What is an Average SAT Score?

You took the SAT, waited weeks for the results, and finally received that all-important message that your scores are in. However, interpreting those numbers is often easier said than done. Most students want to know what the average SAT score is so they can assess how their outcomes compare with those of other college-bound juniors and seniors.

Still, there’s more than one way to assess average scores. For example, the College Board calculates average SAT scores based on gender, ethnicity, family income level, and even the state from which a student hails. Keep reading to learn more about average SAT scores and find out what you can do to improve your results and achieve your collegiate goals.

What is an Average SAT Score?

Every year, the College Board releases an SAT score report revealing national averages. For 2019 high school graduates, the average SAT score for students across the U.S. was 1059, with an average Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 531 and a Math score of 528. Still, these numbers don’t tell the whole story. In fact, average scores vary significantly based on several factors outside a student’s control. 

One of the most significant factors affecting SAT averages is a student’s family income level. In general, students from families earning less than $20,000 earn almost 300 points less than students in the $200,000+ income bracket. Below is a chart of average scores by family salary:

Source: College Board

It’s no secret that students from higher-income backgrounds often enjoy educational advantages over those from less wealthy families. Along with access to better schools and teachers, students in the higher salary brackets often have the money to pay for tutoring and SAT prep programs. They may also have more time to study, as students from poorer homes may need to work jobs for their family, or take care of siblings.

In an effort to level the playing field, the SAT recently created an adversity score to give college admissions officers an idea of what students have had to overcome during their lives. While the score wasn’t available to students, colleges could see the number when they received applicants’ score reports. The general public was upset about the adversity score, as they believed a single number couldn’t encompass the challenges a student has faced.

Because of a negative reaction to the adversity score, the SAT quickly overturned this policy. Instead of providing colleges with a single score, the College Board now offers something known as a Landscape. This admissions tool offers a series of data points that may affect a student’s performance, such as housing stability, crime rates, size of senior class, and many others. They also share how the student’s score compared to the average at their high school.

Below is a chart showcasing how the school a student attends can have an effect on their SAT score:

Source: College Board

Additionally, students and parents should note that average SAT scores tend to vary by ethnicity. Generally, this disparity is also correlated with the average income levels of the ethnic groups. View average SAT scores by ethnicity in the table below:

Source: College Board