TuitionScope

Colleges in Pennsylvania for 1250 SAT Scores: Where You Fall in the Middle 50%

Pennsylvania has 63 main-campus colleges that report SAT percentiles to College Scorecard. A score of 1250 on the SAT is inside the middle 50% at 32 of them, below the 25th percentile at 13 (a reach) and above the 75th percentile at 18 (above typical).

Those 32 typical colleges have a median net price of $27,941 and a median acceptance rate of 79%. By sector, 3 public and 29 private nonprofit; 32 report a test-optional policy.

Acceptance rates in this group run from 54% at Moravian University to 93% at Delaware Valley University, so a score inside the middle 50% says little about an admission decision. The lowest net price among them is $18,235 at Waynesburg University.

Nationwide, the 377 typical colleges for this score have a median net price of $23,130 and a median acceptance rate of 75%; in Pennsylvania the figures are $27,941 and 79%. Test-optional colleges among the 32 in Pennsylvania: 32. Test-optional colleges often publish ranges that skew high.

How the groups are defined

One rule sorts every college, using the 25th and 75th percentile scores in the College Scorecard data. We never say a college will admit a score; we only show where it falls.

Who is counted
College Scorecard describes these percentiles as the middle 50% of first-time students who enrolled in the fall of 2024; admitted students who did not enroll are not included. Colleges can only report scores for students who submitted them, and colleges that do not require tests often report mostly higher scorers, so their ranges tend to skew high.
  • Reach. Your score is below the school's 25th percentile.
  • Typical. Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.
  • Above typical. Your score is above the school's 75th percentile.
  • SAT totals are approximate. Scorecard publishes 25th and 75th percentiles for the Reading and Writing and Math sections but not for the total, so we add the two 25th percentiles and the two 75th percentiles. Across the 866 colleges that also report Scorecard's average SAT score, the midpoint of that range differs from the average by a median of 15 points (90% are within 45).
  • We do not convert between the SAT and the ACT. This page uses SAT scores only; the other test has its own pages.
Test policy
The test policy comes from the admissions field Scorecard calls ADMCON7. We tag a college as test-optional when it reports that tests are neither required nor recommended, or are considered only if submitted. Test-optional colleges among the 32 typical ones: 32.
Left out: 1,471 of 2,356 main-campus colleges with missing or suppressed SAT percentiles, and 19 dropped because their figures contradict themselves: Scorecard's own average SAT score falls outside the summed section range, so the percentiles and the average describe different groups of students. None had a 25th percentile above the 75th or a value outside the valid range. 866 colleges are counted.
Data periodTest score percentiles: fall 2024 entering class. Acceptance rate: fall 2024 applicants. Net price: average for students receiving aid, academic year 2023-24 (in-state price at public colleges).
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.

Read the full methodology Test-optional colleges and how to read SAT/ACT ranges

Typical: the middle 50% includes 1250 (32)

Your score is within the school's middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Sorted by net price, lowest first; colleges with no reported net price come last. Showing all 32.

1250 SAT: Typical
College Middle 50%
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $18,235 · Acceptance rate: 90%
930–1250
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $18,556 · Acceptance rate: 74%
1020–1270
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $19,140 · Acceptance rate: 74%
1080–1300
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $21,331 · Acceptance rate: 91%
1120–1310
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $22,940 · Acceptance rate: 55%
1173–1358
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,093 · Acceptance rate: 93%
1070–1270
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,331 · Acceptance rate: 78%
1100–1270
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,388 · Acceptance rate: 61%
1060–1250
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,988 · Acceptance rate: 79%
1130–1320
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $24,258 · Acceptance rate: 86%
1156–1323
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $25,480 · Acceptance rate: 56%
1070–1280
Widener University
Chester, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $25,759 · Acceptance rate: 71%
1080–1290
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $26,502 · Acceptance rate: 79%
1110–1350
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $26,598 · Acceptance rate: 78%
1105–1310
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $26,979 · Acceptance rate: 84%
1140–1302
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $27,743 · Acceptance rate: 91%
1020–1250
Alvernia University
Reading, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,138 · Acceptance rate: 58%
1093–1286
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,278 · Acceptance rate: 93%
1090–1303
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,819 · Acceptance rate: 81%
1100–1300
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,905 · Acceptance rate: 72%
1250–1410
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,928 · Acceptance rate: 81%
1160–1330
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $29,466 · Acceptance rate: 80%
1065–1265
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $29,689 · Acceptance rate: 89%
1170–1350
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $29,954 · Acceptance rate: 62%
1070–1295
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $30,536 · Acceptance rate: 92%
1200–1385
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $30,670 · Acceptance rate: 54%
1070–1285
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $31,643 · Acceptance rate: 77%
1090–1260
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $32,568 · Acceptance rate: 81%
1160–1318
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $32,875 · Acceptance rate: 61%
1240–1420
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $37,730 · Acceptance rate: 84%
1180–1340
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $38,509 · Acceptance rate: 79%
1240–1440
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $43,086 · Acceptance rate: 56%
1180–1380

Reach: 1250 is below the 25th percentile (13)

Your score is below the school's 25th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 25th percentile is nearest above 1250. Showing all 13.

1250 SAT: Reach
College Middle 50%
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $31,490 · Acceptance rate: 39%
1270–1460
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $30,434 · Acceptance rate: 58%
1280–1460
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $31,759 · Acceptance rate: 29%
1280–1510
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $36,425 · Acceptance rate: 28%
1310–1463
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $37,607 · Acceptance rate: 42%
1310–1460
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $40,766 · Acceptance rate: 29%
1310–1470
Lafayette College
Easton, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $34,433 · Acceptance rate: 31%
1350–1500
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $36,931 · Acceptance rate: 26%
1370–1500
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $43,756 · Acceptance rate: 27%
1395–1510
Haverford College
Haverford, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $25,314 · Acceptance rate: 12%
1460–1550
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,149 · Acceptance rate: 7%
1490–1560
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $31,944 · Acceptance rate: 12%
1500–1570
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $28,699 · Acceptance rate: 5%
1510–1570

Above typical: 1250 is above the 75th percentile (18)

Your score is above the school's 75th percentile. Closest first: the colleges whose 75th percentile is nearest below 1250. Showing all 18.

1250 SAT: Above typical
College Middle 50%
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $22,204 · Acceptance rate: 80%
1020–1240
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,510 · Acceptance rate: 62%
1020–1230
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $23,526 · Acceptance rate: 77%
1050–1230
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $20,787 · Acceptance rate: 86%
1020–1210
La Roche University
Pittsburgh, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $20,794 · Acceptance rate: 76%
940–1200
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $15,699 · Acceptance rate: 93%
990–1190
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $19,608 · Acceptance rate: 71%
980–1190
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $27,483 · Acceptance rate: 90%
1023–1186
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $16,804 · Acceptance rate: 91%
970–1180
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $18,134 · Acceptance rate: 92%
1000–1180
Wilson College
Chambersburg, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $21,741 · Acceptance rate: 92%
930–1180
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $20,786 · Acceptance rate: 87%
960–1168
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $22,344 · Acceptance rate: 82%
918–1168
Cairn University-Langhorne
Langhorne, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $27,642 · Acceptance rate: 88%
1000–1160
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $13,143 · Acceptance rate: 71%
910–1150
Pennsylvania Western University
California, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $18,256 · Acceptance rate: 94%
940–1140
Lincoln University (PA)
Lincoln University, PA
Public · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $14,977 · Acceptance rate: 66%
820–960
Manor College
Jenkintown, PA
Private nonprofit · 4-year · Test-optional
Net price: $13,078 · Acceptance rate: 95%
725–935

National view

See all 377 typical colleges nationwide for 1250 SAT

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1250 SAT in other states

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