1000 SAT Colleges: Best Schools for 1000 SAT Score

Best colleges for 1000 SAT Score are listed here. If you have achieved a SAT score of 1000, 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 1000 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 1000 SAT Score Good for 2026?

Yes, a 1000 SAT score is considered Foundational. Nationally, this performance puts you in the 35th-50th percentile of nearly 2 million annual test-takers.

Strategic Admissions Guidance

With a 1000, your college search should focus on schools that value a holistic application. While you may face challenges at highly selective state flagships, there are hundreds of great institutions where a 1000 is the norm. For 2026, we suggest looking into 'Test-Optional' or 'Test-Blind' schools if you feel this score doesn't accurately reflect your classroom performance. Alternatively, a focused prep program targeting SAT grammar rules can often jump this score by 100+ points.

What does a 1000 mean for your applications?

In the 2026 admissions cycle, universities are increasingly looking for 'data-backed' proof of academic readiness. A 1000 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 1000 applicant.

Best Colleges for 1000 SAT Score

Following is the list of colleges that accept 1000 SAT Score.

LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Math ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Maths ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
Montclair State University Montclair State UniversityNew Jersey1080 480 - 610470 - 590 91.31% Match
University of South Carolina Aiken University of South Carolina AikenSouth Carolina1080 490 - 600460 - 580 75.62% Match
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinois1080 470 - 590460 - 570 97.51% Match
Dominican University New York Dominican University New YorkNew York1080 470 - 608483 - 570 88.97% Match
Bay Path University Bay Path UniversityMassachusetts1080 520 - 590500 - 550 75.63% Reach
Eastern Connecticut State University Eastern Connecticut State UniversityConnecticut1079 500 - 610480 - 580 73.83% Match
Guilford College Guilford CollegeNorth Carolina1079 460 - 600450 - 580 83.51% Match
Ottawa University-Surprise Ottawa University-SurpriseArizona1079 510 - 620470 - 610 28.66% Reach
University of South Carolina-Upstate University of South Carolina-UpstateSouth Carolina1078 490 - 590460 - 560 78.58% Match
Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor UniversityMichigan1078 480 - 570490 - 565 47.32% Match
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma1078 470 - 560450 - 560 74.21% Match
Brevard College Brevard CollegeNorth Carolina1077 485 - 580480 - 575 39.89% Match
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFlorida1077 520 - 590490 - 560 32.93% Reach
Truett McConnell University Truett McConnell UniversityGeorgia1077 500 - 620500 - 570 80.83% Match
Lander University Lander UniversitySouth Carolina1076 480 - 600470 - 590 67.4% Match
Illinois College Illinois CollegeIllinois1076 480 - 560480 - 566 77.18% Match
Trinity International University-Illinois Trinity International University-IllinoisIllinois1076 475 - 578450 - 528 91.26% Match
Sterling College Sterling CollegeKansas1076 483 - 545455 - 578 61.1% Match
Pacific Union College Pacific Union CollegeCalifornia1075 510 - 610480 - 590 48.46% Match
Marietta College Marietta CollegeOhio1075 480 - 580460 - 550 82.85% Match
Georgia Southwestern State University Georgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia1075 520 - 600490 - 560 73.18% Reach
Alvernia University Alvernia UniversityPennsylvania1075 513 - 580483 - 590 59% Match
Cedar Crest College Cedar Crest CollegePennsylvania1075 520 - 635460 - 595 84.25% Match
Columbia International University Columbia International UniversitySouth Carolina1074 500 - 620490 - 575 48.22% Match
Saginaw Valley State University Saginaw Valley State UniversityMichigan1073 490 - 590480 - 590 76.37% Match
Charleston Southern University Charleston Southern UniversitySouth Carolina1072 470 - 600470 - 570 86.75% Match
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford University of Pittsburgh-BradfordPennsylvania1071 490 - 598490 - 598 93.55% Match
University of Michigan-Flint University of Michigan-FlintMichigan1071 480 - 620450 - 600 66.35% Match
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill Pennsylvania State University-Penn State SchuylkillPennsylvania1070 500 - 610490 - 570 85.78% Match
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania1069 480 - 590460 - 570 93.63% Match
University of Virginia's College at Wise University of Virginia's College at WiseVirginia1068 455 - 600460 - 560 75.57% Match
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinois1068 460 - 580440 - 560 91.5% Match
Indiana University-Northwest Indiana University-NorthwestIndiana1068 480 - 600470 - 570 80.31% Match
Belmont Abbey College Belmont Abbey CollegeNorth Carolina1068 460 - 580490 - 560 97.17% Match
Lubbock Christian University Lubbock Christian UniversityTexas1068 480 - 590460 - 600 81.59% Match
West Virginia Wesleyan College West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWest Virginia1067 470 - 590440 - 590 96.35% Match
Stephen F Austin State University Stephen F Austin State UniversityTexas1067 490 - 590480 - 570 89.51% Match
LIM College LIM CollegeNew York1067 510 - 630460 - 540 83.82% Match
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania1067 490 - 590490 - 580 93.96% Match
John Paul the Great Catholic University John Paul the Great Catholic UniversityCalifornia1066 540 - 574520 - 551 79.59% Reach
Adams State University Adams State UniversityColorado1066 460 - 560450 - 570 99.18% Match
SUNY Buffalo State University SUNY Buffalo State UniversityNew York1065 470 - 600470 - 578 85.98% Match
Upper Iowa University Upper Iowa UniversityIowa1065 430 - 540460 - 510 54.23% Match
Shepherd University Shepherd UniversityWest Virginia1064 480 - 600450 - 570 95.86% Match
Indiana University-South Bend Indiana University-South BendIndiana1064 490 - 590480 - 600 86.88% Match
Colorado Mesa University Colorado Mesa UniversityColorado1062 470 - 600460 - 580 81.76% Match
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPennsylvania1061 480 - 580460 - 570 91.94% Match
Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State UniversityConnecticut1061 480 - 590460 - 570 76.71% Match
Tarleton State University Tarleton State UniversityTexas1061 480 - 580470 - 570 87.06% Match
Lincoln Memorial University Lincoln Memorial UniversityTennessee1060 472 - 580510 - 610 78.48% Match
Wilson College Wilson CollegePennsylvania1060 490 - 580480 - 540 94.05% Match
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania1060 480 - 590480 - 570 74.33% Match
Concordia University Texas Concordia University TexasTexas1060 500 - 620510 - 570 85.74% Reach
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saint Joseph's College of MaineMaine1060 490 - 570470 - 550 80.84% Match
Nichols College Nichols CollegeMassachusetts1060 470 - 590475 - 590 84.86% Match
Shorter University Shorter UniversityGeorgia1059 480 - 690480 - 600 97.47% Match
Belhaven University Belhaven UniversityMississippi1059 485 - 640495 - 560 42.6% Match
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusNew Jersey1059 460 - 580448 - 600 84.09% Match
Calvary University Calvary UniversityMissouri1058 460 - 600410 - 570 63.16% Match
Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgia1057 500 - 590480 - 560 88.89% Match
Pennsylvania Western University Pennsylvania Western UniversityPennsylvania1057 470 - 580470 - 570 93.62% Match
Radford University Radford UniversityVirginia1057 490 - 600470 - 560 93.34% Match
Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State UniversityTexas1056 490 - 580470 - 560 84.63% Match
Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan UniversityMichigan1056 480 - 600450 - 580 83.23% Match
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State UniversityAlabama1055 480 - 600460 - 600 78.46% Match
Purdue University Northwest Purdue University NorthwestIndiana1055 480 - 590470 - 580 72.82% Match
Clarke University Clarke UniversityIowa1055 460 - 590460 - 570 84.8% Match
Northwood University Northwood UniversityMichigan1055 470 - 580480 - 580 79.68% Match
Delta State University Delta State UniversityMississippi1055 460 - 630480 - 650 98.61% Match
Southeast Missouri State University Southeast Missouri State UniversityMissouri1055 490 - 590480 - 590 86.31% Match
Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma Baptist UniversityOklahoma1054 470 - 570490 - 590 47.34% Match
Rocky Mountain College Rocky Mountain CollegeMontana1054 470 - 600500 - 630 75.17% Match
Erskine College Erskine CollegeSouth Carolina1053 460 - 570460 - 580 53.25% Match
Hampton University Hampton UniversityVirginia1053 420 - 620420 - 600 74.47% Match
Kentucky Wesleyan College Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeKentucky1053 490 - 600490 - 610 68.55% Match
Chowan University Chowan UniversityNorth Carolina1052 430 - 530450 - 555 86.68% Match
Auburn University at Montgomery Auburn University at MontgomeryAlabama1051 510 - 615500 - 575 92.23% Reach
Fort Hays State University Fort Hays State UniversityKansas1051 460 - 590480 - 600 88.02% Match
Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky UniversityKentucky1051 470 - 590470 - 595 64.31% Match
Troy University Troy UniversityAlabama1050 490 - 590460 - 560 94.84% Match
Williams Baptist University Williams Baptist UniversityArkansas1050 415 - 555545 - 615 59.31% Match
Kettering College Kettering CollegeOhio1050 0 - 00 - 0 34.41% Match
Wright State University-Main Campus Wright State University-Main CampusOhio1050 450 - 588463 - 580 95.22% Match
Mount Marty University Mount Marty UniversitySouth Dakota1050 0 - 00 - 0 68.39% Safety
West Texas A & M University West Texas A & M UniversityTexas1050 470 - 570480 - 580 91.63% Match
Mount Mary University Mount Mary UniversityWisconsin1050 0 - 00 - 0 69.45% Safety
Medaille University Medaille UniversityNew York1050 480 - 570450 - 570 68.8% Match
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Aultman College of Nursing and Health SciencesOhio1050 0 - 00 - 0 55.1% Safety
Pfeiffer University Pfeiffer UniversityNorth Carolina1050 0 - 00 - 0 69.05% Safety
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneIndiana1050 460 - 570470 - 560 98.06% Match
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Southwestern Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma1050 0 - 00 - 0 76.78% Safety
North Carolina A & T State University North Carolina A & T State UniversityNorth Carolina1050 480 - 580480 - 560 56.39% Match
Baker University Baker UniversityKansas1050 0 - 00 - 0 91.75% Safety
Western Oregon University Western Oregon UniversityOregon1050 495 - 620490 - 600 83.35% Match
Marian University Marian UniversityWisconsin1050 0 - 00 - 0 71.55% Safety
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh University of Wisconsin-OshkoshWisconsin1050 0 - 00 - 0 88.52% Safety
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolNorth Dakota1050 0 - 00 - 0 44.44% Safety
University of Wisconsin-Superior University of Wisconsin-SuperiorWisconsin1050 0 - 00 - 0 95.6% Safety
Adrian College Adrian CollegeMichigan1050 470 - 580470 - 580 69.06% Match
Concordia University Ann Arbor Concordia University Ann ArborMichigan1050 0 - 00 - 0 70.18% Safety
West Virginia University Institute of Technology West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyWest Virginia1050 460 - 570440 - 560 64.58% Match
Southwest Minnesota State University Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMinnesota1050 0 - 00 - 0 91.59% Safety
Dakota Wesleyan University Dakota Wesleyan UniversitySouth Dakota1050 470 - 700480 - 720 74.77% Match
Texas A & M University-Commerce Texas A & M University-CommerceTexas1050 473 - 590440 - 560 86.45% Match
Mississippi University for Women Mississippi University for WomenMississippi1050 0 - 00 - 0 99.11% Safety
East Central University East Central UniversityOklahoma1050 480 - 538480 - 540 70.08% Match
College of Saint Mary College of Saint MaryNebraska1050 0 - 00 - 0 64.58% Safety
University of the Cumberlands University of the CumberlandsKentucky1049 470 - 590490 - 570 83.02% Match
Westminster College Westminster CollegeMissouri1049 470 - 520460 - 570 75.28% Match
MidAmerica Nazarene University MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityKansas1048 443 - 540473 - 578 66.82% Match
Siena Heights University Siena Heights UniversityMichigan1048 480 - 573450 - 560 64.98% Match
University of North Texas at Dallas University of North Texas at DallasTexas1047 405 - 468370 - 418 93.61% Safety
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Cabarrus College of Health SciencesNorth Carolina1047 470 - 555475 - 520 44.9% Match
Northeastern State University Northeastern State UniversityOklahoma1046 440 - 560435 - 570 99.46% Match
The Baptist College of Florida The Baptist College of FloridaFlorida1045 500 - 650430 - 550 92.11% Match
University of Saint Mary University of Saint MaryKansas1045 465 - 548470 - 518 81.93% Match
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesMissouri1045 450 - 540480 - 550 97.86% Match
Tusculum University Tusculum UniversityTennessee1044 460 - 550450 - 560 81.08% Match
Keuka College Keuka CollegeNew York1042 490 - 563450 - 570 92.79% Match
University of Akron Wayne College University of Akron Wayne CollegeOhio1042 400 - 460410 - 490 82.92% Safety
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FAQ for SAT Score: 1000

How does a 1000 SAT score compare to the ACT?

A 1000 SAT score is roughly equivalent to a 19-20 on the ACT. While this score is below average for competitive colleges, you could still be a good candidate for public universities and state colleges. Consider improving your score with more study or test prep if you’re targeting more selective schools.

What scholarships are available for a 1000 SAT score?

A 1000 SAT score may qualify you for some merit-based scholarships at public universities or regional colleges. Full-tuition scholarships would be rare, but some institutions offer partial scholarships to students with scores in this range.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 1000 SAT score?

Ivy League schools typically require SAT scores much higher than 1000. If you're aiming for these elite institutions, you'll need to raise your score significantly. Focus on more achievable schools where your 1000 can be competitive.

Should I retake the SAT to improve my score?

If you want to apply to more selective colleges or universities, retaking the SAT could be a good option. You may want to focus on improving your test-taking strategies, reviewing specific areas of weakness, or taking a prep course.

What is the national average SAT score?

The national average SAT score is around 1050, so a 1000 SAT score is below average. Consider working on areas where you can improve, such as reading comprehension or math, to raise your score for better college prospects.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 1000 SAT score if submitted?

Test-optional colleges will consider your 1000 SAT if you choose to submit it. However, if your score is below average for your target school, you might want to focus on submitting strong essays, recommendation letters, and extracurriculars instead.

What GPA is a 1000 SAT?

A 1000 SAT score typically corresponds to a GPA between 2.5-2.8. If your GPA is in this range, you may want to consider schools with a higher acceptance rate to improve your chances of admission.

Can I get into NYU with a 1000 SAT?

NYU’s average SAT score is much higher than 1000, so it would be challenging to get in with this score. Consider applying to other schools with less competitive score requirements, or consider improving your score and reapplying.

Is 1000 a good SAT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average SAT score is closer to 1500-1600, so a 1000 SAT score would not be competitive for admission. You may want to focus on other schools with a slightly lower average score.

Can I get into MIT with a 1000 SAT?

MIT’s average SAT score is much higher than 1000, and unfortunately, you won’t be competitive for admission with this score. Look for other top universities where your score may be more competitive.

Can I get into Princeton with a 1000 SAT score?

Princeton requires higher SAT scores than 1000, so you will likely not be competitive with this score. However, you may still be considered by other top universities with similar academic standards.

Is a 1000 SAT score good?

A 1000 SAT score is below average, but you still have opportunities at public universities and regional colleges. It’s important to focus on other aspects of your application, such as your GPA, extracurriculars, and personal essays, to strengthen your application.

Which colleges can I get into with a 1000 SAT score?

With a 1000 SAT score, you could be competitive at many public universities with moderate selectivity. Consider applying to state schools or universities with higher acceptance rates like University of Arizona, University of Alabama, or University of Oklahoma.

Best Colleges for SAT Score Ranges

View Best colleges for 1550 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1500 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1450 SAT Score
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View Best colleges for 1250 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1200 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1150 SAT Score
View Best colleges for 1100 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1050 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 1000 SAT Score
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View Best colleges for 800 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 750 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 700 SAT Score