State rankings

SAT Scores by State

North Dakota has the highest Average Total SAT Score in 2025 (1,254), followed by Nebraska (1,249) and Wisconsin (1,240). New Mexico has the lowest (875).

EducationPopulation51 states · 6 metricsUpdated Apr 10, 2025Original page
3 sources
51 of 51 states
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Average Total SAT Score, 2025

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
1,112
Middle half 1,003 – 1,192
Average
1,096
51 states
Highest
1,254
North Dakota
Lowest
875
New Mexico

Over time · 2022–2025

The top 5 in 2025, against the median.

  • Median of all states
  • North Dakota
  • Nebraska
  • Wisconsin
  • Kansas
  • Wyoming

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Average Total SAT Score
#
1North Dakota1,254631623225
2Nebraska1,249630619220
3Wisconsin1,240624616211
4Kansas1,238626612209
5Wyoming1,234638597205
6Utah1,229622606200
7Mississippi1,223624598194
8South Dakota1,214619595185
9Iowa1,211616595182
10Minnesota1,210612598181
11Montana1,205622584176
12Louisiana1,195613582166
13Arizona1,194606588165
14Tennessee1,189608581160
15Kentucky1,181607574152
16Nevada1,177601576148
16Arkansas1,177609568148
18Missouri1,174600575145
19Alabama1,172601570143
20North Carolina1,165590575136
21Oklahoma1,150590560121
22Oregon1,12758154698
23Hawaii1,12557456196
24Vermont1,11557653986
25Massachusetts1,11456654885
26Virginia1,11256754483
27Alaska1,09756753068
28California1,09655554167
29Washington1,09556053566
30Pennsylvania1,08455552955
31Maine1,07855852149
32New Jersey1,06153852332
33New York1,04552751816
34Georgia1,0385325069
35Ohio1,018515503-11
36South Carolina1,017524493-12
36New Hampshire1,017523495-12
38Maryland1,003514488-26
38Idaho1,003512490-26
40Connecticut989505484-40
41Colorado987505482-42
42Florida970502468-59
43Texas964490474-65
44Illinois961488473-68
45District of Columbia958493466-71
46Michigan953487466-76
47Indiana950485464-79
48Rhode Island935481455-94
49Delaware933480543-96
50West Virginia911474437-118
51New Mexico875451424-154

What correlates with Average Total SAT Score (2025)?

Pearson r against 2,091 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Average Total SAT Score tend to score higher on these

  1. % of Graduates TestedAverage ACT Score by State
    r = +0.77 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  2. Lean RepublicansPolitical Parties by State
    r = +0.52 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  3. Women's Avg Height (ft)Average Height by State
    r = +0.51 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  4. Women's Avg Height (in)Average Height by State
    r = +0.51 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  5. % of Pop. with Associates DegreeMost Educated U.S. States
    r = +0.50 · moderate · n = 51
    Plot
  6. % of Registered RepublicansRegistered Voters by Party
    r = +0.48 · moderate · n = 31
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Average Total SAT Score tend to score lower on these

  1. ReadingAverage ACT Score by State
    r = −0.57 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  2. EnglishAverage ACT Score by State
    r = −0.55 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  3. CompositeAverage ACT Score by State
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  4. Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by State (Census)
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  5. ScienceAverage ACT Score by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  6. MathAverage ACT Score by State
    r = −0.53 · strong · n = 51
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Average Total SAT Score?
North Dakota has the highest Average Total SAT Score in 2025, at 1,254, followed by Nebraska (1,249) and Wisconsin (1,240).
Which state has the lowest Average Total SAT Score?
New Mexico has the lowest Average Total SAT Score in 2025, at 875.
What is the median Average Total SAT Score across US states?
The median is 1,112 across the 51 US states with data in 2025.
Where does this sat scores by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Average SAT Scores by State - Prep Scholar; SAT Suite of Assessments - College Board; Average SAT Score: Full Statistics - Best Colleges.