(Return to this link to compare average ACT scores by state)
Among 2010 high school graduates, those from the state of Washington led the nation in average SAT scores, according to SAT State Profile Reports published by The College Board.
The SAT Reasoning Test (previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized college placement exam used to assess whether high school students are prepared for college. The SAT measures proficiency in critical reading, mathematics, and writing. The three sections of the SAT are each worth 800 points–2400 in total. Many U.S. college and university admissions boards have long relied on SAT scores to determine which students to admit to their institutions.
When collectively ranking high school graduates from each state by average SAT scores, it is necessary to distinguish between “SAT States” and “ACT States.” Simply put, SAT States are those where most college-bound students take the SAT, whereas ACT States are those where the majority of students sit for the ACT, a competing exam. This distinction is important because students in ACT States who take the SAT tend to be the top students in their states: students likely to apply to the nation’s most selective colleges, many of which are located in SAT states and whose applicants traditionally submit SAT results. Consequently, average SAT scores in ACT States tend to be inflated due to low participation rates. As explained by The College Board: “Typically, [SAT] test-takers in [ACT] states have strong academic backgrounds and apply to the nation’s most selective colleges …. For these states, it is expected that … SAT scores … will be higher than the national average.”
With the foregoing as background, average SAT score rankings and participation rates for SAT States and ACT States are separately set forth below.
SAT STATES
1. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Washington
Total SAT: 1564
Critical Reading: 524
Mathematics: 532
Writing: 508
Participation Rate: 41.2%*
2. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – New Hampshire
Total SAT: 1554
Critical Reading: 520
Mathematics: 524
Writing: 510
Participation Rate: 64.0%*
3. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Massachusetts
Total SAT: 1547
Critical Reading: 512
Mathematics: 526
Writing: 509
Participation Rate: 72.1%*
4. (tie) Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Oregon
Total SAT: 1546
Critical Reading: 523
Mathematics: 524
Writing: 499
Participation Rate: 37.1%*
Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Vermont
Total SAT: 1546
Critical Reading: 519
Mathematics: 521
Writing: 506
Participation Rate: 64.0%*
6. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Arizona
Total SAT: 1544
Critical Reading: 519
Mathematics: 525
Writing: 500
Participation Rate: 22.4%*
7. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Connecticut
Total SAT: 1536
Critical Reading: 509
Mathematics: 514
Writing: 513
Participation Rate: 71.2%*
8. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Alaska
Total SAT: 1524
Critical Reading: 518
Mathematics: 515
Writing: 491
Participation Rate: 32.7%*
9. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Virginia
Total SAT: 1521
Critical Reading: 512
Mathematics: 512
Writing: 497
Participation Rate: 56.0%*
10. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – California
Total SAT: 1517
Critical Reading: 501
Mathematics: 516
Writing: 500
Participation Rate: 37.5%*
11. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – New Jersey
Total SAT: 1506
Critical Reading: 495
Mathematics: 514
Writing: 497
Participation Rate: 69.0%*
12. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Maryland
Total SAT: 1502
Critical Reading: 501
Mathematics: 506
Writing: 495
Participation Rate: 56.7%*
13. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – North Carolina
Total SAT: 1485
Critical Reading: 497
Mathematics: 511
Writing: 477
Participation Rate: 45.5%*
14. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Rhode Island
Total SAT: 1477
Critical Reading: 494
Mathematics: 495
Writing: 488
Participation Rate: 60.8%*
15. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Indiana
Total SAT: 1476
Critical Reading: 494
Mathematics: 505
Writing: 477
Participation Rate: 52.0%*
16. (tie) Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Florida
Total SAT: 1473
Critical Reading: 496
Mathematics: 498
Writing: 479
Participation Rate: 44.7%*
Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Pennsylvania
Total SAT: 1473
Critical Reading: 492
Mathematics: 501
Writing: 480
Participation Rate: 62.3%*
18. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Nevada
Total SAT: 1470
Critical Reading: 496
Mathematics: 501
Writing: 473
Participation Rate: 25.9%*
19. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Delaware
Total SAT: 1469
Critical Reading: 493
Mathematics: 495
Writing: 481
Participation Rate: 59.2%*
20. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Texas
Total SAT: 1462
Critical Reading: 484
Mathematics: 505
Writing: 473
Participation Rate: 41.5%*
21. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – New York
Total SAT: 1461
Critical Reading: 484
Mathematics: 499
Writing: 478
Participation Rate: 59.6%*
22. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Hawaii
Total SAT: 1458
Critical Reading: 483
Mathematics: 505
Writing: 470
Participation Rate: 47.1%*
23. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Georgia
Total SAT: 1453
Critical Reading: 488
Mathematics: 490
Writing: 475
Participation Rate: 46.5%*
24. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – South Carolina
Total SAT: 1447
Critical Reading: 484
Mathematics: 495
Writing: 468
Participation Rate: 40.7%*
25. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Maine
Total SAT: 1389
Critical Reading: 468
Mathematics: 467
Writing: 454
Participation Rate: 87.1%*
ACT STATES
1. Average SAT Scores by State (2010)– Iowa
Total SAT: 1798
Critical Reading: 603
Mathematics: 613
Writing: 582
Participation Rate: 2.7%*
2. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Minnesota
Total SAT: 1781
Critical Reading: 594
Mathematics: 607
Writing: 580
Participation Rate: 6.0%*
3. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Wisconsin
Total SAT: 1778
Critical Reading: 595
Mathematics: 604
Writing: 579
Participation Rate: 3.8%*
4. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Missouri
Total SAT: 1768
Critical Reading: 593
Mathematics: 595
Writing: 580
Participation Rate: 3.6%*
5. (tie) Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Michigan
Total SAT: 1766
Critical Reading: 585
Mathematics: 605
Writing: 576
Participation Rate: 3.8%*
Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – South Dakota
Total SAT: 1766
Critical Reading: 592
Mathematics: 603
Writing: 571
Participation Rate: 2.0%*
7. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Illinois
Total SAT: 1762
Critical Reading: 585
Mathematics: 600
Writing: 577
Participation Rate: 4.67%*
8. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Kansas
Total SAT: 1752
Critical Reading: 590
Mathematics: 595
Writing: 567
Participation Rate: 4.7%*
9. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Nebraska
Total SAT: 1746
Critical Reading: 585
Mathematics: 593
Writing: 568
Participation Rate: 3.9%*
10. Average SAT Scores by State (2010)– North Dakota
Total SAT: 1733
Critical Reading: 580
Mathematics: 594
Writing: 559
Participation Rate: 3.4%*
11. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Kentucky
Total SAT: 1713
Critical Reading: 575
Mathematics: 575
Writing: 563
Participation Rate: 5.0%*
12. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Tennessee
Total SAT: 1712
Critical Reading: 576
Mathematics: 571
Writing: 565
Participation Rate: 6.4%*
13. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Colorado
Total SAT: 1695
Critical Reading: 568
Mathematics: 572
Writing: 555
Participation Rate: 14.1%*
14. (tie) Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Arkansas
Total SAT: 1684
Critical Reading: 566
Mathematics: 566
Writing: 552
Participation Rate: 3.5%*
Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Oklahoma
Total SAT: 1684
Critical Reading: 569
Mathematics: 568
Writing: 547
Participation Rate: 3.8%*
16. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Wyoming
Total SAT: 1683
Critical Reading: 570
Mathematics: 567
Writing: 546
Participation Rate: 3.6%*
17. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Utah
Total SAT: 1674
Critical Reading: 568
Mathematics: 559
Writing: 547
Participation Rate: 4.5%*
18. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Mississippi
Total SAT: 1666
Critical Reading: 566
Mathematics: 548
Writing: 552
Participation Rate: 2.2%*
19. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Louisiana
Total SAT: 1652
Critical Reading: 555
Mathematics: 550
Writing: 547
Participation Rate: 4.0%*
20. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Alabama
Total SAT: 1650
Critical Reading: 556
Mathematics: 550
Writing: 544
Participation Rate: 5.4%*
21. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – New Mexico
Total SAT: 1636
Critical Reading: 553
Mathematics: 549
Writing: 534
Participation Rate: 7.1%*
22. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Ohio
Total SAT: 1608
Critical Reading: 538
Mathematics: 548
Writing: 522
Participation Rate: 17.2%*
23. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Idaho
Total SAT: 1601
Critical Reading: 543
Mathematics: 541
Writing: 517
Participation Rate: 14.6%*
24. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – Montana
Total SAT: 1593
Critical Reading: 538
Mathematics: 538
Writing: 517
Participation Rate: 20.0%*
25. Average SAT Scores by State (2010) – West Virginia
Total SAT: 1522
Critical Reading: 515
Mathematics: 507
Writing: 500
Participation Rate: 13.2%*
*Extrapolated from U.S. Census school enrollment statistics and 2010 SAT State Profile Reports.
Source(s):
“College-Bound Seniors 2010: State Reports,” The College Board
