SAT Scores for California Colleges, School by School (2026-27)

California's public universities do not use the SAT or ACT at all: the University of California (UC) has been test-blind since 2021 and the California State University (CSU) system, including Cal Poly SLO, is also test-blind, so scores are not considered for admission or scholarships at any UC or CSU campus for 2026-27 applicants. Among selective California privates, Caltech and Stanford require a score for 2026-27; USC and Santa Clara are test-optional; Pepperdine is test-optional for admission but requires a submitted score to be considered for its top merit scholarship. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.

The table covers 10 colleges California families apply to most, from the most selective to the large public universities. Read each cohort note before comparing numbers. The bottom rows show the score-based money California families can earn: Pepperdine Regents Scholars Program and Azusa Pacific University Trustees' and Presidents'/Provost's/Deans' Scholarships.

California college score profiles and cohort notes

Cohort notes: Stanford: Stanford is one of only three California colleges that still requires a test score for admission. Caltech: Caltech requires the SAT or ACT and sorts scores into three evaluation buckets rather than publishing a strict cutoff. USC: USC does not require a score but will consider one if submitted; most enrolled students did not submit a score in this cohort. Santa Clara: Santa Clara does not require a score but will consider one if submitted. UC Berkeley: UC does not consider SAT/ACT scores at all for admission or scholarships; the historical range is shown only for context. UCLA: UCLA is the most-applied-to university in the country and does not use SAT/ACT scores in admission decisions. UC San Diego: Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.12-4.28. UC Irvine: Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.06-4.27. UC Davis: Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.00-4.25. Cal Poly SLO: Cal Poly SLO is the most selective CSU campus and does not use SAT/ACT scores in admission. These are not interchangeable measures.

School by school

Stanford University: 1520 to 1570

Stanford reports a 1520 to 1570 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). It admitted 3.8% of 60,646 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 34-36. Testing for fall 2027: Required for 2026-27. Stanford is one of only three California colleges that still requires a test score for admission.

California Institute of Technology: Not published

Caltech does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 3.78% of 11,285 applicants (fall 2025, Class of 2029 (427 admitted of 11, 285 applicants)). The matching ACT range is 35-36. Testing for fall 2027: Required for 2026-27. Caltech requires the SAT or ACT and sorts scores into three evaluation buckets rather than publishing a strict cutoff.

University of Southern California: 1470 to 1540

USC reports a 1470 to 1540 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26; 33% submitted an SAT). It admitted 11.2% of 83,488 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 32-35. Testing for fall 2027: Test optional for 2026-27. USC does not require a score but will consider one if submitted; most enrolled students did not submit a score in this cohort.

Santa Clara University: 1330 to 1470

Santa Clara reports a 1330 to 1470 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 47.9% of 20,032 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 29-33. Testing for fall 2027: Test optional for 2026-27. Santa Clara does not require a score but will consider one if submitted.

University of California, Berkeley: 1340 to 1540

UC Berkeley reports a 1340 to 1540 middle 50% SAT (admitted, fall 2019 (UC's own archived profile; UC has not published an SAT range since)). It admitted 10.5% of 133,154 applicants (fall 2026 (13, 967 admitted of 133, 154 applicants)). The matching ACT range is 30-35. Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind) for 2026-27. UC does not consider SAT/ACT scores at all for admission or scholarships; the historical range is shown only for context.

University of California, Los Angeles: 1360 to 1550

UCLA reports a 1360 to 1550 middle 50% SAT (admitted, fall 2019 (UC's own archived profile)). It admitted 10.8% of 146,692 applicants (fall 2026 (15, 903 admitted of 146, 692 applicants)). The matching ACT range is 29-32. Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind) for 2026-27. UCLA is the most-applied-to university in the country and does not use SAT/ACT scores in admission decisions.

University of California, San Diego: Not published (test-blind)

UC San Diego does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 27.2% of 141,767 applicants (fall 2026 (38, 571 admitted of 141, 767 applicants)). Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind) for 2026-27. Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.12-4.28.

University of California, Irvine: Not published (test-blind)

UC Irvine does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 30.3% of 126,005 applicants (fall 2026 (38, 165 admitted of 126, 005 applicants)). Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind) for 2026-27. Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.06-4.27.

University of California, Davis: Not published (test-blind)

UC Davis does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 45.8% of 104,864 applicants (fall 2026 (48, 015 admitted of 104, 864 applicants)). Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind) for 2026-27. Middle 50% admitted high school GPA is 4.00-4.25.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo: Not published

Cal Poly SLO does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. Testing for fall 2027: Not considered (test-blind, CSU system). Cal Poly SLO is the most selective CSU campus and does not use SAT/ACT scores in admission.

Where the SAT helps with California scholarships

California has no state scholarship with an SAT cutoff: the Cal Grant, the state's main financial aid program, is awarded on GPA and financial need only, with no role for test scores in eligibility or amount, and the UC and CSU systems that most Cal Grant recipients attend do not use SAT/ACT scores for aid either, so score-tied money in California comes only from a handful of private universities' own competitive merit programs.

Pepperdine Regents Scholars Program: No published cutoff; a submitted SAT, ACT, or CLT score is required to be considered. Competitive, holistic award based on unweighted recalculated GPA plus the submitted test score; no separate application, awarded at the time of admission.

Azusa Pacific University Trustees' and Presidents'/Provost's/Deans' Scholarships: No published numeric cutoff; APU describes the tiers below Trustees' as a GPA-and-test-score sliding scale evaluated case by case. Trustees' Scholarship (full tuition, 4 awarded annually) requires a 3.9 weighted HS GPA; the President's/Provost's/Deans'/Directors' tiers blend GPA and test score with no published breakpoints.

Neither program publishes a numeric SAT-to-dollar table; both describe test scores as one input to a holistic or sliding-scale merit review rather than a fixed cutoff. The Cal Grant's own GPA minimums are 3.00 (Cal Grant A) and 2.00 (Cal Grant B); a test score (SAT, ACT, GED, TASC, or HiSet) can substitute for a missing GPA on file with the state, but it does not change the award amount, which is set by income, need, and the college's segment (UC/CSU/CCC/private).

The misconception: test optional means the SAT does not matter in California

USC, Santa Clara, UC Berkeley and UCLA are test optional for fall 2027, so many families assume the score is irrelevant. The ranges above come from the students who chose to send one, and they sit well above the overall class. Stanford and Caltech still require a score. A strong score is one more reason for a school to say yes, and a weak one can simply stay home.

Quick answers

Do UCLA, UC Berkeley, and the other UC campuses require the SAT?

No. The University of California has been test-blind since 2021 and remains test-blind for 2026-27 applicants, meaning no UC campus looks at a submitted SAT or ACT score for admission or for scholarships. The same is true for every CSU campus, including Cal Poly SLO. As of Oct 2026, UC's faculty senate and regents were publicly debating whether to bring testing back in a future cycle, but no change had been approved.

Is there a California scholarship tied to an SAT score?

No. California's main state aid program, the Cal Grant, is awarded purely on GPA and financial need, with set award amounts by college segment (UC, CSU, community college, or private). A test score can stand in for a missing GPA on file, but it has no effect on eligibility or the dollar amount. Score-tied money in California comes only from a few private universities' own merit scholarships, not from the state.

Is the SAT given free at school in California?

Not statewide. California's state-funded assessment program is CAASPP, not the SAT, so there is no single mandate covering every 11th grader. Some districts and schools choose to pay for SAT School Day out of their own funding, and about 59% of California's class of 2025 SAT takers tested on a school day at some point, but whether a given student gets a free in-school SAT depends on their district.

What SAT score does Stanford or Caltech want?

Both require a score for 2026-27 applicants. Stanford's admitted Class of 2029 (fall 2025) had a middle 50% SAT of 1520 to 1570 and ACT of 34 to 36. Caltech's acceptance rate was 3.78% for its Class of 2029, and Caltech sorts submitted scores into evaluation bands rather than publishing a strict cutoff; recent admitted ranges are commonly reported around 1530 to 1580 SAT and 35 to 36 ACT, though Caltech's own Common Data Set did not list a clean numeric table in the copy reviewed for this page.

Why do California colleges look so different from colleges in other states on the SAT?

Because the two public systems almost every California family considers, UC and CSU, do not use the SAT or ACT at all, while a handful of the state's most selective private colleges, led by Stanford and Caltech, still require it. That means a California student's SAT prep matters enormously for a short list of reach private schools and not at all for their UC or CSU applications, which is the opposite of how most states work.

Are these ranges cutoffs?

No. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not an admission cutoff. Some rows describe enrolled students or score submitters only, as labeled. A position within a range does not guarantee admission or merit aid.

More for California families

• SAT prep in California
• California SAT test dates for 2026-27
• Find your teen's target score

Sources

University and state sources: Stanford, Caltech, USC, Santa Clara, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO, Pepperdine Regents Scholars Program, Azusa Pacific University Trustees' and Presidents'/Provost's/Deans' Scholarships. Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.