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Best Colleges for 900 - 950 SAT Score

950 SAT Colleges: Best Schools for 950 SAT Score

Best colleges for 950 SAT Score are listed here. If you have achieved a SAT score of 950, 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 950 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 950 SAT Score Good for 2026?

A 950 SAT score is considered Low — Strategic Pivot Needed. Nationally, this puts you in the 12th–17th percentile among approximately 1.7 million annual test-takers.

Strategic Admissions Guidance — 2026 Cycle

A 950 is in the lower range of national test performance, and I want to give you the kind of guidance that actually helps rather than just reassuring you without direction. The SAT score itself is a data point — it is not a verdict on your intelligence or your future.

For 2026 college admissions, I would not recommend submitting this score to any school that reports a median SAT above 1000. The data is clear: submitting a score below a school's 25th percentile actively hurts an application. Instead, identify schools with test-optional policies and focus every ounce of your application energy on your personal statement and activity list.

Your personal statement at this score level is not a complement to your application — it is the application. It needs to be specific, honest, and compelling. Tell admissions readers something true about who you are that they cannot see anywhere else on the page. Generic essays about "overcoming challenges" or "learning from a loss" are the most common personal statement mistakes. Write about one specific moment, one specific decision, one specific thing you care about deeply — and make it vivid.

I also want to normalize something: many students who score in this range are not poor learners — they are students who struggle with standardized tests due to test anxiety, language background, limited prep resources, or simply a cognitive style that does not map well onto multiple-choice formats. If any of those apply to you, there are colleges whose admissions process is designed to see past the score and evaluate you fully. They exist, they are worth finding, and they produce graduates who go on to successful careers every year.

👉 Your Next Step: Apply test-optional to every school on your list unless a specific school's 25th percentile is at or below your score. Put your application energy into your personal statement — write three drafts, get feedback from a teacher or counselor you trust, and rewrite it.

What a 950 Means in the 2026 Admissions Cycle

In the 2026 admissions cycle, standardized test scores have made a significant structural comeback after years of test-optional experimentation. MIT, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, and many other elite institutions now require SAT or ACT scores for all applicants. This shift means your score carries more weight than it did in 2021–2024 — but it is not the only thing that matters. Admissions offices continue to evaluate your transcript (course rigor and grade trend), personal statement, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular story as a complete picture.

To help you identify the right college list, our team has analyzed Common Data Set (CDS) submissions from hundreds of US and Canadian universities to categorize schools into Reach, Match, and Safety tiers specifically for a 950 applicant. See the full school list below.

Best Colleges for 950 SAT Score

Following is the list of colleges that accept 950 SAT Score.

LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Math ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Maths ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saint Joseph's College of MaineMaine1030 470 - 580440 - 560 81.72% Match
Adrian College Adrian CollegeMichigan1030 455 - 570425 - 550 68.37% Match
Franklin Pierce University Franklin Pierce UniversityNew Hampshire1030 490 - 580455 - 560 90.19% Match
Holy Family University Holy Family UniversityPennsylvania1030 480 - 565470 - 565 74.22% Match
Keystone College Keystone CollegePennsylvania1030 460 - 570450 - 560 79.6% Match
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Texas A&M University-KingsvilleTexas1030 480 - 600500 - 560 92.29% Reach
University of Hawaii at Hilo University of Hawaii at HiloHawaii1025 478 - 570420 - 540 89.77% Match
North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central UniversityNorth Carolina1023 500 - 570480 - 530 90.49% Reach
Central Baptist College Central Baptist CollegeArkansas1022 435 - 570490 - 575 46.36% Match
Dominican University Dominican UniversityIllinois1022 480 - 570454 - 570 79.8% Match
Shepherd University Shepherd UniversityWest Virginia1022 470 - 580430 - 560 95.65% Match
Dallas Christian College Dallas Christian CollegeTexas1022 370 - 565360 - 560 84.03% Match
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health SciencesMissouri1020 - - 100% Safety
University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton University of Arkansas Community College-MorriltonArkansas1020 - - 100% Safety
Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing Saint Elizabeth School of NursingIndiana1020 480 - 570470 - 570 100% Match
Manhattan Christian College Manhattan Christian CollegeKansas1020 - - 100% Safety
Metropolitan State University Metropolitan State UniversityMinnesota1020 - - 96.49% Safety
Southwest Minnesota State University Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMinnesota1020 - - 68.94% Safety
Culver-Stockton College Culver-Stockton CollegeMissouri1020 - - 98% Safety
Hannibal-LaGrange University Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityMissouri1020 - - 58.74% Safety
Felician University Felician UniversityNew Jersey1020 450 - 570440 - 580 94.01% Match
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Cabarrus College of Health SciencesNorth Carolina1020 500 - 540470 - 520 49.21% Reach
University of Mount Olive University of Mount OliveNorth Carolina1020 - - 77.75% Safety
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Aultman College of Nursing and Health SciencesOhio1020 - - 41.27% Safety
Bluffton University Bluffton UniversityOhio1020 480 - 560440 - 570 61.16% Match
Mount Carmel College of Nursing Mount Carmel College of NursingOhio1020 - - 57.39% Safety
Randall University Randall UniversityOklahoma1020 430 - 468408 - 460 44.81% Safety
Johnson College Johnson CollegePennsylvania1020 480 - 570470 - 570 96.5% Match
Wilson College Wilson CollegePennsylvania1020 480 - 570460 - 540 89.98% Match
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTexas1020 470 - 570440 - 540 84.82% Match
East Central University East Central UniversityOklahoma1019 435 - 515500 - 540 65.55% Match
Howard Payne University Howard Payne UniversityTexas1019 450 - 570430 - 530 67.69% Match
Williams Baptist University Williams Baptist UniversityArkansas1018 460 - 540460 - 518 58.88% Match
Missouri Valley College Missouri Valley CollegeMissouri1018 450 - 560470 - 580 52.69% Match
Southeast Missouri State University Southeast Missouri State UniversityMissouri1018 470 - 550380 - 480 78.5% Match
Tennessee State University Tennessee State UniversityTennessee1017 433 - 538423 - 530 92.63% Match
Faulkner University Faulkner UniversityAlabama1016 463 - 585423 - 550 66.13% Match
MidAmerica Nazarene University MidAmerica Nazarene UniversityKansas1016 463 - 570465 - 548 73.46% Match
Muskingum University Muskingum UniversityOhio1016 470 - 550430 - 570 81.66% Match
University of West Alabama University of West AlabamaAlabama1015 470 - 550350 - 428 87.11% Match
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteNorth Carolina1015 460 - 600460 - 540 75.28% Match
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma1015 430 - 550438 - 540 66.43% Match
Metropolitan State University of Denver Metropolitan State University of DenverColorado1014 450 - 570430 - 540 99.14% Match
Friends University Friends UniversityKansas1014 465 - 550450 - 540 55.64% Match
Spalding University Spalding UniversityKentucky1014 428 - 570425 - 533 98.64% Match
Nelson University Nelson UniversityTexas1014 463 - 560463 - 550 84.23% Match
Ottawa University-Ottawa Ottawa University-OttawaKansas1011 460 - 590420 - 550 80.03% Match
Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois UniversityIllinois1010 460 - 570430 - 540 67.75% Match
CUNY Lehman College CUNY Lehman CollegeNew York1010 460 - 590400 - 630 55.43% Match
Rhode Island College Rhode Island CollegeRhode Island1010 440 - 600420 - 560 81.09% Match
Calvary University Calvary UniversityMissouri1008 480 - 620430 - 580 70.91% Match
Newberry College Newberry CollegeSouth Carolina1008 410 - 540410 - 520 74.8% Match
Texas A & M International University Texas A & M International UniversityTexas1008 470 - 580450 - 550 45.96% Match
Trinity Baptist College Trinity Baptist CollegeFlorida1007 450 - 535430 - 520 62.5% Match
Texas A&M University-Texarkana Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexas1006 440 - 550430 - 530 80.19% Match
Colorado State University Pueblo Colorado State University PuebloColorado1005 450 - 560420 - 540 99.84% Match
New Mexico State University-Main Campus New Mexico State University-Main CampusNew Mexico1004 450 - 560435 - 550 75.73% Match
College of Coastal Georgia College of Coastal GeorgiaGeorgia1001 470 - 602430 - 563 98.51% Match
Ferris State University Ferris State UniversityMichigan1001 450 - 570440 - 550 80.58% Match
Roosevelt University Roosevelt UniversityIllinois1000 430 - 550390 - 540 94.27% Match
Madonna University Madonna UniversityMichigan1000 460 - 560430 - 560 92.93% Match
Georgia Southwestern State University Georgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia998 470 - 590430 - 540 77.16% Match
Bluefield State University Bluefield State UniversityWest Virginia998 440 - 540430 - 540 87.22% Match
Logan University Logan UniversityMissouri998 453 - 533478 - 505 90% Match
William Penn University William Penn UniversityIowa996 440 - 540390 - 560 57.01% Match
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeGeorgia994 470 - 570430 - 540 77.16% Match
Columbus State University Columbus State UniversityGeorgia994 460 - 570400 - 530 99.24% Match
Life University Life UniversityGeorgia994 440 - 570460 - 550 93.81% Match
Fairmont State University Fairmont State UniversityWest Virginia993 450 - 560380 - 480 99.24% Match
Ferrum College Ferrum CollegeVirginia990 455 - 580425 - 520 100% Match
Tiffin University Tiffin UniversityOhio989 440 - 560430 - 560 79.77% Match
St. Mary's University St. Mary's UniversityTexas989 500 - 590480 - 560 88.95% Reach
York University York UniversityNebraska988 430 - 520415 - 540 47.63% Match
Concordia University Texas Concordia University TexasTexas988 440 - 550420 - 550 91.06% Match
University of Bridgeport University of BridgeportConnecticut985 470 - 585410 - 530 64.31% Match
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto RicoPuerto Rico985 530 - 583418 - 513 100% Match
Judson University Judson UniversityIllinois985 435 - 540425 - 540 63.12% Match
University of Providence University of ProvidenceMontana985 445 - 580400 - 555 64.2% Match
Davis & Elkins College Davis & Elkins CollegeWest Virginia985 450 - 575430 - 550 58.23% Match
Delaware State University Delaware State UniversityDelaware984 440 - 550420 - 520 61.67% Match
Rockford University Rockford UniversityIllinois984 450 - 535400 - 535 57.23% Match
Morgan State University Morgan State UniversityMaryland984 410 - 530450 - 550 82.96% Match
Lincoln University Lincoln UniversityPennsylvania984 450 - 530420 - 520 78.37% Match
Sul Ross State University Sul Ross State UniversityTexas984 473 - 568460 - 530 95.62% Match
Missouri Baptist University Missouri Baptist UniversityMissouri983 470 - 560440 - 610 64.1% Match
The University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas at El PasoTexas982 440 - 550430 - 540 99.9% Match
Baptist Health College Little Rock Baptist Health College Little RockArkansas980 - - 100% Safety
St Luke's College St Luke's CollegeIowa980 - - 44.44% Safety
Alice Lloyd College Alice Lloyd CollegeKentucky980 - - 85.57% Safety
Kentucky Mountain Bible College Kentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKentucky980 - - 35.71% Safety
Norfolk State University Norfolk State UniversityVirginia980 430 - 575410 - 525 87.46% Match
Concord University Concord UniversityWest Virginia980 440 - 550400 - 530 89.65% Match
CUNY Medgar Evers College CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeNew York980 400 - 550380 - 450 83.39% Match
Cleveland State University Cleveland State UniversityOhio980 - - 95.48% Safety
Wilberforce University Wilberforce UniversityOhio980 - - 52.73% Safety
West Virginia State University West Virginia State UniversityWest Virginia979 430 - 550400 - 523 96.37% Match
Ottawa University-Surprise Ottawa University-SurpriseArizona978 480 - 530430 - 520 39.88% Match
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey University of Puerto Rico at CayeyPuerto Rico978 438 - 557420 - 541 95.84% Match
Alabama State University Alabama State UniversityAlabama977 444 - 538421 - 531 95.64% Match
Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky UniversityKentucky977 450 - 520370 - 490 97.05% Match
Jackson State University Jackson State UniversityMississippi974 440 - 550410 - 530 91.03% Match
Clayton State University Clayton State UniversityGeorgia973 450 - 550418 - 520 70.59% Match
University of Hawaii-West Oahu University of Hawaii-West OahuHawaii973 540 - 610490 - 600 95.6% Reach
Fayetteville State University Fayetteville State UniversityNorth Carolina972 445 - 520410 - 525 79.89% Match
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences The Christ College of Nursing and Health SciencesOhio972 420 - 490410 - 510 50.18% Match
Chowan University Chowan UniversityNorth Carolina970 485 - 585395 - 560 72.37% Match
Jersey College Jersey CollegeNew Jersey967 460 - 530455 - 560 67.91% Match
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeIndiana966 440 - 540435 - 530 76.14% Match
Union Commonwealth University Union Commonwealth UniversityKentucky965 460 - 560460 - 545 55.04% Match
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusNew Mexico965 430 - 540420 - 530 54.92% Match
Georgia State University-Perimeter College Georgia State University-Perimeter CollegeGeorgia963 440 - 560410 - 540 99.59% Match
Mercy College of Ohio Mercy College of OhioOhio961 420 - 570430 - 500 42.76% Match
Grambling State University Grambling State UniversityLouisiana955 450 - 590410 - 560 23.68% Reach
Texas A&M University-San Antonio Texas A&M University-San AntonioTexas954 430 - 540420 - 530 92% Match
Gordon State College Gordon State CollegeGeorgia950 - - 86.78% Safety
Baker University Baker UniversityKansas950 - - 92.1% Safety
Prairie View A & M University Prairie View A & M UniversityTexas949 440 - 520410 - 510 75.3% Match
Alabama A & M University Alabama A & M UniversityAlabama947 420 - 540390 - 520 66.22% Match
Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem State UniversityNorth Carolina946 420 - 530400 - 520 68.55% Match
Avila University Avila UniversityMissouri942 400 - 490400 - 510 59.54% Match
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FAQ for SAT Score: 950

How does a 950 SAT score compare to the ACT?

A 950 SAT score is roughly equivalent to a 16-17 on the ACT. This is lower than average, but you can still apply to public universities or regional colleges. It’s important to work on improving your test-taking strategies and content knowledge to make your application more competitive.

What scholarships are available for a 950 SAT score?

With a 950 SAT score, you may be eligible for some merit-based scholarships at less selective schools, particularly public universities. Look for scholarships from local organizations and state-specific awards that are more accessible with scores in this range.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 950 SAT score?

Ivy League schools typically expect SAT scores well above 950, so getting into these schools with a 950 SAT score would be challenging. Focus on schools with lower selectivity where you can be a strong candidate.

Should I retake the SAT to improve my score?

If you're aiming for more competitive colleges or universities, retaking the SAT and focusing on improving specific areas of weakness could help. Consider test prep to better prepare for the test, which could improve your score in future attempts.

What is the national average SAT score?

The national average SAT score is around 1050, so a 950 SAT score is below the national average. However, many public universities accept scores in this range, so it’s important to focus on improving other aspects of your application, such as your GPA and extracurriculars.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 950 SAT score if submitted?

Test-optional colleges will consider your 950 SAT score if you submit it, but it might not be strong enough to give you an edge in competitive admissions. You may want to emphasize other parts of your application, like your personal statement or activities.

What GPA is a 950 SAT?

A 950 SAT score typically corresponds to a GPA around 2.3-2.7. If your GPA is in this range, you may need to focus on improving your grades and applying to colleges with a more moderate acceptance rate to increase your chances of admission.

Can I get into NYU with a 950 SAT?

NYU’s average SAT score is above 950, so it would be difficult to gain admission with this score. However, you could consider applying to other institutions with a lower average SAT score requirement or consider strengthening other parts of your application.

Is 950 a good SAT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average SAT score is much higher than 950, so unfortunately, this would not be considered a competitive score. Look for schools with lower selectivity or consider retaking the SAT to improve your score for future applications.

Can I get into MIT with a 950 SAT?

MIT’s SAT score average is significantly higher than 950. With a 950, getting into MIT would be a challenge. Focus on improving your score or looking at other institutions where this score could make you a competitive applicant.

Can I get into Princeton with a 950 SAT score?

Princeton typically requires SAT scores much higher than 950, so a 950 SAT score would not be competitive. You might want to focus on applying to less selective universities or improving your score for future applications.

Is a 950 SAT score good?

A 950 SAT score is considered below average, but it doesn’t rule out your chances of college admission. Focus on improving your GPA and extracurriculars, and consider applying to schools where your score is competitive.

Which colleges can I get into with a 950 SAT score?

A 950 SAT score would be competitive at less selective public universities and colleges with higher acceptance rates. Consider schools like University of Oklahoma, University of Texas, or Arizona State University.

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
View Best colleges for 950 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 900 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 850 SAT Score
View Best colleges for 800 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 750 SAT ScoreView Best colleges for 700 SAT Score