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Home / SAT Exam / Top Colleges for a 1490 SAT Score

Top Colleges for a 1490 SAT Score | Acceptance, Scholarships & More

Last Updated on Jun 14, 2025

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Is 1490 a Good SAT Score for the First Time?

Indeed. A 1490 SAT is outstanding, particularly on an initial try. It indicates excellent critical thinking, reading, and math skills—exactly what highly selective colleges look for. To achieve this high at the beginning of the college application process provides you with freedom to concentrate on other elements like your personal statement, recommendation letters, leadership activities, and extracurricular activities.

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What Colleges Accept a 1490 SAT Score?

A 1490 SAT score places you firmly within or near the middle 50% SAT range for many of the nation’s most selective colleges. While Ivy League institutions may report slightly higher averages, a 1490 is still an impressive score that keeps you highly competitive—especially when paired with strong grades, extracurriculars, and essays. Top-tier schools where a 1490 is well-regarded include the University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California (USC), Carnegie Mellon University, New York University (NYU), University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Boston College, University of Virginia (UVA), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and Tufts University.

How Does a 1490 SAT Score Compare to the National Average?

In 2024, the national average SAT score was around 1024. With a 1490, you're almost 470 points higher than the average, which puts you in the 98th percentile of all test-takers. This distinction indicates that you scored higher than 98% of your peers across the country—evidence that you're ready for the academic challenge of highly selective colleges.

Should You Retake the SAT if You Score a 1490?

Taking the SAT again after scoring a 1490 is up to your target colleges and ambitions. If your aspiration is to get into hyper-competitive colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, or MIT—where the middle-SAT range is 1520–1580—you may want to retake it to get closer to 1550–1600. Still, most admissions offices are holistic and appreciate greatness in other aspects such as GPA, essays, and extracurriculars. Unless you're going for a perfect score or a merit scholarship with a particular SAT cutoff, it's usually more productive to concentrate on the remainder of your application.

1490 SAT to ACT Equivalent

A 1490 SAT score is roughly equivalent to a 34 on the ACT. This high ACT score is similarly competitive at top universities. If you're considering submitting ACT scores instead—or applying to colleges that accept either—a 34 ACT will keep your application strong.

College Scholarships That Accept a 1490 SAT Score

Most universities award merit scholarships to students who score 1490 or higher. Some even give full or partial tuition waivers, particularly for in-state students or those with need. Here are some significant scholarship opportunities for students with a 1490 SAT score:

  • University of Alabama: Offers the Presidential Scholarship (full tuition) for high SAT scorers.
  • Arizona State University: Merit scholarships for students with 1450+ SAT and strong GPAs.
  • University of South Carolina: Horseshoe Scholarship for out-of-state students with high SAT scores.
  • Temple University: Competitive merit-based aid packages.
  • University of Georgia: Zell Miller and HOPE Scholarships for Georgia residents.
  • Baylor University: Offers Founders’ and Regents’ Gold Scholarships for students with SAT scores over 1400.
  • University of Texas at Dallas: Academic Excellence Scholarship for SATs over 1450.
  • Fordham University: Offers Presidential Scholarships for high academic achievers.

Colleges That Accept a 1490 SAT Score

Here are select colleges where a 1490 SAT score is competitive and often falls within the school's middle 50% SAT range for admitted students:

University Name

SAT Range

Average GPA

ACT Score

Acceptance Rate

Tuition Fees

Graduation Rate

Enrollment

University of Notre Dame

1410–1550

4.06

32–35

13%

$62,430

96%

13,000

University of Southern California (USC)

1440–1550

3.83

32–35

12%

$66,640

92%

49,000

Carnegie Mellon University

1460–1560

3.89

33–35

14%

$61,344

89%

15,000

New York University (NYU)

1430–1550

3.8

32–35

13%

$60,438

84%

58,000

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

1340–1530

3.9

30–34

17%

$17,786 (in-state), $57,273 (out-of-state)

93%

50,000

Boston College

1410–1540

3.96

33–35

17%

$67,680

91%

15,000

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

1360–1520

4.39

28–34

23.5%

$9,018 (in-state), $39,228 (out-of-state)

91%

30,000

Tufts University

1430–1550

4.04

32–35

9.7%

$67,844

93%

13,000

Rice University

1490–1570

—

34–36

8.0%

$54,100

93%

4,000

Dartmouth College

1490–1570

—

33–35

6.2%

$63,684

96%

6,500

Stanford University

1420–1570

3.94

32–35

3.9%

$56,169

94%

15,878

Trinity University (Texas)

1360–1500

—

31–34

26%

$48,512

80%

2,600

University of Pittsburgh

1280–1470

—

29–33

49.1%

$20,362 (in-state), $35,394 (out-of-state)

84%

28,000

University of Washington

1280–1490

3.82

29–34

47.5%

$12,076 (in-state), $39,906 (out-of-state)

84%

32,000

A 1490 SAT score offers a significant edge in the admissions process and qualifies you for top scholarships and honors programs. Unless you’re targeting only ultra-elite schools and want a perfect 1600, there’s typically no need to retake the exam. Focus instead on building a compelling, well-rounded application that highlights your passions, achievements, and future potential.

Pro Tip:
Explore colleges that superscore the SAT—they take the highest section scores across multiple test dates. This can push your score even higher if you’ve taken the SAT more than once.

Latest SAT Exam Updates

Last updated on Jun 14, 2025

-> The next SAT 2025 Exam is going to be held on June 7, 2025. The Regular Registration Deadline for the same has ended on May 22, 2025 and the late registration deadline ended May 27, 2025. 

-> According to the SAT Exam Schedule, the next fall semester SAT after the June exam is on August 23, 2025.

-> Top US Universities use SAT Scores to measure a student’s preparedness for college-level studies in a consistent and standardized way.

-> The candidates can attempt the SAT Practice Tests by Testbook that offers a suite of solutions for high schoolers who want to improve their SAT score above 1400.

Colleges That Accept a 1490 SAT Score FAQs

Absolutely, a 1490 SAT score is great. It puts you in the 98th percentile nationwide and is very competitive for most of the top universities, such as Carnegie Mellon, USC, NYU, and Tufts. It's just a bit below average at Ivy League schools but still gets you in the running with a quality application.

Although the average SAT score of Ivy League admits is generally between 1500–1570, a 1490 is still within reach, particularly if you possess an outstanding GPA, exceptional extracurriculars, and compelling essays. Dartmouth and Cornell might take you seriously with a solid application.

The average GPAs accepted by most competitive colleges that have a 1490 SAT score are between 3.8 and 4.1. Having a GPA near or even above 3.9 (on a scale of 4.0) will make your application stronger.

Yes. High-end public institutions such as the University of Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, and the University of Virginia all view 1490 as a solid score within the admitted student range for each institution.

Definitely. Even at test-optional institutions such as NYU or Boston College, reporting a 1490 SAT score can strengthen your application, particularly if it's within or above their average range.

A 1490 SAT score is approximately equivalent to a 34–35 ACT score. Both scores are extremely competitive at highly selective universities.

Yes. Numerous merit-based scholarships factor in SAT scores. A 1490 can make you eligible for academic scholarships, honors programs, or tuition reductions at a number of schools.

It's prudent to apply to a combination of reach, match, and safety schools. With a 1490, numerous top schools are within reach, but also look at schools where 1490 is above average to guarantee acceptance and aid opportunities.
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