Is a 1490 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
Yes. A 1490 is an excellent SAT score.
About 40,099 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 1490 or higher.
What a 1490 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 1490 in the 98th percentile, so you scored higher than about 98 percent of test takers. Scores this high clear the bar at nearly every college in the country and put the most selective schools within reach. At this level the SAT is doing its job, and your time is better spent on the rest of the application than on squeezing out a few more points.
Whether a 1490 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 770 of the 787 colleges below that report SAT data. Find your target schools in that group, and if the ones you want sit higher, the tools on this page show exactly how far you have to climb.
What Colleges Can You Get Into With a 1490 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 1490 lands against each one, or search for a specific college. Every name links to its full scores and admissions page.
Your score sits inside their middle 50 percent.
| College | SAT middle 50 | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|
| YaleCT | 1470 to 1570 | 3.9% |
| NortheasternMA | 1440 to 1540 | 5.2% |
| PomonaCA | 1490 to 1560 | 7.1% |
| ColbyME | 1460 to 1550 | 7.1% |
| BowdoinME | 1470 to 1550 | 7.1% |
| SwarthmorePA | 1490 to 1560 | 7.5% |
| WilliamsMA | 1490 to 1570 | 8.3% |
| BarnardNY | 1470 to 1560 | 8.8% |
| AmherstMA | 1490 to 1580 | 9.0% |
| NYUNY | 1480 to 1560 | 9.2% |
| Claremont McKennaCA | 1470 to 1560 | 9.6% |
| USCCA | 1450 to 1550 | 9.8% |
| EmoryGA | 1470 to 1550 | 10.7% |
| MiddleburyVT | 1445 to 1550 | 10.8% |
| Boston UniversityMA | 1420 to 1530 | 11.1% |
| Notre DameIN | 1455 to 1560 | 11.3% |
| TuftsMA | 1470 to 1560 | 11.5% |
| HaverfordPA | 1460 to 1550 | 12.4% |
| Georgetown (DC)DC | 1390 to 1550 | 12.9% |
| BatesME | 1420 to 1530 | 13.3% |
| DavidsonNC | 1400 to 1530 | 13.4% |
| HamiltonNY | 1450 to 1550 | 13.6% |
| ColgateNY | 1430 to 1540 | 13.9% |
| Washington and LeeVA | 1430 to 1540 | 14.0% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 1490 keeps you in range at 770 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+17
more colleges in range at a 1540
787
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 1490 and a 1540.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 1490 SAT Score
The fastest gains come from the section costing you the most points, not from grinding what you already know. Our score plans break a target into weekly work by section, and the diagnostic shows exactly where a 1490 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
1490 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 1490 a good SAT score?
- A 1490 is in the 98th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 98 percent of the roughly 2 million students who take the SAT each year. It is a strong score that keeps you competitive at most colleges.
- What percentile is a 1490 SAT score?
- A 1490 is in the 98th percentile. About 40,099 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored the same or higher.
- What colleges can you get into with a 1490 SAT score?
- A 1490 is in range at 770 of the 787 colleges we track that report SAT data. Use the explorer above to filter them by target, likely, and reach, and open any school for its full admissions picture.
- Is a 1490 good enough for the Ivy League?
- The Ivy League middle 50 percent generally runs from about 1500 to 1580, so a 1490 is below the typical admitted range. A stronger score helps, but these schools weigh essays, rigor, and activities heavily, so it is never the whole story.
- How can I raise a 1490 SAT score?
- Start by finding the section and the specific topics costing you the most points, then drill those with real questions until they stop being misses. Cheetah Prep builds a plan around your weakest skills and shows your projected score as you go. The diagnostic on this page is the fastest way to see where a 1490 is leaking points.
Compare nearby scores