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Is a 870 a Good SAT Score?

A 870 SAT total is higher than about 27% of the user group of recent test takers, and about 24% of the nationally representative study group, according to College Board percentile data. It concords to an ACT Composite score of 15.

National Percentile
24
User Group Percentile
27
ACT Equivalent
15

Verdict: Below average

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How this verdict is computed

This verdict is computed directly from the user-group percentile using a fixed rule, not a guess:

  • 90th percentile or higher: Excellent
  • 75th-89th percentile: Strong
  • 50th-74th percentile: Above average
  • 25th-49th percentile: Below average
  • Below 25th percentile: Low

Use our College Finder to compare a 870 SAT score against the middle-50% SAT ranges published by individual colleges.

Nearby scores

SAT Total Score Percentiles (scores near 870)
SAT Total National Percentile User Group Percentile
920 33 35
910 31 33
900 29 32
890 27 30
880 26 29
870 24 27
860 23 26
850 21 24
840 20 23
830 18 21
820 17 20
← 880 SAT 860 SAT →

SAT to ACT conversion

See the full SAT to ACT conversion chart for the official concordance tables.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 870 SAT score good?

A 870 SAT total is higher than about 27% of the user group of recent test takers, and about 24% of the nationally representative study group, according to College Board percentile data. Using the user-group percentile, that puts a 870 in the "below average" range.

What ACT score is equal to a 870 SAT?

A 870 SAT total concords to an ACT Composite score of 15, according to the official 2018 College Board and ACT concordance tables.

What colleges accept a 870 SAT score?

Use our College Finder to compare a 870 SAT score against the middle-50% SAT ranges published by individual colleges.

Source: College Board SAT percentiles, https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat (checked 2026-09-23). Nationally representative percentiles are derived from a research study of U.S. students in 11th and 12th grade and are weighted to represent all U.S. students in those grades, regardless of whether they typically take the SAT. User group percentiles are based on the actual SAT scores of students that graduated in the past three school years.