If you're applying to Top US Universities, understanding how to send your SAT scores is essential. When registering or after taking the SAT Exam, you can select colleges or scholarship programs to receive your scores. Most schools require official reports sent directly from the College Board. The process is simple, but it depends on when you took the SAT and which scores you sent. You can use free reports, order additional ones after viewing your scores, or request rush delivery if needed. Since admissions consider multiple factors, including essays and extracurriculars, sending your best scores strategically can strengthen your application.

In this guide, we'll break down how long does sat scores take to send, how much does it cost to send sat scores, When Should You Send Your SAT Scores, What After Sending SAT Score and More

Checkout the upcoming SAT Test Dates for your SAT Examination!

How to Send SAT Scores to Colleges?

The process to submit your scores to colleges and universities consists of a specific step-by-step guide through which you can start sending that score report:

Step 1: Log Into Your College Board Account

The first step is to Sign in to your College Board account. Once you're logged in, head over to the "Send SAT Scores" page. You may see a pop-up offering fee waivers if you're eligible. If you qualify, you'll get access to unlimited free score reports. If the message doesn't apply to you, just ignore it and move on.

Step 2: Choose the Colleges or Programs

Next, you'll choose which schools or programs you want to send your scores to. You can search for schools by name or code, making it easy to find exactly where you want your scores sent. You can select one school or multiple; click the schools you're interested in and add them to your recipient list. Once you're done, click "Continue." Use the Search Institutions by Name or code tool to find one or more colleges to add to your list of score recipients.

Step 3: Select Scores to Send

Now it's time to decide which scores to send. If you've taken the SAT multiple times, you don't have to send every single score. You can choose to send only your best scores to each school. However, keep in mind that some schools might have policies that require you to submit all your scores. As you select which scores to send, be sure to double-check the requirements of each college.

Step 4: Review Your Order

Before you hit send, take a moment to review your order. Double-check that you're sending the correct scores to the right schools. This is your chance to make sure everything looks good before you proceed.

Step 5: Check Out

Once you've confirmed everything is accurate, it's time to check out. Pay any fees that may apply, and your SAT Test Scores will be on their way to the schools you selected. Standard Delivery is when scores are sent electronically within 5–10 business days or a couple of weeks after test day if recipients were chosen during registration. However, Rush Delivery is when scores are sent within 1–4 business days, excluding holidays and weekends.

Various Techniques for Submitting SAT Results to Colleges

As the steps to send SAT scores to colleges are known now, the big part of an application is to understand the various ways through which you can achieve this goal. Know what method will make the application most efficient, like taking advantage of your free score reports or selecting particular test dates. This guide addresses different techniques used to report SAT scores.

Method 1: Four Free Score Reports Right After You Register or Take the Test

• If you register for the SAT, four score reports are absolutely free. Those four can be sent to any colleges or scholarship programs that appeal to you.
• The one problem you will face is that you will be sending your scores before even knowing them.
• The most significant advantage here lies in it being free. You can save that $14!
• Four score reports are absolutely free, which is perfect if you are on a tight budget.
• However, there will be no actual scores preview until they are sent. This means you cannot selectively determine which test scores go to which school.

When to Use This:

Try to send these to colleges that want all your scores and use your free reports if you're applying to colleges that want to see every SAT score you've taken. It also applies to schools that accept self-reported scores for now and only require official ones once you're accepted.

Also, Get to Know What is a Good SAT Score for Ivy League Schools

Method 2: Order Additional Score Reports (After You See Your Scores)

If you didn't use your free reports or want to wait until you know your scores, you can order additional score reports after you take the SAT.

• Start by choosing your best scores, which means you can select which test dates (and therefore which scores) you want to send. This means you can strategically pick your best section scores or your overall highest score.
• However, once you have done the first four reports, it is $14 per report.
• For instance, if you are sending one set of scores to two different schools, it will cost you $28. If you want them in a hurry, they can be prepared in 1-3 days at an extra $31.

When to Order Additional Reports:

Many schools will "superscore", which means that they will take your best section scores across all of your test dates and create a new composite score.

• If a college superstores, then send them the test dates with your best sections.
• If the school doesn't superscore, or if you want to send your highest overall score, then this method is best.

Moreover, if you're applying years after high school and need scores from a test taken more than a year ago (or from an SAT older than five years), you'll need to order them from the College Board archives.

How to Order:

• Online: Log into your College Board account, request older score reports, and follow the prompts.
• Phone: Call (866) 756-7346, but you will have to pay a $15 processing fee in addition to the cost of ordering the scores. Note: If you want to order older scores, they will cost you $35, but if you want them in a hurry, that will be $31.

Predict Your SAT 2025 Score with our Digital SAT Score Calculator

When Should You Send Your SAT Scores?

The best time to send your SAT scores depends on your college deadlines. To avoid last-minute stress, plan to send them at least 2–3 weeks before the deadline. Standard delivery takes about 10–14 days, but if you're cutting it close, you can use rush reporting (for an extra fee) to get your scores delivered in 1–3 business days.

For most colleges, deadlines fall around January 1st, so sending your scores by mid-December is a safe bet. If you're applying for early decision (usually in November), aim to send them by early October. For rolling admissions, it's best to send scores as soon as they're available to maximize your chances.

Do you want to improve your SAT Scores? Attempt SAT Practice Test & Compete with thousands of students

Should You Send Early SAT Scores?

If you are wondering How long does it take to send SAT scores to colleges electronically, then Yes, you should send your SAT scores early. But only if you feel confident in your scores. Sending SAT scores early can be a smart move, but it depends on your strategy:

• If You're Happy With Your Scores: Send them early, if you have a good SAT score. Then your application will be complete, and you won't have to worry about last-minute delays.
• If You Want to Wait and See: Many students like to see the scores before sending them off so you can determine whether you are going to send only your best scores or whether you should retake the test for improvement.
• If Your College Wants All Scores: Some schools, such as Yale and Stanford, come to mind and demand all of the scores. Early ensures that the requirement has been fulfilled as well.
• If Your College Superscores: Some colleges take your highest section scores from multiple test dates. In this situation, it makes sense to forward scores early and update later if necessary.

Get to Know the process on How to Reschedule the SAT

When Should SAT Scores Get to the Admissions Office?

You will have to time your SAT score submission, as this is very essential to ensure your application is complete and considered on time. Since different colleges have their own deadlines, knowing when to send scores makes a massive difference in your admissions process. By sending scores early enough, there will be room for delays, and test results will be included in your application at the start of the review by the admissions office. Here is what you need to know to make sure your scores reach the right place at the right time. Timing is crucial when sending your SAT scores to colleges.

• Regular Decision Deadlines: Aim to send your scores 2-3 weeks before the deadline (usually January 1st). For example, send scores by mid-December to ensure they arrive on time.
• Early Decision/Action Deadlines: These typically fall in November, so send scores by early October for timely arrival.
• Test Dates: SAT scores take 10–14 days to process. For a December test, send scores immediately after receiving them to meet January deadlines.
• Rush Orders: If you're running out of time, a rush order ($31 extra) can get your scores sent within 1–3 days.

Get to Know the Recent Changes done in the SAT Exam!

How Long Does SAT Scores Take To Send?

The fastest way to send SAT scores is to request score report recipients when you register for the SAT. Depending on when you take the SAT, you may get your scores back anywhere from two to six weeks after your test date. SAT score reports are then sent to colleges within 10 days after your scores are released to you. Once colleges receive your scores, they still need time to process them, which can take up to a week. 

What Information Will be Shared about You?

When you request score reports through school-day testing or your College Board account, your SAT scores, along with basic demographic details, are sent to colleges and organizations for identity matching. These institutions may use your data to support applications or provide information on admissions, scholarships, and financial aid. However, receiving promotional materials doesn't guarantee eligibility—you must apply directly to colleges and complete scholarship requirements to be considered.

Sending Archived SAT Scores

The SAT results and any personal information you may have submitted throughout the testing process after you graduate from high school and haven't taken another test for a year. Nonetheless, you have the option to ask for previous test results to be forwarded to you or the schools, institutions, and scholarship programs of your choosing. Further may be kept in decommissioned data sources that are no longer available.

Also, Learn How to Prepare for Both SAT & ACT?

What After Sending SAT Score?

After sending the SAT results to the universities concerned, you will focus on filling out all the college applications. That will mean submissions of essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and other needed forms. Tailor each school's requirements and deadlines so you can manage yourself better and avoid last-minute stress.

• You can be sure an interview is a requirement for the selection process, so you have to be well-prepared to make the desired impact.
• You should track how your applications are progressing and stay in touch with the admissions offices for any further information. 
• Finally, take up this period to complete applications for funds and scholarships to sponsor your education.

Also, Get to Know When Should You Take the SAT?

Final SAY

When it comes to your college application, it's important to remember that your SAT score doesn't define you. Colleges always take a holistic approach to admissions. This means they look at the whole application, including your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and, yes, your SAT score, but all in context. Your SAT score is just one part of the equation. That should be able to increase your opportunities, but it is no panacea. 

• One of the positive aspects of today's college application process is that it is "test-optional" for many schools, which have the prerogative of whether to submit the SAT or not based on how well you feel confident. 
• Some schools even do "superscoring," meaning they will take your top section scores from different test dates and average them to come up with the best total score you can get. 

To conclude, sending SAT scores to colleges is a seamless process if done correctly. At the time of registration, you could have ensured a transmission would happen automatically upon release by naming score recipients. If you decide to mail in scores after a test score is released, consider college deadlines and allow enough time for processing the scores. These will assist you in staying on schedule for your college application procedure and guarantee that your test results arrive on schedule.

Find out Which Test SAT or ACT Is Better For You

Acceptance Rate of Top US Universities