Tool

Reach, Match, or Likely?

Enter your composite test score and the school’s published 25th–75th-percentile admitted range — get the counselor-standard tier classification (Likely / Match / Reach / Beyond reach). No probability claims; test score is one factor among many.

Your tier

Match

Your score is within the school's published 25th–75th-percentile admitted range. Solid academic fit. Most students aim for 3–4 "match" schools as the core of the list, since these are the most likely to produce a real admit + aid offer worth comparing.

Comparison done on the SAT scale: your score = 1200, school 25th = 1180, school 75th = 1390.

How this estimator works

  • Source data: School 25th–75th percentile ranges come from the federal IPEDS Admissions component (the same numbers shown on every CampusPin profile and on NCES College Navigator).
  • Test conversion:When your test type doesn’t match the school’s published format, scores are converted using the 2018+ College Board / ACT concordance — the same table on /tools/sat-to-act-converter.
  • Tier rule:Likely ≥ 75th + 30 SAT pts. Match ∈ [25th, 75th]. Reach < 25th by ≤ 80 pts. Beyond reach < 25th by > 80 pts. (For ACT, scores convert to SAT first.)
  • What this doesn’t measure: GPA, course rigor, essays, recommendations, demonstrated interest, institutional priorities, recruited talent, and special programs. Test score is one input; admission is multidimensional.
  • What it’s for: Building a balanced list. Counselors typically advise a mix of roughly 2–3 likely, 3–4 match, and 2–3 reach schools so you have real options across the admission cycle.

Important

This tool produces a tier, not a probability. Test scores alone do not predict admission outcomes. Every school evaluates applicants holistically. For test-optional schools, the published range reflects only score-submitting applicants — the real admitted pool is broader. Always confirm a school’s current test policy and complete application requirements directly with the institution’s admissions office before applying.

Next steps

Search for schools

Filter 3,800+ U.S. colleges and pin candidates to compare.

Compare your pinned schools

Side-by-side comparison of up to four schools.

SAT ↔ ACT converter

Standalone conversion table used by this tool.

College shortlist quiz

10 questions → pre-filtered school list.

Reach, match & safety, explained

What the tiers mean and how to balance a list.

Am I a reach for this college?

How to read a school’s score range and acceptance rate.