SAT Score Delivery Schedule: When and How Colleges Receive Your Scores

If you’ve taken the SAT or are planning to, one of the most important next steps is sending your scores to colleges. But how long does it take for SAT scores to be delivered? When do colleges receive them? And how can you make sure they get there in time for application deadlines?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the SAT score delivery schedule, how to track your score reports, how to expedite delivery, and key tips for ensuring your scores arrive on time and accurately.

How SAT Score Delivery Works

After you take the SAT, your scores are processed by the College Board and typically released to you first. Then, if you’ve chosen to send your scores to colleges, they are sent electronically (or by mail in some cases) from College Board to each school.

The entire process includes:

  1. Score release to student and Score delivery to colleges

SAT Score Release Timeline (for Students)

  • Digital SAT: Scores are usually available within 2–8 days
  • Paper SAT: Typically released within 10–14 days
  • School Day SAT: May take up to 3–4 weeks

Once your scores are available, you can view them online at studentscores.collegeboard.org.

SAT Score Delivery Timeline (for Colleges)

Once you submit your score send request, it generally takes:

  • 1–2 business days for electronic delivery
  • 5–10 business days if scores are mailed (usually for international schools or special requests)

This means that in most cases, colleges receive your SAT scores within 1 week of your request if submitted electronically.

However, if you’re submitting scores close to an application deadline, you might want to rush your score delivery.

What Is Rush Score Delivery?

Rush score delivery is a paid service that sends your SAT scores to colleges within 1–4 business days after your request is processed. This is useful if:

  • You’re facing an application deadline
  • A school hasn’t received your scores yet
  • You didn’t choose schools during registration and need to send scores later

Cost: Rush delivery typically costs $31 per report in addition to the standard $14 score report fee.

You can request rush delivery through your College Board account.

How to Send Your SAT Scores to Colleges

  1. Sign in to your College Board account
  2. Go to “My SAT” and click “Send Scores”
  3. Choose the colleges or scholarship programs you want to receive your scores
  4. Select the test date(s) you want to send
  5. Review and submit your request

You get four free score sends if you request them within nine days of your test date. After that, each additional send costs $14 per school.

Can You Choose Which SAT Scores to Send?

Yes! The College Board offers a feature called Score Choice, which allows you to:

  • Choose which test dates to send (for SAT)
  • Choose which subject test scores to send (if applicable)

This gives you more control over how your scores are viewed by colleges. However, some schools require you to send all scores, so double-check the score policy for each college before using Score Choice.

How to Track SAT Score Deliveries

While you can’t track score delivery like a package, you can:

  • Check your order status in your College Board account
  • Contact the college admissions office to confirm receipt after 1–2 weeks
  • Allow time for processing — even if a college receives your score, it might take a few days to show up in your portal

When Should You Send Your SAT Scores?

Best Practice: Send your scores at least 3–4 weeks before application deadlines to ensure colleges receive and process them on time.

For early decision/early action:

  • Deadlines are often in October or November
  • Send scores no later than early October

For regular decision:

  • Deadlines are often in January
  • Send scores by mid-December

If your scores aren’t ready yet, don’t panic—just submit them as soon as they’re released and communicate with your admissions office if needed.

SAT Score Delivery for In-School Testing

If you took the SAT during the school day, your scores are delivered in the same way—digitally to colleges you select. However, you’ll need to log into your College Board account and manually send your scores, even if the test was arranged through your school.

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem: My college hasn’t received my scores
Solution: Wait 1–2 weeks, then contact admissions. If necessary, resend scores or choose rush delivery.

Problem: I missed the free score send window
Solution: You can still send scores anytime; you’ll just need to pay $14 per school.

Problem: I sent the wrong score
Solution: You can send a different score report, but you cannot cancel a previous send.

Final Tips for SAT Score Delivery Success

  • Always verify each college’s score policy (some require all scores)
  • Use your free score sends wisely
  • Don’t wait until the last minute—allow time for delays
  • Use Score Choice strategically if your top score is later in the year
  • Use rush delivery only when absolutely necessary

Be Strategic with Your SAT Score Sending

Your SAT scores are a key part of your college application. Knowing the SAT score delivery schedule helps you plan ahead and ensure your application is complete and competitive. Whether you’re applying to Ivy League schools or state universities, timely and accurate score delivery is a must.

Ready to send your scores or prep for your next SAT? Explore our other guides on test prep, score improvement strategies, and college admissions timelines to stay ahead of the game.