SAT Scores for Admission to Top Texas Colleges

The best Texas colleges and universities are going to require SAT scores that are at least a little above average. Some of the more selective schools such as Rice, SMU, and UT Austin will be looking for scores that are significantly above average. The table below can help you figure out if your SAT scores are on target for admission to any of Texas's top ranked colleges. The side-by-side comparison shows scores for the middle 50% of enrolled students. If your scores fall within or above these ranges, you're on target for admission to one of these top colleges in Texas.

Top Texas Colleges SAT Score Comparison (mid 50%)
(Learn what these numbers mean)

View the ACT version of this table

Keep in mind exactly what these numbers mean. The 25% column is not a cut-off, for 25% of applicants were admitted with scores below that number. Higher scores will certainly improve your admission chances, but plenty of students get in who are on the lower end of the scale.

That said, if your scores are below the range list above, you'll need to demonstrate meaningful strengths in other areas. Most important, of course, is a strong academic record. High grades in challenging college preparatory classes are generally the most important part of an application, "A" grades in AP, IB and Honors classes represent a good measure of your college readiness.

All of the schools on this list have a holistic admissions process, so grades and standardized test scores aren't the only factors considered in the admissions process. The admissions officers at these Texas colleges will also want to see a strong academic record, a winning essay, meaningful extracurricular activities and good letters of recommendation. Some but not all of the schools will also use interviews as part of the admissions equation.

Data from the National Center for Educational Statistics