Even if you’re lucky enough to be receiving financial support from your family, they probably aren’t going to foot the whole bill for college. So you’re probably wondering, What’s a good SAT score for scholarships, and how can I find them?
The short answer is that you should aim for an SAT score between 1200 and 1600 if you want to secure some scholarships based on merit–and the higher within that range you score the more money you’re looking at.
However, different schools have different scholarship requirements (some even have guaranteed scholarship awards for students scoring above certain cutoffs) so you’ll want to research the specific schools on your list.
Now for the long answer…
What’s a Good SAT Score for Scholarships?
In this post we’ll examine the different types of scholarships you can apply for, where to find them, and what some of the standard scholarship amounts offered by different schools based on SATs look like. We’ll also coach you through how to set your own specific goal score, and how to structure your SAT prep around that goal!
There are many ways to earn scholarship $$$ (sports, extracurriculars, overcoming adversity, the list goes on), but this post is going to focus on how to secure scholarships through your standardized test scores – especially the SATs.
Now let’s take a look at how to turn your good SAT scores into some scholarship dollars.
Types of Scholarships
First of all, many colleges around the country have what are called guaranteed scholarships. These scholarships are automatically awarded to accepted students who have earned a certain SAT score. The cool thing about them is that you don’t even have to fill out a separate application. When you’re researching colleges, keep your eyes open for what guaranteed scholarships are out there.
A larger number of colleges also have general merit scholarships. These scholarships have the same SAT requirements, but you are in competition with other accepted students for a limited number of awards. These scholarships may require a separate application, along with a personal or themed essay. In short, read those directions closely!
Available Scholarships by School
Many colleges and universities have specific scholarships available for their current and incoming students, so if you have a list of schools you’re interested in, a simple Google search for your top college choices along with the search term “merit scholarships” is all you need. Because every scholarship’s requirements are different, you have some work to do: get out there and find some scholarships!
Scholarships based on academic merit often have minimum SAT scores provided in their descriptions. Take note of any SAT score requirements you find during your research, then average all those scores. The result is your minimum SAT score goal.
Not sure which colleges you want to apply to yet? Here’s a list to get you started:
| University | SAT Score (or other requirements) | Scholarship Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred State College | Must be a New York State resident | Up to $5,000 per year |
| American University | Rank within the top 10 to 15 percent of AU’s admitted students | $6,000 – $22,000 |
| Baylor University | All applicants are automatically considered | $3,000 – $60,000 depending on the program |
| Baylor University | Between 940 and 1400 depending on the scholarship and 2.5-3.0 GPA | $1,000 – $10,000 per year for 4 years |
| Beloit College | All applicants are automatically considered | up to $45000 per year |
| Bluffton College | A 3.5 GPA (or higher) and a 24 ACT/1160 SAT (or higher) | valued at more than $138,800 over four years |
| Clemson University | Rank within the top 15 percent of accepted students | From $500 per year to the full cost of attendance |
| Colorado State University | All applicants are automatically considered | $2,000 – $ 4,000 per year (half paid each fall and spring semester) |
| Columbia College | depends on the GPA and ACT scores | Up to $13,000 per year |
| Earlham College | Achievement based | Variable |
| Hamline University | Automatically considered with application | Up to $30,000 |
| Louisiana State University | High academic achievement | $500 per year to a full ride |
| Texas Tech University | Determined by test score and high school rank | Variable |
| University of Arizona | Depends on your GPA | $750-$32,000 |
| University of Arkansas | National Merit Scholar | $10,000 annually |
| University of Indianapolis | Automatically considered with application | Up to 100% off tuition |
| University of Iowa | Automatically considered with application | up to $8500 annually |
| University of Mississippi | 1130+ SAT and 3.0 GPA | $1,000-$9,252 annually |
| University of Missouri Perfect Score Scholarship | 36 ACT or 1570-1600 SAT (superscores used) | 100% tuition and fees + $3,500 additional stipend + $10,940 one year on-campus housing and dining + one-time payments $2,000 for research/study abroad $1,000 for tech enrichment |
| University of New Mexico | Minimum 3.90 Cumulative GPA | Approximately $24,000 per year |
| University of Oregon | Depends on your GPA | $1,000 up to full tuition |
| University of Southern California | High academic achievement | Up to full tuition |
| University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship | 1300-1600 | $3,000-$9,000 annually |
| Wesleyan College | Depends on your GPA | Up to full tuition |
The amount of scholarship money available varies widely between schools, but if you’re looking at regular public and private colleges and universities, you’re likely to see these kinds of numbers.
[Related: Average College Tuition in America Infographic]
Private Scholarships
There are also scholarships out there that aren’t affiliated any specific academic institute (the Burger King James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarship for example), so once you’ve exhausted your college list, try casting a wider net. Here are just some of the scholarships with super simple applications that I discovered after a few minutes of online research:
1. DoSomething.org Easy Scholarships
On DoSomething.org you can enter to win college scholarships by participating in community service campaigns–some are even as simple as sending a tweet!
2. $2,000 No Essay Scholarship
Niche gives away a $2,000 scholarship every month. All you have to do is register for a free account and you are entered to win this scholarship.
3. $10,000 Unigo Scholarship
Answer Unigo’s prompt in 250 words or less. One of their recent topics was “Surprise! You just got elected president. What’s your first tweet?”
4. No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship
ScholarshipOwl is an online platform designed to match you with the award opportunities that fit your background, grades, lifestyle, and more–and you will be entered to win the “$7,000 No Essay Smart Owl Scholarship” just by making a free account on their website.
Searching for scholarships can be exhausting, so consider going to see your high school or college counselor to give you a leg up on the hunt.
How to Set Your SAT Goal Score
Having a specific score in mind will help you focus your SAT prep, but don’t forget that this score is a minimum – ideally you want to be scoring a bit higher than this number on your practice tests (and the real thing, of course!).
Once you’ve got a strong SAT score under your belt, you can shift your focus to the scholarship applications themselves, and any essays and/or personal statements that may be lurking within.
Final Thoughts About a Good SAT Score for Scholarships
There are a lot of scholarships out there, and surprisingly enough, many of them have nothing to do with SAT scores. Like I mentioned at this beginning of this post, plenty of scholarships are based around other attributes such as overcoming adversity, your background, your summer job, or simply how well you write an essay. You probably have a lot more than just your SAT scores going for you, so you shouldn’t sell yourself short by only looking into merit scholarships – they’re just a good place to start!
Well, Magooshers, that’s all for now. Before you go any further, make sure to check out our article on the 3 Best Places to Look For College Scholarships. Happy scholarship hunting!
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Thomas Broderick
Thomas spent four years teaching high school English, social studies, and ACT preparation in Middle Tennessee. Now living in Northern California, he is excited to share his knowledge and experience with Magoosh’s readers. In his spare time Thomas enjoys writing short fiction and hiking in the Sonoma foothills.
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