Admission Test Scores Trends for California Colleges

California Colleges SAT Score Key Trends

SAT Scores have Risen: The average SAT score has increased by 221 points, from 1,112 to 1,333.
ACT Scores have Risen: The average ACT score has increased by 5.5 points, from 24.5 to 30.
Competitiveness: California colleges' SAT score described as relatively competitive and above the national average, while ACT scores are above average.

The 2025 average SAT scores submitted by enrolled students in California colleges is 1,333. Compared to the SAT scores of 10 years ago, the score becomes higher from 1,112 to 1,333. The 25^th percentile SAT score is 1,246 and the 75^th percentile score is 1,420 at California Colleges. The California Colleges' average ACT scores is 30 and it is higher than 25, score of 10 years ago.

SAT Scores Over Time

The average SAT score of the last 10 years is 1,108 (25^th percentile) and 1,305 (75^th percentile). The submitted SAT scores of admitted students are very competitive and high at California Colleges.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in SAT scores at California Colleges since 2025.

Year	Total			Math			EBRW
Year	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th
2014-15	1,003	1,112	1,221	508	563	618	495	549	603
2015-16	1,001	1,112	1,222	505	562	618	496	550	604
2016-17	995	1,107	1,218	500	557	614	495	550	604
2017-18	1,073	1,168	1,262	534	583	632	539	585	630
2018-19	1,079	1,177	1,274	538	590	641	541	587	633
2019-20	1,076	1,178	1,279	539	592	645	537	586	634
2020-21	1,079	1,178	1,276	538	590	641	541	588	635
2021-22	1,182	1,278	1,373	587	639	690	595	639	683
2022-23	1,218	1,306	1,394	612	658	704	606	648	690
2023-24	1,235	1,328	1,421	617	666	712	618	667	709
2024-25	1,246	1,333	1,420	619	665	710	627	670	710
Average	1,108	1,207	1,305	554	606	657	554	602	649

^*SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing replaces SAT critical reading and writing since year 2017.

^**The SAT Writing score is excluded from the total scores for year from 2011 to 2016.

California Colleges SAT Score Trends Chart

California Colleges SAT Math Score Trends Chart

California Colleges SAT EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) Trends Chart

ACT Scores Over Time

The average ACT score of the last 10 years is 24 (25^th percentile) and 29 (75^th percentile). The submitted ACT scores of admitted students are around national average at California Colleges. The following table and chart show the changes in ACT scores at California Colleges since 2025.

Year	Composite			English			Math
Year	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th	25^th	50^th	75^th
2014-15	22	25	27	21	24	27	21	24	27
2015-16	22	25	27	22	25	28	22	25	27
2016-17	22	25	27	21	25	28	21	24	27
2017-18	22	25	27	21	25	28	21	24	27
2018-19	22	25	27	22	25	28	21	24	27
2019-20	22	25	27	21	25	28	21	24	27
2020-21	22	25	28	21	25	28	21	24	27
2021-22	25	28	30	25	29	32	23	26	29
2022-23	27	29	31	27	30	32	25	28	30
2023-24	27	29	31	26	30	32	25	27	30
2024-25	28	30	32	28	31	34	25	28	31
Average	24	26	29	23	27	30	22	25	28

California Colleges ACT Score Trends Chart

California Colleges ACT Math Score Trends Chart

California Colleges ACT English Trends Chart

Most Searched California Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

DeVry University-California Private, 4-year | Ontario
University of Southern California Private, 4-year | Los Angeles
University of California-Berkeley Public, 4-year | Berkeley
University of California-Los Angeles Public, 4-year | Los Angeles
Stanford University Private, 4-year | Stanford
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Public, 4-year | San Luis Obispo
University of California-Irvine Public, 4-year | Irvine
California State University-Long Beach Public, 4-year | Long Beach
California State University-Sacramento Public, 4-year | Sacramento
University of California-Davis Public, 4-year | Davis

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Graduate

Stanford University Private, 4-year | Stanford
California State University-Northridge Public, 4-year | Northridge
Point Loma Nazarene University Private, 4-year | San Diego
William Jessup University Private, 4-year | Rocklin
University of California-San Diego Public, 4-year | La Jolla
University of California-Berkeley Public, 4-year | Berkeley
California State University-East Bay Public, 4-year | Hayward
University of California-Riverside Public, 4-year | Riverside
The Master's University and Seminary Private, 4-year | Santa Clarita
California State University-Los Angeles Public, 4-year | Los Angeles

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Online Schools

University of Southern California Private, 4-year | Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University Private, 4-year | Los Angeles
San Jose State University Public, 4-year | San Jose
Northcentral University Private, 4-year | San Diego
San Diego State University Public, 4-year | San Diego
CES College Private, Less than 2-year | Burbank
Western University of Health Sciences Private, 4-year | Pomona
California Institute of Integral Studies Private, 4-year | San Francisco
Barstow Community College Public, 2-4 year | Barstow
University of Massachusetts Global Public, 4-year | Aliso Viejo

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Trade Schools

Blake Austin College Private, 2-4 year | Vacaville
Career Networks Institute Private, 4-year | Santa Ana
Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD Public, Less than 2-year | Concord
ZMS The Academy Private, Less than 2-year | Los Angeles
Bergin University of Canine Studies Private, 4-year | Penngrove
Central Coast College Private, 2-4 year | Salinas
Cosumnes River College Public, 2-4 year | Sacramento
UEI College-Fresno Private, Less than 2-year | Fresno
UEI College-Reseda Private, Less than 2-year | Reseda
Berkeley City College Public, 2-4 year | Berkeley

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