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Colleges that accept a 1250 SAT

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

A 1250 SAT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 403 four-year colleges. The 100 below are the ones where 1250 sits closest to the middle of the range, including University of Houston, University of South Florida and The University of Alabama.

Each college reports the SAT scores of the first-year students who sent one: a quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. When 1250 falls between the two, it's a typical score there. Many of these colleges are test-optional, so the range describes only the students who chose to send a score.

The list (100 of 403)

Four-year colleges with 500 or more undergraduates where 1250 is between the 25th and 75th percentile SAT total, closest to the middle first, 100 of 403 shown. Score ranges come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 90 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 10 colleges.

  1. University of Houston SAT 1160–1340 Houston, TX · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  2. University of South Florida SAT 1160–1340 Tampa, FL · Admitted 41% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  3. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College SAT 1100–1400 New York, NY · Admitted 48% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. CUNY City College SAT 1070–1430 New York, NY · Admitted 60% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Salisbury University SAT 1180–1320 Salisbury, MD · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Caldwell University SAT 1130–1370 Caldwell, NJ · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Transylvania University SAT 1120–1380 Lexington, KY · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. University of North Carolina at Greensboro SAT 1150–1355 Greensboro, NC · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Butler University SAT 1163–1330 Indianapolis, IN · Admitted 82% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  10. Berea College SAT 1156–1335 Berea, KY · Admitted 19% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. James Madison University SAT 1170–1340 Harrisonburg, VA · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. St. John's University-New York SAT 1150–1340 Queens, NY · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Belmont University SAT 1160–1350 Nashville, TN · Admitted 95% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. State University of New York at New Paltz SAT 1170–1340 New Paltz, NY · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Mercer University SAT 1160–1350 Macon, GA · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Cedarville University SAT 1130–1360 Cedarville, OH · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. Thomas Jefferson University SAT 1160–1330 Philadelphia, PA · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott SAT 1140–1370 Prescott, AZ · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Le Moyne College SAT 1160–1330 Syracuse, NY · Admitted 83% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. John Carroll University SAT 1180–1330 University Heights, OH · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Salve Regina University SAT 1160–1330 Newport, RI · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. Eckerd College SAT 1160–1330 Saint Petersburg, FL · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. Bethel University SAT 1190–1300 Saint Paul, MN · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Emmanuel College SAT 1170–1340 Boston, MA · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Florida Polytechnic University SAT 1170–1340 Lakeland, FL · Admitted 57% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  26. Southwestern University SAT 1170–1340 Georgetown, TX · Admitted 44% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  27. University of Dallas SAT 1120–1370 Irving, TX · Admitted 53% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  28. Kettering University SAT 1160–1330 Flint, MI · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  29. Dominican University of California SAT 1210–1300 San Rafael, CA · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  30. University of North Carolina School of the Arts SAT 1140–1370 Winston Salem, NC · Admitted 30% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  31. Agnes Scott College SAT 1160–1330 Decatur, GA · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  32. Hollins University SAT 1150–1340 Roanoke, VA · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  33. Iowa State University SAT 1153–1360 Ames, IA · Admitted 88% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  34. Gordon College SAT 1130–1355 Wenham, MA · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  35. Allegheny College SAT 1155–1360 Meadville, PA · Admitted 59% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  36. Western Colorado University SAT 1163–1353 Gunnison, CO · Admitted 99.7% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  37. Luther College SAT 1078–1406 Decorah, IA · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  38. St. Mary's College of Maryland SAT 1143–1340 St. Mary's City, MD · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  39. LSU SAT 1180–1340 Baton Rouge, LA · Admitted 73% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  40. George Mason University SAT 1160–1360 Fairfax, VA · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  41. University of Missouri SAT 1150–1330 Columbia, MO · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  42. University of Illinois Chicago SAT 1130–1350 Chicago, IL · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  43. CUNY Hunter College SAT 1100–1420 New York, NY · Admitted 54% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  44. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach SAT 1160–1360 Daytona Beach, FL · Admitted 65% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  45. Pace University SAT 1180–1340 New York, NY · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  46. The College of New Jersey SAT 1140–1340 Ewing, NJ · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  47. University of Denver SAT 1160–1360 Denver, CO · Admitted 85% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  48. Michigan Technological University SAT 1130–1350 Houghton, MI · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  49. Duquesne University SAT 1180–1340 Pittsburgh, PA · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  50. University of Louisiana at Monroe SAT 1160–1360 Monroe, LA · Admitted 85% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  51. Saint Joseph's University – Philadelphia SAT 1170–1350 Philadelphia, PA · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  52. Bryant University SAT 1190–1330 Smithfield, RI · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  53. Florida Southern College SAT 1150–1330 Lakeland, FL · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  54. California Lutheran University SAT 1150–1330 Thousand Oaks, CA · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  55. Benedictine College SAT 1140–1380 Atchison, KS · Admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  56. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology SAT 1140–1340 Rapid City, SD · Admitted 80% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  57. Augustana University SAT 1150–1370 Sioux Falls, SD · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  58. Wagner College SAT 1190–1290 Staten Island, NY · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  59. Queens University of Charlotte SAT 1140–1340 Charlotte, NC · Admitted 62% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  60. Immaculata University SAT 1156–1323 Immaculata, PA · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  61. University of Scranton SAT 1160–1318 Scranton, PA · Admitted 81% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  62. Hamline University SAT 1133–1391 Saint Paul, MN · Admitted 88% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  63. Elmira College SAT 1090–1385 Elmira, NY · Admitted 77% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  64. Grove City College SAT 1141–1388 Grove City, PA · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  65. Hendrix College SAT 1123–1348 Conway, AR · Admitted 56% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  66. University of Cincinnati SAT 1160–1370 Cincinnati, OH · Admitted 85% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  67. University of North Carolina at Charlotte SAT 1140–1330 Charlotte, NC · Admitted 80% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  68. University of Oklahoma SAT 1140–1330 Norman, OK · Admitted 78% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  69. DePaul University SAT 1140–1330 Chicago, IL · Admitted 76% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  70. Loyola University Chicago SAT 1170–1360 Chicago, IL · Admitted 75% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  71. University of Minnesota-Duluth SAT 1180–1350 Duluth, MN · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  72. Quinnipiac University SAT 1150–1320 Hamden, CT · Admitted 72% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  73. Marist University SAT 1200–1330 Poughkeepsie, NY · Admitted 56% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  74. Bucknell University SAT 1170–1360 Lewisburg, PA · Admitted 32% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Test-optional for fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  75. SUNY College at Geneseo SAT 1190–1340 Geneseo, NY · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  76. Biola University SAT 1160–1370 La Mirada, CA · Admitted 74% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  77. Siena University SAT 1110–1360 Loudonville, NY · Admitted 69% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  78. University of Portland SAT 1160–1370 Portland, OR · Admitted 89% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  79. University of North Carolina Asheville SAT 1170–1360 Asheville, NC · Admitted 92% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  80. SUNY at Fredonia SAT 1160–1370 Fredonia, NY · Admitted 78% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  81. Connecticut College SAT 1160–1370 New London, CT · Admitted 39% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  82. Minneapolis College of Art and Design SAT 1130–1340 Minneapolis, MN · Admitted 49% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  83. Endicott College SAT 1193–1340 Beverly, MA · Admitted 71% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  84. Manhattan University SAT 1180–1358 Riverdale, NY · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  85. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus SAT 1143–1318 Bend, OR · Admitted 63% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  86. The University of Alabama SAT 1100–1360 Tuscaloosa, AL · Admitted 71% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Scores required for some, fall 2027 Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  87. Oregon State University SAT 1140–1400 Corvallis, OR · Admitted 79% of fall 2025 applicants (Common Data Set) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  88. Western Washington University SAT 1150–1390 Bellingham, WA · Admitted 93% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  89. Long Island University SAT 1110–1350 Brookville, NY · Admitted 86% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  90. Adelphi University SAT 1120–1340 Garden City, NY · Admitted 66% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  91. Pratt Institute-Main SAT 1150–1390 Brooklyn, NY · Admitted 73% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  92. University of Mary Washington SAT 1170–1370 Fredericksburg, VA · Admitted 80% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  93. Point Loma Nazarene University SAT 1175–1365 San Diego, CA · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  94. Lipscomb University SAT 1160–1380 Nashville, TN · Admitted 68% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  95. Franciscan University of Steubenville SAT 1110–1350 Steubenville, OH · Admitted 58% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  96. Drake University SAT 1110–1350 Des Moines, IA · Admitted 64% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  97. Truman State University SAT 1170–1370 Kirksville, MO · Admitted 84% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  98. Messiah University SAT 1110–1350 Mechanicsburg, PA · Admitted 79% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  99. Illinois Wesleyan University SAT 1120–1340 Bloomington, IL · Admitted 39% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  100. Covenant College SAT 1160–1380 Lookout Mountain, GA · Admitted 87% of fall 2024 applicants (IPEDS) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What colleges accept a 1250 SAT score?

A 1250 SAT is in the middle 50% of first-year scores at 403 four-year colleges. The 100 below are the ones where 1250 sits closest to the middle of the range, including University of Houston, University of South Florida and The University of Alabama. Colleges don't set a minimum score, so a 1250 inside a college's middle 50% means it is a typical score among the first-years who sent one.

Which of these colleges admit the most applicants?

Western Colorado University admitted 99.7% of fall 2024 applicants, Benedictine College admitted 98% of fall 2024 applicants and Belmont University admitted 95% of fall 2024 applicants. Among the 100 colleges listed, 52 admitted three in four applicants or more.

Which colleges on this list are hardest to get into?

Berea College admitted 19% of fall 2024 applicants, University of North Carolina School of the Arts admitted 30% of fall 2024 applicants and Bucknell University admitted 32% of fall 2025 applicants: the lowest rates on this list.

Do I have to send my SAT score to these colleges?

It depends on the college. We read the fall 2027 rule on the college's own site for 5 colleges on this list: 3 are test-optional, 2 require it for some applicants. For the others, check the college's admissions page before you decide.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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