollegeFlorida1238 580 - 670540 - 630 65.09% Match
Xavier University Xavier UniversityOhio1238 570 - 660550 - 650 84.54% Match
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFlorida1237 570 - 660570 - 680 64.53% Match
Salisbury University Salisbury UniversityMaryland1237 600 - 660580 - 660 91.06% Match
University of Scranton University of ScrantonPennsylvania1237 580 - 660570 - 660 84.35% Match
New College of Florida New College of FloridaFlorida1236 580 - 710523 - 650 75.41% Match
University of Utah University of UtahUtah1236 600 - 690590 - 700 89.13% Reach
University of South Florida University of South FloridaFlorida1235 580 - 660560 - 670 43.93% Match
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinnesota1234 600 - 730570 - 650 56.89% Match
Adelphi University Adelphi UniversityNew York1233 560 - 650550 - 660 72.78% Match
Emmanuel College Emmanuel CollegeMassachusetts1233 590 - 660570 - 650 79.69% Match
Taylor University Taylor UniversityIndiana1233 550 - 660540 - 650 74.61% Match
Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar CollegeVirginia1232 520 - 680500 - 680 75.75% Match
MCPHS University MCPHS UniversityMassachusetts1232 530 - 660560 - 710 88.26% Match
University of Illinois Chicago University of Illinois ChicagoIllinois1232 560 - 660550 - 680 78.69% Match
Whittier College Whittier CollegeCalifornia1231 550 - 650590 - 690 75.45% Match
University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouri1231 625 - 760620 - 790 69.48% Reach
Wabash College Wabash CollegeIndiana1230 560 - 650562 - 670 61.49% Match
University of Arizona University of ArizonaArizona1229 570 - 680570 - 690 86.76% Match
Messiah University Messiah UniversityPennsylvania1229 550 - 670540 - 670 79.41% Match
Hollins University Hollins UniversityVirginia1228 583 - 690530 - 608 72.4% Match
Samford University Samford UniversityAlabama1227 550 - 650530 - 620 83.26% Match
Le Moyne College Le Moyne CollegeNew York1226 560 - 640570 - 650 78.28% Match
Millsaps College Millsaps CollegeMississippi1223 610 - 699525 - 655 67.83% Match
University of Iowa University of IowaIowa1222 570 - 670560 - 670 86% Match
Drury University Drury UniversityMissouri1221 590 - 700560 - 660 63.43% Match
DePaul University DePaul UniversityIllinois1221 550 - 660520 - 640 70.17% Match
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisiana1221 580 - 660560 - 660 75.72% Match
University of Mobile University of MobileAlabama1220 0 - 00 - 0 84.08% Safety
Meredith College Meredith CollegeNorth Carolina1220 600 - 680540 - 640 73.18% Match
Pace University Pace UniversityNew York1220 580 - 670540 - 630 82.93% Match
University of Minnesota-Duluth University of Minnesota-DuluthMinnesota1220 570 - 680550 - 670 80.7% Match
Ohio Dominican University Ohio Dominican UniversityOhio1220 0 - 00 - 0 52.42% Safety
Rockhurst University Rockhurst UniversityMissouri1220 0 - 00 - 0 66.46% Safety
High Point University High Point UniversityNorth Carolina1220 563 - 640540 - 640 78.88% Match
Elmira College Elmira CollegeNew York1220 553 - 630565 - 642 95.95% Match
Benedictine College Benedictine CollegeKansas1220 560 - 690550 - 670 98.83% Match
Concordia College at Moorhead Concordia College at MoorheadMinnesota1220 0 - 00 - 0 65.53% Safety
Berea College Berea CollegeKentucky1220 578 - 673558 - 625 24.58% Reach
The College of Saint Scholastica The College of Saint ScholasticaMinnesota1220 0 - 00 - 0 96.61% Safety
Long Island University Long Island UniversityNew York1219 550 - 660550 - 670 92.65% Match
Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham-Southern CollegeAlabama1218 590 - 670560 - 610 57.17% Match
John Brown University John Brown UniversityArkansas1218 570 - 710530 - 680 56.64% Match
Saint Anselm College Saint Anselm CollegeNew Hampshire1218 560 - 650560 - 640 82.3% Match
St. John's University-New York St. John's University-New YorkNew York1218 560 - 650550 - 660 84.67% Match
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNew Hampshire1217 570 - 660550 - 660 86.99% Match
United States Merchant Marine Academy United States Merchant Marine AcademyNew York1217 570 - 660580 - 670 27.35% Reach
Salve Regina University Salve Regina UniversityRhode Island1216 580 - 660550 - 620 69.53% Match
Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac UniversityConnecticut1216 570 - 650550 - 650 83.79% Match
Springfield College Springfield CollegeMassachusetts1216 550 - 640550 - 660 75.63% Match
Wittenberg University Wittenberg UniversityOhio1216 535 - 680515 - 690 93.93% Match
Wentworth Institute of Technology Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts1215 550 - 660570 - 680 92.31% Match
Roger Williams University Roger Williams UniversityRhode Island1215 570 - 640550 - 630 90.99% Match
University of Redlands University of RedlandsCalifornia1215 563 - 650550 - 628 81.87% Match
Mississippi State University Mississippi State UniversityMississippi1215 540 - 640530 - 640 75.19% Match
Gordon College Gordon CollegeMassachusetts1215 558 - 663528 - 650 91.76% Match
Rider University Rider UniversityNew Jersey1214 560 - 650540 - 650 84.13% Match
Franciscan University of Steubenville Franciscan University of SteubenvilleOhio1214 570 - 680530 - 640 66.65% Match
Hanover College Hanover CollegeIndiana1214 550 - 650540 - 620 74.11% Match
Ramapo College of New Jersey Ramapo College of New JerseyNew Jersey1214 560 - 650540 - 645 70.47% Match
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgPennsylvania1213 550 - 650550 - 660 95.55% Match
Florida Institute of Technology Florida Institute of TechnologyFlorida1213 560 - 660560 - 660 64.37% Match
Hope College Hope CollegeMichigan1213 550 - 670540 - 660 80.45% Match
Widener University Widener UniversityPennsylvania1212 545 - 650560 - 640 87.69% Match
Carroll University Carroll UniversityWisconsin1212 520 - 670540 - 670 72.14% Match
Arcadia University Arcadia UniversityPennsylvania1212 558 - 680530 - 640 77.57% Match
Alfred University Alfred UniversityNew York1211 540 - 650545 - 640 50.61% Match
SUNY Maritime College SUNY Maritime CollegeNew York1211 570 - 650570 - 650 80.33% Match
University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at AshevilleNorth Carolina1210 600 - 685545 - 655 74.31% Match
Berry College Berry CollegeGeorgia1210 570 - 660540 - 630 66.31% Match
Bradley University Bradley UniversityIllinois1208 530 - 640520 - 640 75.14% Match
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePennsylvania1207 550 - 660545 - 670 95.44% Match
Whitworth University Whitworth UniversityWashington1207 570 - 690540 - 660 90.52% Match
Oglethorpe University Oglethorpe UniversityGeorgia1207 540 - 650525 - 655 70.99% Match
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FAQ for SAT Score: 1181

How does a 1181 SAT score compare to the ACT?

A 1181 SAT score is roughly equivalent to a 23-24 on the ACT. It is considered slightly below average for highly selective schools but competitive for many public universities and less competitive private schools. You might consider applying to a range of schools with varying selectivity to maximize your chances.

What scholarships are available for a 1181 SAT score?

With a 1181 SAT, you may qualify for partial merit-based scholarships at many state schools. However, competitive private schools will likely offer fewer scholarship opportunities at this level. You may still be eligible for financial aid based on other aspects of your application.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 1181 SAT score?

A 1181 SAT score is significantly below the average for Ivy League schools, which generally expect scores closer to 1500. While your score may not make you competitive for these institutions, there are still other top schools where a 1181 will be sufficient.

Should I retake the SAT to improve my score?

If you’re targeting highly selective schools, retaking the SAT could be beneficial to improve your chances of admission. If your main goal is to attend a state school or mid-tier private college, your current score may already position you well, and retaking the test might not be necessary.

What is the national average SAT score?

The national average SAT score is around 1050, so your 1181 is above average. It’s a good score for many colleges, though you may want to consider improving it if you're aiming for more competitive schools.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 1181 SAT score if submitted?

Yes, many test-optional colleges will consider a 1181 SAT score if submitted. While not at the highest end, it still gives them a sense of your academic ability. Be sure to complement your score with strong essays, extracurriculars, and GPA.

What GPA is a 1181 SAT?

A 1181 SAT score typically corresponds with a GPA of around 3.0 to 3.4. This shows that you have the potential to succeed in college, though you may need to bolster your application with strong recommendation letters or compelling personal essays.

Can I get into NYU with a 1181 SAT?

NYU’s average SAT score is much higher than 1181, so your chances of getting in with a 1181 are slim. However, if you have exceptional extracurriculars, unique talents, or strong essays, it may still be worth applying.

Is 1181 a good SAT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average SAT score is in the 1500-1600 range, so a 1181 is below their typical score. It’s unlikely to be competitive for Harvard, but you may still have strong options at other schools with slightly lower average SAT scores.

Can I get into MIT with a 1181 SAT?

MIT’s average SAT score is significantly higher than a 1181, making it an unlikely choice for admission with this score. However, you can still consider other top-tier schools with a lower average score if you excel in other areas like STEM or extracurriculars.

Can I get into Princeton with a 1181 SAT score?

Princeton’s SAT average is closer to 1500, so a 1181 SAT is below their typical range. However, you may still be competitive at other top-tier schools with slightly lower average scores, depending on your academic and extracurricular achievements.

Is a 1181 SAT score good?

A 1181 SAT score is above average, but it may limit your options at highly selective colleges. However, many good public universities and private colleges will see your score as competitive, so don’t be discouraged. Keep up your efforts and focus on applying strategically.

Which colleges can I get into with a 1181 SAT score?

With a 1181 SAT score, you’re competitive at many state universities and some private schools with moderate selectivity. Consider schools like University of Arizona, University of Oregon, or Marquette University where your score will make you a strong applicant.

Best Colleges for SAT Score Ranges

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