Your score, decoded

Is 470 a Good SAT Score?

A 470 SAT score is generally considered developing and sits around the 5th percentile. Use the guide below to understand college context and decide what to do next.

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Percentile

5th

Score band

400-490

Interpretation

Developing

Score breakdown

What a 470 SAT score means

Clear context, practical tradeoffs, and the questions worth asking before your next move.

Should you retake a 470 SAT score?

If you have time and can change how you prepare, a retake is often the practical route. The goal is to improve applications, not just the headline number.

When retaking is worth the time

There is a clear gap between 470 and the scores your target schools typically expect.
You can put meaningful, focused prep into place before applications are due.
Improved scores would open more scholarship or program opportunities important to you.

When keeping a 470 may be the better choice

Your application needs attention in areas other than testing (grades, essays, activities).
Test-optional policies or programs you're applying to make the score less pivotal.
You expect only small, uncertain score gains from another test date.

How much can a higher score help?

A higher SAT outcome helps in direct proportion to how it shifts your standing against the schools you want. For some students a modest jump widens options; for others the admissions picture barely changes.

Bottom line on a 470 SAT score

A 470 is a legitimate starting point. Treat the decision to retake as a tactical choice: if you can reasonably increase the score before deadlines, retake. If other parts of your application need the time, focusing there can be the smarter play.

College score-range explorer

How 470 compares with featured colleges

Schools are grouped by where your score falls against their middle-50% range. Within each group, the closest ranges appear first.

Above range0

Your score is at or above the upper end of the listed range.

Within range0

Your score falls inside the school’s listed middle-50% range.

Below range30

Your score is below the lower end; the closest listed ranges come first.

University of Arizona

SAT 1090–1320

Tucson, AZ

Arizona State University

SAT 1100–1320

Tempe, AZ

Michigan State University

SAT 1100–1310

East Lansing, MI

Purdue University

SAT 1220–1470

West Lafayette, IN

University of Texas at Austin

SAT 1230–1500

Austin, TX

Pennsylvania State University

SAT 1280–1410

University Park, PA

University of Florida

SAT 1340–1480

Gainesville, FL

University of Michigan

SAT 1360–1530

Ann Arbor, MI

Use this as a comparison tool, not an admissions verdict. Published score ranges describe enrolled students; they are not cutoffs or guarantees. Confirm each college’s current testing policy and official data before deciding whether to submit a score.

Your next move

Turn 470 into a focused score plan

A retake often makes sense when you have a clearer study plan and can focus on the skills most likely to raise your score.

Practice by skill Take a diagnostic Save my plan

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions about a 470 SAT score

Is 470 a bad SAT score?

Not automatically. It is low relative to the national distribution (5th percentile), but whether it is limiting depends on where you apply.

Should I submit a 470 SAT score?

Submit it only after checking how it compares to your colleges' typical ranges and whether sending it strengthens your overall application.

Can I get into college with a 470 SAT score?

Yes, but your options will differ. The practical question is which colleges match that score and whether improving it would broaden your choices.