A score of 1490 on the SAT puts you in the 98th percentile, making you one of the highest-scoring students in the country. This is a remarkable academic accomplishment and makes you a strong candidate for many highly competitive colleges, including several Ivy League schools and other highly selective institutions. In this complete guide, we will dissect what a 1490 SAT score entails, put it into perspective nationally, look at scholarship opportunities, give you the ACT equivalent, and determine if you need to retake the test.

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.

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:

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.