Send SAT Scores To Colleges After Application: Step-by-Step Guide for Your SAT Score Report

Submitting your application is one step, and send SAT scores through the College Board account is another. And they don’t have to happen on the same day. Many students apply first, then complete the process of sending SAT scores to colleges separately through their College Board account. Some colleges accept self-reported scores. Some colleges require official SAT score reports from the start. In those cases, applicants need to send official score reports through the College Board system.

We will break down how and when to send SAT scores after you’ve submitted your application. You’ll learn how deadlines work, what colleges expect, how to avoid late delivery issues, and how to save money or request a fee waiver if needed. If you’re unsure how score delivery works, reviewing a SAT Score Report Guide can help you understand what colleges actually receive and how to track your reports.

Can You Send SAT Score Report After You Submit Your Application?

“Sending scores after submitting an application is common, as long as they arrive before each school’s deadline. In our advising work at Legacy Online School, we encourage students to review your scores carefully, including section scores such as math scores and reading breakdowns, and decide which SAT scores to send to each college”

Legacy Online School 

Many applicants ask can you send SAT scores after submitting application, especially when waiting for their latest test results. Yes, you can. It’s a normal part of the process, especially if you’re waiting on your latest test results or deciding which SAT results you choose to send to each school.​ What matters is that your scores arrive before the college’s review deadline, not necessarily the day you hit submit.​

Here’s how a few schools handle this:

• University of California sets July 15 as the deadline to receive test scores if you want to use them for credit or placement
• Boston University recommends sending scores at least three weeks before the application deadline so they arrive in time
• University of Michigan lets Early Action applicants self-report test scores and send official scores later, but everything must be received by November 15

There’s no penalty for sending scores later—as long as they arrive in time. That’s why it’s smart to check every college’s score deadline and not assume they all follow the same calendar.

When Is It Too Late To Send SAT Scores?

It’s too late to send your SAT scores when they miss the college’s final deadline for review. That deadline might not match the application deadline—but once the admissions committee starts evaluating files, your scores need to be there.

Colleges vary in how they handle timing:

• Early Action (EA) / Early Decision (ED): Scores usually must arrive by early to mid-November
• Regular Decision: Most schools expect scores by January or February
• Rolling Admissions: The sooner the better—some schools evaluate files as they come in

If your scores arrive even one day late, your application could be marked incomplete. That’s why some students use rush delivery through the College Board, which takes 1-4 business days. Check each school’s testing policy and build in buffer time—especially during peak application season.

How Do EA Or ED Deadlines Affect Score Submissions?

These deadlines are usually in early November. Colleges that offer these options often expect your SAT scores to arrive by that same deadline—or shortly after. But every school has its own policy about it. For example, University of Michigan allows EA applicants to send scores up until November 15, even though the application is due November 1.

If you’re applying EA or ED, register for the SAT early enough so your scores have time to arrive. Some schools are flexible, others aren’t. Missing the score deadline can disqualify you—so it’s better to send early than take the risk. It’s also important to confirm you meet all SAT Exam Eligibility requirements before registering so you don’t run into last-minute issues.

Step-by-Step Guide to Send SAT Scores Through College Board

If you’re wondering how to send SAT scores, the process only takes a few minutes through your College Board account. Here’s how to send your scores:

1. Go to the College Board website and sign in to send SAT scores through College Board.
2. Click Send Scores on your dashboard
3. Select the colleges you want to send scores to
4. Choose which scores you want to send
5. Review delivery options: standard (free with registration or $14 per school after) or rush ($31 per school)
6. Confirm and pay (unless using a fee waiver)

Here is how long it can take to send SAT score reports to colleges:

• 1-2 weeks with standard delivery
• 1-4 business days with rush reporting

You can log in to your dashboard to see your scores and track delivery status. Colleges do not send confirmation emails, but you can call their admissions office to verify receipt if needed. Most colleges receive SAT score reports electronically through the College Board system.

Can You Send Test Scores To Multiple Colleges At Once?

Yes, you can send your SAT scores to more than one college in a single session. In fact, the College Board lets you select multiple schools when you go to send scores through your account.

Here’s how it works:

• You choose all the colleges you want to send scores to from a searchable list
• You can select the same score report or different ones for each school if you’re using Score Choice
• After selecting your schools, you pay once at checkout (unless you’re using a fee waiver)

This is especially helpful if you’re applying to many schools on the same timeline. You don’t need to repeat the entire process for each one.

Important to know:

• If you’re still within your free score send window (up to 4 schools), you can send to multiple colleges for free
• After that, it’s $14 per school for standard delivery or $31 per school for rush delivery
• Schools don’t see that you sent the same scores to other institutions—there’s no “list” of where else you applied

Can You Send SAT Scores for Free When You Register?

Yes, you can send scores to up to four colleges for free if you select them within nine days of the test date. Use them to send your scores to colleges before or up to nine days after your test date. If you use all four within that window, there’s no charge. But after the nine-day window closes, sending scores costs money—unless you qualify for a fee waiver.  Students with College Board fee waivers can send unlimited score reports at any time—no deadlines, no limits.

How To Request A Fee Waiver If You Can’t Afford Score Sends?

If you can’t afford to pay for SAT score reports, you may qualify for a fee waiver. This waiver doesn’t just cover the test—it also gives you unlimited free scores sends to colleges, even after the nine-day window closes.

Students eligible for this option:

• Enrolled in or eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• From families that meet federal low-income guidelines
• Living in foster care or without stable housing
• Receiving government assistance
• Participating in federally funded programs like Upward Bound

To get it, you need to talk to your school counselor or college advisor first. They will request the fee waiver for you through the College Board’s K-12 portal. After the request is approved, the waiver will appear in your College Board account.

What the waiver includes:

• 2 free SAT test registrations
• Unlimited free score reports to any college
• Free CSS Profile submissions for financial aid at eligible schools
• No late registration fees

Even if you’re out of high school, contact your most recent school or testing center—many still provide support for recent graduates.

How Colleges Use SAT Scores After You Apply?

Many learners begin preparing during High School so they have enough time to improve before applying to competitive colleges.

Once your application is submitted, colleges review your SAT scores as part of the college admissions process. How they use those scores depends on each school’s review process and testing policy.

Some colleges use scores for:

• Admissions decisions (especially if scores are required or strongly recommended)
• Academic placement in subjects like math or English
• Merit-based scholarships and honors program eligibility

For example, Indiana University Bloomington allows submitted SAT scores to influence course placement and direct admission to selective programs.

If your score arrives after your application, it’s added to your file and reviewed—as long as it’s on time. Some schools notify applicants when scores are received; others don’t, so tracking in your College Board account is key. In many cases, Self-Reporting SAT Scores can help you submit applications faster while waiting for official reports to arrive.

Once admitted, you may still need to submit official scores to confirm scholarships, enroll in advanced classes, or complete your academic record.

Maya Robinson, AP Program Advisor at Legacy Online School

Sources: College Board, University of California, Boston University, University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington