Where does your score land?

    Three quick steps: pick a college, add your SAT or ACT, and see whether it is a reach, target or likely, with the numbers behind the label. Rough guidance for a balanced list, not a prediction.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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    Choose a college

    Popular:

    Your test score

    SAT total: 400–1600, in steps of 10

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    Your result appears here

    Pick a college and enter an SAT or ACT score to see where it falls among admitted students, with a reach, target or likely label.

    The rules behind reach, target and likely

    Two figures from the U.S. College Scorecard decide the label: the middle 50% test range of admitted students and the admit rate. Nothing else.

    1. Reach

      The college admits under 15% of applicants (whatever your score), or your score is below its 25th percentile.

    2. Target

      Your score is inside the middle 50%, or above it at a college admitting under 30%.

    3. Likely

      Your score is above the 75th percentile, or inside the middle 50% at a college admitting 75% or more.

    4. Not enough data

      The college reported no score range for your test and admits at least 15% of applicants, so there is nothing reliable to compare.

    Balance your list. Most counselors suggest a few of each: reach, target and likely colleges, all of which you would be glad to attend.

    Scores are optional at many colleges. At test-optional colleges, send scores that sit inside or above the middle 50%.

    Retaking? Many colleges superscore, combining your best sections across test dates.

    SAT totals are approximate. The Scorecard reports reading and math ranges separately; the tool adds them, which gives a slightly wider range than the true total.

    Worked example

    1. Take a college whose admitted students' SAT middle 50% is 1200–1400 and that admits 60% of applicants. A 1250 is inside the range, so the label is Target.
    2. The same 1250 at a college with the same range that admits 80% is Likely: inside the range at a college admitting 75% or more.
    3. A 1450 is above the range. At a college admitting 20% it is still only Target, because the college admits under 30%.
    4. At a college admitting 10%, every score is a Reach: the cut-off is 15%.

    Official sources

    Each result names the data year for the college you pick.

    Next step: put it in one report

    The tool stays free. The optional report puts your own numbers in one document. Pricing details

    Premium Fit Report$29 once

    Your quiz result turned into up to 10 best-fit colleges, with reach, target and likely groups, costs, earnings and an action plan.

    Start with the quiz See a sample report

    Guides that use this tool

    Step-by-step explanations of the figures, written from the same federal data.

    Frequently asked questions

    Short answers about how the numbers work.

    Does this predict whether I will get in?

    No. It only shows where one number, your test score, sits against the scores of admitted students who reported them. Colleges also weigh grades, course rigor, essays, recommendations, activities, major and residency. Treat the label as rough guidance for balancing your list.

    How are reach, target and likely decided?

    Below the college's 25th percentile is a reach. Inside the middle 50% is a target, or likely if the college admits 75% or more of applicants. Above the 75th percentile is likely, or target at colleges admitting under 30%. Any college admitting under 15% is a reach for everyone.

    What are my chances of getting into a college with my SAT or ACT score?

    Start with the college's admit rate, then see where your score sits against its middle 50%. Inside or above the range, your score is typical or strong for admitted students and the rest of your application decides it; below it, the college is a reach. No calculator can turn that into an exact percentage, because colleges do not publish how they weigh grades, essays and other factors.

    What is the middle 50%?

    The range between the 25th and 75th percentile scores of admitted students who submitted scores. A quarter of them scored below the low number and a quarter above the high number. At test-optional colleges it covers only students who chose to send scores.

    Why is my GPA not used?

    Federal data does not publish the GPAs of admitted students, and high schools and colleges calculate GPAs differently. The tool shows your GPA for context but leaves it out of the label rather than guess.

    More free college tools

    Each tool uses the same verified federal data as the college profiles.