If you got a 850 SAT score, you're probably wondering how you compare to other students, and whether a 850 is good enough to get into college.
The truth is, it depends on your personal college goals and where you want to apply. We have the complete guide for you here. On this page, you'll find statistics about your score and what colleges you're competitive for. You can also use our Chance Estimator tool to figure out your chances of getting into your target schools.
850 SAT Score Standings
Here's how you compare to other students and how many colleges you are competitive for:
-
Percentile:
15th
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 1794939 scored the same or higher than you.
-
Competitive For:
20 Schools
You can apply to 20 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.
-
Missing Out On:
1469 Schools
You have a very low chance of getting into 1469 schools with this score.
Top Choice Colleges Chances
We've collected data from millions of students and thousands of colleges to figure out your chances at getting admitted with a 850 SAT score. You'll also see how your chances improve with a higher SAT score.
To add a school to your list, type in part of the school name, choose from the dropdown, and click the button.
What if you improved your SAT score by 200 points? You would:
- be competitive for 378 more schools in the country
- raise your chances of getting into target schools from 1.06% to 21.05%
PrepScholar guarantees that with our online prep program, you'll improve your score by 160 points, or you get all your money back.
The secret to our program is customization: PrepScholar automatically figures out your strengths and weaknesses, then customizes what you learn so you improve more points in less time. PrepScholar was created by Harvard graduates and SAT full scorers, and thousands of students have trusted PrepScholar with improving their scores.
Other Schools For You
We've picked out a set of schools that are within range. Click on each school to learn more about it.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are hard for you to get into now, because they have average SAT scores that are higher than a 850. But if you improve your SAT score, you'll have a much better shot.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University San Bernardino | San Bernardino, CA | 1000 | 18 |
| California State University Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 985 | 18 |
| State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | Cobleskill, NY | 970 | 20 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 954 | 18 |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 912 | 17 |
| California State University Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | 900 | 15 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
These schools have average SAT scores that are close to a 850. If you apply to these schools, you'll have a decent chance of admission. If you improve your SAT score by 200 points, you'll significantly improve your chances and get almost guaranteed admission for most schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Manor College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 870 | 15 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh, NC | 851 | 15 |
| Paul Quinn College | Dallas, TX | 840 | 16 |
| Wiley College | Marshall, TX | 830 | 16 |
| Albany State University | Albany, GA | 830 | 17 |
| Paine College | Augusta, GA | 830 | 16 |
| Jarvis Christian University | Hawkins, TX | 810 | 15 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
With a 850 SAT score, you're already strongly competitive for these schools. You're very likely to get admitted if you apply. If you improve your SAT score, your Safety Schools will get better and better.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | 810 | 16 |
| Rust College | Holly Springs, MS | 810 | 15 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce, OH | 800 | 15 |
| Lane College | Jackson, TN | 780 | 15 |
| McPherson College | McPherson, KS | 768 | 21 |
| Bloomfield College | Bloomfield, NJ | 629 | 17 |
See a Different SAT Score
Curious about what your profile is with a different score? Choose any score from the entire SAT score range to see what you'd be able to do!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
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