SAT scores rise for class of 2026 despite lower participation

Average SAT scores for the high school class of 2026 rose to a mean of 1045, marking a 16-point increase from the class of 2025. This represents the second consecutive year of score gains, which the College Board suggests indicates a recovery from pandemic-era declines. Increases were observed across all student demographic groups and in both the math and reading/writing sections.

However, overall participation in the exam declined. Approximately 1.95 million students took the test this year, down from over 2 million in 2025. A significant driver of this decline was Illinois, which transitioned from the SAT to the ACT following a six-year, $53 million contract. Excluding Illinois, the national average score increase would have been approximately 9 points rather than 16.

Despite some top-tier colleges reinstating standardized testing requirements, the nonprofit group Fair Test notes that 90% of U.S. colleges remain test-optional for the class of 2027 applicants.