SAT score lookup

Is a 980 SAT Score Good?

A 980 out of 1600 is below average for test takers nationally — approximately the 30th percentile, meaning you scored at or above roughly 30% of students. It converts to an ACT score of about 18 on the official concordance.

What a 980 means for your college list

Measure	Value
Approximate national percentile	30th
Equivalent ACT score	18
Colleges where this is at or above the 75th percentile	0
Colleges where this falls inside the middle 50%	35
Colleges where this is below the 25th percentile	242

Those counts are drawn from the 277 four-year colleges in our dataset that report SAT ranges. A score above a college’s 75th percentile makes testing a strength in that applicant pool; inside the range it is neutral; below the 25th percentile the rest of the application has to do the work.

Colleges where a 980 is right in range

• Texas State University (Texas, mid-50% 980–1200)
• University of North Texas (Texas, mid-50% 980–1230)
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Texas, mid-50% 880–1090)
• Georgia State University (Georgia, mid-50% 940–1180)
• The University of Texas at El Paso (Texas, mid-50% 860–1080)
• Grand Valley State University (Michigan, mid-50% 940–1190)
• Montclair State University (New Jersey, mid-50% 910–1210)
• Sam Houston State University (Texas, mid-50% 930–1120)
• University of New Mexico (New Mexico, mid-50% 890–1170)
• University of North Georgia (Georgia, mid-50% 980–1210)
• Towson University (Maryland, mid-50% 950–1235)
• Metropolitan State University of Denver (Colorado, mid-50% 880–1130)

Reach colleges with a 980

• Grand Canyon University (Arizona, mid-50% 1006–1113)
• Texas A&M University-College Station (Texas, mid-50% 1150–1400)
• University of Central Florida (Florida, mid-50% 1200–1350)
• Ohio State University (Ohio, mid-50% 1310–1480)
• Purdue University (Indiana, mid-50% 1200–1480)
• The University of Texas at Austin (Texas, mid-50% 1250–1510)
• University of Arizona (Arizona, mid-50% 1150–1420)
• Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania, mid-50% 1240–1420)

Frequently asked questions

Is 980 a good SAT score?

A 980 is below average, around the 30th percentile nationally. Whether it is good enough depends on your list: it sits at or above the 75th percentile at 0 of the 277 colleges we track and inside the middle 50% at 35 more.

What ACT score is equivalent to a 980 SAT?

Using the official ACT/College Board concordance, a 980 SAT is comparable to an ACT score of about 18.

What colleges can I get into with a 980 SAT?

A 980 is in range or above at 35 of the 277 four-year colleges in our dataset. Test scores are one factor among grades, coursework rigour, essays and extracurriculars.

Percentiles are approximate and shift with each testing cohort; college ranges come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can lag the current cycle.

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