Fact checked

States with the Highest and Lowest SAT Scores in 2023

The SAT is one of the most important placement tests that many high school students take each year. Does your state have the highest SAT score in the nation?
States with the Highest and Lowest SAT Scores in 2023
Written by:

The SAT is one of the most important placement exams that many high school students take. It could determine whether or not they get into their desired college or university, affecting their entire future, or it may affect the scholarships they get. The minimum score on the SAT is 400, and the highest you can get is 1600. That said, the national average currently rests at 1050.

So how does your state's test score stack up against the others? And where does it fall relative to the nation's average? Analysts here at Learner crunched the numbers to find out. Take a look at our map below to see where your state's average SAT score ranks!

The top spots for the highest average SAT scores are:

  1. Wisconsin - 1252
  2. Wyoming - 1244
  3. Kansas - 1238
  4. Utah - 1233
  5. Mississippi - 1226
  6. Minnesota - 1225
  7. Nebraska - 1222
  8. Kentucky and South Dakota - 1219 (tied)
  9. North Dakota - 1212
  10. Montana - 1206

The states with the lowest SAT scores are:

  1. West Virginia - 938
  2. Oklahoma - 951
  3. Delaware - 968
  4. Rhode Island - 971
  5. New Mexico - 976
  6. Illinois - 981
  7. Florida - 983
  8. District of Columbia - 985
  9. Idaho - 986
  10. Michigan - 1000

Interesting Data Findings

  • Wisconsin came in with the highest mean SAT score at 1252 , which is 202 points above the national average.
  • West Virginia ranked as the state with the lowest score—112 points below the nation’s average and an average score of 938
  • On average, the national SAT score is 1050

Some states tied for their ranking:

  • Kentucky and South Dakota each had an average score of 1219, putting both of them in 8th place.
  • Missouri and Tennessee tied for 11th place, both with a score of 1200.
  • Hawaii and Virginia’s average SAT score was 1124, putting them in the 21st spot.
Learner tutors

Methodology

We compiled the national and individual state SAT Suite Results for 2022 from the College Board to find out which states had the highest and lowest SAT scores. We then compared each state’s mean SAT score with the national average to understand which states had a mean score higher or lower than the national average.

Ranking State Total Average Score Points Above/Below National Average
1 Wisconsin 1252 202
2 Wyoming 1244 194
3 Kansas 1238 188
4 Utah 1233 183
5 Mississippi 1226 176
6 Minnesota 1225 175
7 Nebraska 1222 172
8 Kentucky 1219 169
8 South Dakota 1219 169
9 North Dakota 1212 162
10 Montana 1206 156
11 Missouri 1200 150
11 Tennessee 1200 150
12 Iowa 1196 146
13 Arkansas 1191 141
14 Nevada 1172 122
15 Louisiana 1171 121
16 Arizona 1159 109
17 Alabama 1146 96
18 Oregon 1143 93
19 North Carolina 1136 86
20 Massachusetts 1129 79
21 Hawaii 1124 74
21 Virginia 1124 74
22 California 1115 65
23 Alaska 1110 60
24 Washington 1096 46
25 Vermont 1095 45
26 Pennsylvania 1091 41
27 Maine 1081 31
28 New Jersey 1079 29
29 Maryland 1075 25
30 Indiana 1073 23
31 New York 1067 17
32 Georgia 1060 10
33 Ohio 1053 3
34 New Hampshire 1050 0
35 South Carolina 1030 -20
36 Connecticut 1025 -25
37 Colorado 1021 -29
38 Texas 1001 -49
39 Michigan 1000 -50
40 Idaho 986 -64
41 District of Columbia 985 -65
42 Florida 983 -67
43 Illinois 981 -69
44 New Mexico 976 -74
45 Rhode Island 971 -79
46 Delaware 968 -82
47 Oklahoma 951 -99
48 West Virginia 938 -112

Learner Tutors Are Tried and Tested - Here's How They Can Help

At Learner, we believe that to accelerate growth should be accompanied by accelerated learning. That's where we come in. We offer the best online tutors for your student through a proprietary screening and vetting process that matches your student with the right tutor for them. We understand that not all tutors' teaching and students' learning styles are compatible, so we ensure that the student is not just stuck with whomever they get. We have a 99% match rate - but don't take our word for it; check out real reviews from our parents and students.  

SAT Tests are Back 

At the height of the pandemic, many higher learning institutions dropped the SAT and ACT requirements for admission consideration. Two years later, there are a lot of discussions around which colleges and universities are remaining test-optional moving forward as the things affected by the COVID-19 pandemic start to return to normalcy. Now high school students are back to balancing their high school GPA, community service, and SAT or ACT scores to qualify for a merit-based scholarship. 

Does your high school require the SAT to graduate? 

Not all do. Ask your counselor or any teacher at the school whether this is required to get your high school diploma. If the answer is yes, then, unfortunately, there's no way around it! The good news is that we're here to help.

Applying to a University of College school?

University of California schools, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz, have announced that at least for the class of 2022, they will remain SAT and ACT optional. 

Which schools require the SAT?

Some schools that have decided to reinstate the SAT requirement as part of the admission process are the University of Central Florida, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of South Florida, University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, and Simmons University. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced earlier this year that students applying to the university in 2022 (to graduate in 2023) would once again have to submit SAT or ACT exam scores. 

What countries accept the SAT?

Want to see the world while you learn? There's so much you can learn by immersing yourself in different countries and cultures that books can't teach you. If you're looking to widen your breadth and study abroad, some universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Singapore accept SAT Scores. 

What's a good SAT Score for 2022 Overall?

It's a race to the top (half)! Your SATs are benchmarked against your peers, and if your test scores rank higher than average, the better. Although the SAT is only one part of your admission process and in no way indicates what you are capable of or how great you truly are, if it's being added as a part of your application package, then it’s best to aspire for your highest possible score. 

Here's how the numbers stack up:

99th (Best) 760 and above 800 1520 and above
90th (Excellent) 670-680 690 1350
75th (Good) 600-610 600 1200-1210
50th (Average) 520-530 520 1040-1050
25th (Poor) 450 440 890-900
10th (Poorer) 390-400 370-380 780
1st (Poorest) 330 and below 310 and below 670 and below

Looking for tutors in your area?

Get started with a custom-matched tutor for your child.

Find your tutor

About the author:

Mike developed his passion for education as a math instructor at Penn State University. He expanded his educational experience launching and running an Executive Education business - training over 100,000 students per year. As the CEO of Learner, Mike focuses on accelerating learning and unleashing the potential of students. 

Related Articles

All Articles

SAT Goes Digital in 2024: Everything You Need to Know About the Changes

In a significant shift from traditional paper and pencil methods, the SAT is embracing the digital age. Starting in 2024, the SAT will no longer be administered in its physical form, marking a new era for one of the most critical exams for college admission. This move is part of a broader trend towards digitalization in education and testing, reflecting changes in how students learn and are assessed. 

Is Summer the Best Time to Take the SAT?

For many students, summer is a season to finally relax and enjoy time away from school work. However, dismissing the idea of taking the SAT during the summer may overlook certain advantages worth considering, especially if maximizing one's performance on the SAT is a priority.

Navigating ADHD and Autism during the SATs

Michael took the SAT four times during his high school years before being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and high-functioning autism. Recently, he accepted Learner’s challenge to retake the SAT as an adult, long after his school days were over.