What can I do with this table?

You can see which Universities would be more likely to admit you based on SAT scores. If you have not taken an SAT yet or if you are from a country that does not administer the SAT you can use your estimated IQ test score to determine what your SAT score might be.

Does SAT matter anymore? I read some Colleges including Berkeley stopped using SAT scores.

Yes SAT matters as most Universities/Colleges use it. Some colleges made SAT optional during Covid and few decided to not accept SAT scores anymore, to be more flexible in who to admit.

Are SAT and IQ test scores correlated?

Yes. The coefficient of correlation was reported to be greater than 0.8, which means there is a strong correlation.

Why SAT and IQ Test scores correlate with each other. In other words, why a high IQ person also scores high in SAT and why a person scoring high in SAT also scores high in IQ Test?

Because SAT is actually based on an IQ test. You can read about it here.

How strong is a correlation coefficient of 0.8?

Similar to how smoking correlates to lung cancer and how exercise correlates to cardiovascular health. Meaning people who smoke more are more likely to get lung cancer, people who exercise regularly are more likely to have healthier hearths, people who have higher IQ score are more likely to get higher SAT Scores. All have correlation factor of around 0.8. More technical explanations of correlation factor can be seen at Professor Ratner's paper.

Is there a scientific publication showing the correlation data?

Yes. You can check the Figure 1 of this paper published by Professor Douglas K. Detterman in the journal "Psychological Science" which includes data, graphs and analysis.

Does this mean all students from a higher ranking school are smarter compared to all students from lower ranked Universities?

No. These are average values. But you can expect a randomly selected student from the higher ranked school to be smarter than a randomly selected student at a lower ranked school.

Does it mean most students of higher ranked school are smarter than most students of lower ranked school?

Mostly yes. Unless lower ranked school admitted students with low scores more intensely. Then, its distribution curve of scores will be left skewed. Standard deviation considers square value of each value’s difference to the mean. So most students of such schools may still be smarter compared to the students of schools that we ranked higher. UC Berkeley is a strong candidate to fit to this assumption.

Is the correlation of SAT and IQ test score strong for all IQ test scores?

No. Correlation is weaker at the very high and very low SAT scores. This is typical in statistical analysis as edge values will have lower precision. For example, a Caltech student may be smarter than an MIT student, even though MIT ranks slightly higher in this ranking. Also, high SAT scores will tend to predict lower IQ test scores than it should be and the lower SAT scores will tend to predict higher IQ test scores than it should be, since IQ test scores tend to display regression to the mean for edge values.

Which mathematical formula did you use?

IQ = 39.545 + 0.068*(SAT score) from Murray, C. (2013). Coming Apart, page 375.

How can I know my IQ test score estimate?

You can use our IQ test score estimation product.

What is the average IQ in Harvard?

Average IQ of Harvard undergraduate students is 142.4.

What is the IQ of students at MIT?

Average IQ of students at MIT is 143.9.

Are MIT students smart?

Yes, MIT students have an average IQ of 143.9 making them ranked second after Caltech students who have an average IQ of 145.4.

What is the smartest university in the world?

Smartest University in US is California Institute of Technology (Caltech) with average student IQ of 145.4. There is a good chance it is also the smartest University in the World as the US has the best schools worldwide.

What is the #1 college in the US?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the #1 college in the US as it has the smartest students with an average IQ estimation of 145.4.

Which Ivy League is considered the best?

Columbia University ranks slightly higher compared to Harvard and Princeton in our list with an average IQ of 142.9. However, Harvard is considered to be better compared to Columbia and Princeton with its long-standing reputation.

What college has the most successful students?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) students are the most successful students as Caltech requires the highest average SAT score for admission and Caltech students are the smartest students in the US with an average IQ of 145.4.

What are the Top 25 Smartest Universities in 2023?

The Role of Universities in Fostering Intelligence

The pursuit of higher education is often seen as a pathway to intellectual growth, innovation, and future success. While students strive to better themselves, have you ever considered how universities themselves rank in terms of fostering intelligence? When it comes to SAT scores and IQ, universities that produce smarter students often reflect the quality of their education systems, resources, and student environments.

The Strong Correlation Between SAT Scores and IQ

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and standardized test scores, such as the SAT, are strongly correlated, with research suggesting a high correlation of 0.8 between SAT scores and IQ. This correlation means that as SAT scores increase, so do IQ scores, with 0.8 representing a very strong relationship. In statistics, a correlation coefficient of 0.8 signifies that 64% of the variance in IQ can be explained by SAT scores.

Understanding the Significance of 0.8 Correlation

To put that in perspective, the correlation between height and weight in adults is also around 0.8, demonstrating just how predictive SAT scores can be of cognitive ability. This high correlation underscores the value of SAT scores as an indicator of overall cognitive potential and future success in academic environments.

SAT: A Measure of Reasoning and Problem-Solving Abilities

The SAT serves as an effective tool for assessing reasoning skills, problem-solving, and knowledge acquisition—all components that contribute to overall intelligence. Universities with high average SAT scores tend to attract students with sharper cognitive abilities, creating environments where intellectual discussions thrive, research flourishes, and innovation takes center stage. This feedback loop benefits not only the individual students but also the institution as a whole.

Scientific Studies Supporting SAT and IQ Correlation

A study published in the journal *Intelligence* highlights how the SAT, often viewed as a gateway to higher education, also functions as an indirect measure of IQ. This is crucial for universities as they continue to invest in research, faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities to attract the brightest minds. Institutions that consistently rank among the top in intelligence indicators are those that prioritize academic excellence, offer rigorous coursework, and create environments that challenge students to push intellectual boundaries.

How Top Universities Use IQ to Drive Research and Innovation

Interestingly, the same study found that universities with higher average SAT scores also tend to perform better in research and innovation metrics, leading to breakthroughs in fields like technology, medicine, and social sciences. These universities are not just producing smart students; they are cultivating future leaders and changemakers who have a profound impact on society.

Challenges Faced by Universities with Lower SAT Scores

On the other hand, universities with lower average SAT scores often face challenges in terms of academic resources, student retention, and graduation rates. However, many of these institutions are working to improve their educational environments by investing in mentorship programs, academic support, and student well-being initiatives.

Explore the Top 25 Smartest Universities

Curious to know which universities rank at the top when it comes to intelligence? Below, we present the top 25 universities ranked by average SAT scores, a proxy for IQ. These rankings offer a unique insight into which institutions are producing the brightest students, backed by a robust educational framework and a commitment to excellence.

Explore more about the smartest universities in 2024 at Top 30 Smartest Universities by IQ in 2024, and discover how academic rigor and student talent continue to shape the future.

Want to learn more about national intelligence? Check out our detailed report on the Top 30 Smartest Countries by IQ in 2023.

Rank	College	Average IQ	Percentile	Average SAT Score
1	Caltech Learn more...	145	99.88	1557
2	MIT Learn more...	144	99.83	1535
3	Olin College	143	99.81	1528
4	Rice	143	99.81	1527
4	Vanderbilt	143	99.81	1527
6	HMC	143	99.79	1521
6	JHU	143	99.79	1521
6	UChicago	143	99.79	1521
9	Columbia	143	99.79	1520
9	Northwestern	143	99.79	1520
9	Stanford Learn more...	143	99.79	1520
12	Yale	143	99.77	1514
13	CMU	142	99.76	1513
13	Harvard Learn more...	142	99.76	1513
13	UPenn	142	99.76	1513
13	Washington University in St. Louis	142	99.76	1513
17	Pomona	142	99.74	1507
18	Duke	142	99.74	1505
19	Brown	142	99.72	1500
19	Cornell	142	99.72	1500
19	Princeton	142	99.72	1500
22	NYU	141	99.69	1493
23	Dartmouth	141	99.69	1492
23	Tufts	141	99.69	1492
25	Northeastern University	141	99.65	1485
25	Swarthmore College	141	99.65	1485

FREE IQ Range Report

Emails us at hello@cognidna.com if you want us to add your college to the list below.

School	IQ Score Average of Undergraduate Students	Percentile	SAT Score
Williams	142	99.75	1510.00
Notre Dame	140	99.63	1480.00
Emory	140	99.63	1480.00
Georgetown	140	99.63	1480.00
USC	140	99.63	1480.00
Boston College	140	99.63	1480.00
Claremont McKenna College	140	99.63	1480.00
Vassar	140	99.63	1480.00
Wellesley	140	99.58	1470.00
UCLA	139	99.52	1460.00
University of Virginia	139	99.52	1460.00
Middlebury	139	99.52	1460.00
University of Michigan	138	99.45	1450.00
Georgia Tech	138	99.45	1450.00
Pitzer	138	99.45	1450.00
Scripps	138	99.45	1450.00
Rochester	138	99.45	1450.00
Berkeley	138	99.38	1440.00
Boston University	138	99.38	1440.00
William & Mary	138	99.38	1440.00
RPI	138	99.38	1440.00
Tulane	138	99.38	1440.00
UIUC	137	99.29	1430.00
UW Madison	137	99.29	1430.00
Wake Forest	137	99.29	1430.00
Bowdoin	136	99.2	1420.00
UNC Chapel Hill	136	99.2	1420.00
Villanova	136	99.2	1420.00
Lehigh	135	99.09	1410.00
Trinity	135	99.09	1410.00
GWU	135	98.96	1400.00
SUNY Binghamton	134	98.85	1390.00
Stony Brook	134	98.85	1390.00
UF	134	98.85	1390.00
The University of Miami	133	98.7	1380.00
UCSD	133	98.54	1370.00
UT Austin	133	98.54	1370.00
AU	132	98.36	1360.00
Rutgers	132	98.36	1360.00
UGA	132	98.36	1360.00
UMass Amherst	132	98.36	1360.00
Pitt	132	98.36	1360.00
UCSB	132	98.27	1355
OSU	131	98.15	1350.00
Pepperdine	131	98.15	1350.00
UW	131	98.15	1350.00
LMU	131	97.97	1340.00
UC Irvine	130	97.76	1332
BYU	130	97.72	1330.00
Cal Poly	130	97.72	1330.00
UConn	130	97.72	1330.00
UVM	130	97.17	1310.00
Chapman	129	97.17	1310.00
Drexel	129	97.17	1310.00
Syracuse	129	97.17	1310.00
Texas A&M	129	97.17	1310.00
Virginia Tech	129	96.86	1300.00
Penn State	128	96.86	1300.00
University of San Francisco	127	96.55	1290.00
UT Dallas	127	96.19	1280.00
CU Boulder	127	95.79	1270.00
IU Bloomington	126	95.79	1270.00
Miami University	126	95.79	1270.00
Gonzaga University	125	95.45	1262.00
UC Davis	125	95.35	1260.00
Baylor	125	95.35	1260.00
University of Portland	125	95.35	1260.00
UC Santa Cruz	125	94.88	1250.00
University of Arizona	125	94.88	1250.00
University of Cincinnati	125	94.45	1250.00
TCU	124	94.45	1240.00
University of Iowa	124	93.9	1230.00
Seattle University	124	93.9	1227.00
Temple University	124	93.32	1220.00
Pace University	123	93.32	1220.00
University of Alabama	123	92.69	1210.00
Michigan State University	122	92.69	1210.00
Montana State University - Bozeman	121	90.21	1200.00
Oregon State University - Corvallis	121	91.73	1195.00
UC Riverside	119	90.21	1175.00
Sacred Heart University	119	90.21	1175.00
Washington State University - Pullman	116	85.69	1125.00

Free IQ Range Report

FAQ

What can I do with this table?: You can see which Universities would be more likely to admit you based on SAT scores. If you have not taken an SAT yet or if you are from a country that does not administer the SAT you can use your estimated IQ test score to determine what your SAT score might be.
Does SAT matter anymore? I read some Colleges including Berkeley stopped using SAT scores.: Yes SAT matters as most Universities/Colleges use it. Some colleges made SAT optional during Covid and few decided to not accept SAT scores anymore, to be more flexible in who to admit.
Are SAT and IQ test scores correlated?: Yes. The coefficient of correlation was reported to be greater than 0.8, which means there is a strong correlation.
Why SAT and IQ Test scores correlate with each other. In other words, why a high IQ person also scores high in SAT and why a person scoring high in SAT also scores high in IQ Test?: Because SAT is actually based on an IQ test. You can read about it here.
How strong is a correlation coefficient of 0.8?: Similar to how smoking correlates to lung cancer and how exercise correlates to cardiovascular health. Meaning people who smoke more are more likely to get lung cancer, people who exercise regularly are more likely to have healthier hearths, people who have higher IQ score are more likely to get higher SAT Scores. All have correlation factor of around 0.8. More technical explanations of correlation factor can be seen at Professor Ratner's paper.
Is there a scientific publication showing the correlation data?: Yes. You can check the Figure 1 of this paper published by Professor Douglas K. Detterman in the journal "Psychological Science" which includes data, graphs and analysis.
Does this mean all students from a higher ranking school are smarter compared to all students from lower ranked Universities?: No. These are average values. But you can expect a randomly selected student from the higher ranked school to be smarter than a randomly selected student at a lower ranked school.
Does it mean most students of higher ranked school are smarter than most students of lower ranked school?: Mostly yes. Unless lower ranked school admitted students with low scores more intensely. Then, its distribution curve of scores will be left skewed. Standard deviation considers square value of each value’s difference to the mean. So most students of such schools may still be smarter compared to the students of schools that we ranked higher. UC Berkeley is a strong candidate to fit to this assumption.
Is the correlation of SAT and IQ test score strong for all IQ test scores?: No. Correlation is weaker at the very high and very low SAT scores. This is typical in statistical analysis as edge values will have lower precision. For example, a Caltech student may be smarter than an MIT student, even though MIT ranks slightly higher in this ranking. Also, high SAT scores will tend to predict lower IQ test scores than it should be and the lower SAT scores will tend to predict higher IQ test scores than it should be, since IQ test scores tend to display regression to the mean for edge values.
Which mathematical formula did you use?: IQ = 39.545 + 0.068*(SAT score) from Murray, C. (2013). Coming Apart, page 375.
How can I know my IQ test score estimate?: You can use our IQ test score estimation product.
What is the average IQ of Harvard students?: Average IQ of Harvard students is 142.
What is the IQ of students at MIT?: Average IQ of students at MIT is 144.

Are MIT students smart?

Yes, MIT students have an average IQ of 144 making them ranked second after Caltech students who have an average IQ of 145.

What is the smartest college in the world?
Are MIT students smart?: Yes, MIT students have an average IQ of 144 making them ranked second after Caltech students who have an average IQ of 145.
What is the smartest college in the world?: Smartest College in the world is California Institute of Technology (Caltech) with average IQ of 145.

What is the #1 college in the US?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the #1 college in US as it has the smartest students with average IQ estimation of 145.
Which Ivy League is considered the best?

Columbia University ranks slight higher compared to Harvard and Princeton in our list with average IQ of 143. However, harvard is considered to be better compared to Columbia and Princeton with its long standing reputation.

What college has the most successful students?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) students are the most succesful students as Caltech requires the highest average SAT score for admission and Caltech students are the smartest students in US with average IQ of 145.
What is the #1 college in the US?: California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the #1 college in US as it has the smartest students with average IQ estimation of 145.
Which Ivy League is considered the best?

Columbia University ranks slight higher compared to Harvard and Princeton in our list with average IQ of 143. However, harvard is considered to be better compared to Columbia and Princeton with its long standing reputation.

What college has the most successful students?

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) students are the most succesful students as Caltech requires the highest average SAT score for admission and Caltech students are the smartest students in US with average IQ of 145.
Which Ivy League is considered the best?: Columbia University ranks slight higher compared to Harvard and Princeton in our list with average IQ of 143. However, harvard is considered to be better compared to Columbia and Princeton with its long standing reputation.
What college has the most successful students?: California Institute of Technology (Caltech) students are the most succesful students as Caltech requires the highest average SAT score for admission and Caltech students are the smartest students in US with average IQ of 145.