SAT Scores for Virginia and Mid-Atlantic Colleges

"What SAT score does my teen need for UVA?" is one of the most common questions we hear from Richmond parents. The honest answer is that there's no cutoff, but every college publishes the scores of the students it enrolls. Those numbers tell you a lot.   

Here are the latest SAT ranges for popular Virginia and Mid-Atlantic colleges, along with each school's current testing policy.   

SAT Score Ranges at a Glance

The ranges below are the middle 50% of students who submitted SAT scores: a quarter scored below the low number, and a quarter scored above the high number.  

College	Middle 50% SAT	Testing policy	Data
University of Richmond	1450–1520 (admitted)	Test optional for 2026 entry	Class of 2029 profile
University of Virginia	1410–1510	Test optional; superscores the SAT	2025–26 CDS, enrolled
University of Maryland, College Park	1410–1520	Test optional through the 2027 cycles	2025–26 CDS, enrolled
William & Mary	1390–1520	Test optional through fall 2027	2025–26 CDS, enrolled
Virginia Tech	1280–1450	Test optional through fall 2028; superscores SAT and ACT	2025–26 CDS, enrolled
George Mason University	1180–1360	"Score optional"	2025–26 CDS, enrolled
James Madison University	About 1170–1340 (admitted)	Test optional	2024–25
Virginia Commonwealth University	Reading and Writing 530–660; Math 500–630	Test optional	Fall 2025, SCHEV

CDS = Common Data Set, the standard report colleges publish each year. "Enrolled" means students who enrolled; "admitted" means students offered admission, which usually runs slightly higher. VCU reports section ranges only, and section percentiles can't simply be added into a total.   

The Forte SAT Guidebook, which every bootcamp student takes home, covers more Virginia and Mid-Atlantic colleges than we can fit here.  

How to Read These Ranges

Think of the middle 50% range as three zones:   

• Above the high number: The score is a clear strength in the application.   

• Inside the range: The score is competitive. The rest of the application (grades, course rigor, essays, activities) decides the outcome.   

• Below the low number: The score may not help, and at a test-optional school your teen may be better off not sending it.   

Two cautions. First, these are ranges for students who submitted scores. At test-optional schools, students with lower scores often don't submit, which pushes the published ranges up. Second, competitive programs such as engineering, computer science, and nursing often skew toward the top of a school's range.   

What "Test Optional" Really Means

Test optional means your teen can apply without scores and won't be penalized for it. It doesn't mean scores don't matter.   

• Many admitted students still submit. At UVA, roughly half of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores. At William & Mary, 40% of the Class of 2029 applied test optional, meaning about 60% submitted.   

• Some schools still weigh scores heavily. The University of Richmond is test optional but rates test scores as an "important" factor in its Common Data Set, so a strong score carries real weight there.   

• Policies are temporary at many schools. William & Mary describes its policy as temporary through fall 2027. Policies can change from one year to the next, so always check the admissions site the year your teen applies.   

• Scores can matter for merit aid and honors programs even where they're optional for admission.   

A common rule of thumb: submit if your teen's score is at or above the middle of a college's range. Below the 25th percentile, applying test optional is usually the stronger choice.   

Superscoring: Why Retaking Can Help

Many colleges superscore the SAT, combining your teen's best Reading and Writing score and best Math score across different test dates.   

• UVA uses the top score from each SAT section across all test dates.   

• Virginia Tech superscores both the SAT and ACT.   

That makes a second or third attempt lower risk: a strong Math score on one date and a strong Reading and Writing score on another can be combined.   

What This Means for Your Family

1. Build a list with ranges, not just names. Write each college's middle 50% range next to it. Patterns jump out quickly: a teen at 1300 is well positioned for Virginia Tech, George Mason, and JMU, and has work to do for UVA or William & Mary.   

2. Know your teen's real starting point. A PSAT score or an old practice test is only a rough guide. A full, timed practice SAT shows where your teen actually stands against these ranges.   

3. Set a target score, not just a target school. Aim for the middle of the range at the colleges your teen cares most about. That number tells you how much prep is worth doing.   

4. Decide on submitting later. You don't need to decide now whether to apply test optional. Build the strongest score you reasonably can, then decide school by school when applications are due.   

See Where Your Teen Stands

The Forte SAT Bootcamp is one Saturday in Richmond: a full proctored practice SAT, same-day scores, and coaches who scored 1500+ reviewing the hardest questions. Every student takes home a printed Score Report broken down by section and skill, plus the Forte SAT Guidebook showing how scores compare nationally and score ranges for colleges across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic.   

Sources: University of Virginia admissions FAQ; Esslo transcriptions of the 2025–26 Common Data Sets for UVA, William & Mary, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, University of Richmond, and George Mason; William & Mary Facts & Figures; University of Richmond Student Profile; AcceptanceRate.com (JMU); SCHEV (VCU); Larry Learns (Virginia Tech and UMD testing policies); Crimson Education, Test-Optional Colleges 2026/27.