Only 1 in 4 Michigan Juniors Meet SAT College-Readiness Benchmark

Only about one in four Michigan high school juniors are considered college ready based on their SAT scores, continuing a decade-long decline in one measure of student academic preparedness.

Just 25.3% of Michigan 11th graders met the SAT benchmarks for college readiness during the 2025-26 school year, according to state data reported by Bridge Michigan. That is down from 26.6% last year and 34.9% a decade ago.

The College Board defines students as college ready when they meet benchmarks in both math and reading and writing that indicate a 75% likelihood of earning at least a C in related first-semester college courses.

Michigan students performed substantially better in reading and writing than math. Statewide, 52.1% met the reading and writing benchmark, while only 26.5% met the math benchmark.

Education officials caution that SAT performance is only one measure of whether students are prepared for life after high school. Other indicators include Advanced Placement coursework, dual enrollment, career and technical education and students’ eventual performance in college.

Still, the SAT results come amid broader concerns about academic performance in Michigan. Only 38.2% of Michigan third graders are proficient in reading, while more than a quarter of students are chronically absent.

Education has also emerged as an issue in Michigan’s gubernatorial race. Republican candidate John James recently pledge to improve literacy and increase teacher compensation, saying Michigan should adopt approaches that have helped Mississippi climb national rankings in fourth-grade reading.

James said Michigan should be willing to take policies that have proven successful elsewhere, while arguing that more education funding should reach teachers and classrooms.

He has not yet detailed a specific mechanism for increasing teacher salaries.

Michigan has set a goal of having 60% of working-age residents earn a college degree or skills credential by 2030.