Is a 890 a Good SAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
A 890 is below the national average, and it is a starting point you can build on.
About 1,603,972 of the 2,004,965 students in the most recent testing class scored a 890 or higher.
What a 890 SAT Score Really Means
That puts a 890 in the 20th percentile, so you scored higher than about 20 percent of test takers. A 890 is below where most enrolled students land, which narrows the list of colleges where it helps. The upside is that score is the most improvable part of an application, and a focused stretch of prep moves it faster than almost anything else you can do.
Whether a 890 is good enough is really a question about your list. It keeps you in range at 79 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 890 SAT Score?
Every school below reports real SAT data. Filter by how a 890 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Southern University and A&MLA | 790 to 1020 | 35.1% |
| Huston TillotsonTX | 800 to 1160 | 39.1% |
| Arkansas at Pine BluffAR | 845 to 1108 | 41.2% |
| West AlabamaAL | 860 to 1120 | 42.6% |
| Texas A&M InternationalTX | 890 to 1090 | 44.4% |
| Alcorn StateMS | 670 to 998 | 45.3% |
| Coppin StateMD | 880 to 1020 | 45.8% |
| Delaware StateDE | 800 to 1020 | 46.6% |
| William PennIA | 880 to 1110 | 51.9% |
| Puerto Rico at CayeyPR | 843 to 1073 | 53.0% |
| Puerto Rico CarolinaPR | 809 to 1057 | 54.5% |
| CUNY LehmanNY | 850 to 1150 | 56.6% |
| Alabama A&MAL | 810 to 1040 | 58.0% |
| Bethel (TN)TN | 830 to 1120 | 60.2% |
| HamptonVA | 790 to 1090 | 62.3% |
| MadonnaMI | 880 to 1080 | 63.4% |
| CUNY YorkNY | 790 to 960 | 64.1% |
| Eastern IllinoisIL | 880 to 1090 | 65.3% |
| Northwestern Oklahoma StateOK | 803 to 1036 | 65.5% |
| LincolnPA | 820 to 960 | 65.7% |
| MillikinIL | 860 to 1130 | 66.7% |
| Southwest BaptistMO | 810 to 1210 | 68.4% |
| Clayton StateGA | 860 to 1078 | 68.5% |
| Siena HeightsMI | 806 to 1073 | 68.9% |
How Many More Colleges Open Up if You Raise Your Score?
A 890 keeps you in range at 79 schools today. Drag the target to see how many more come into range as your score climbs.
+63
more colleges in range at a 940
142
total colleges in range
That is a 50 point climb. A diagnostic shows exactly which topics stand between your 890 and a 940.
See how to reach your targetHow to Raise a 890 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 890 is leaking points. Start there, then drill your weakest skills with real questions until the misses stop.
890 SAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is a 890 a good SAT score?
- A 890 is in the 20th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 20 percent of the roughly 2 million students who take the SAT each year. It is below the middle 50 percent at selective schools, so it is the clearest place to improve if your list runs competitive.
- What percentile is a 890 SAT score?
- A 890 is in the 20th percentile. About 1,603,972 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 890 SAT score?
- A 890 is in range at 79 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 890 good enough for the Ivy League?
- The Ivy League middle 50 percent generally runs from about 1500 to 1580, so a 890 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 890 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 890 is leaking points.
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