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1190 SAT Colleges: Best Schools for 1190 SAT Score

Best colleges for 1190 SAT Score are listed here. If you have achieved a SAT score of 1190, then you must choose at least 5 of the below listed colleges, as not only your chances of admissions will be good but also these colleges will be a good match for you. The following list of best suitable colleges for 1190 SAT scores is given so that you can choose a more suitable college, and may not choose a less competitive college or loose admissions because you have applied to a more competitive college.

Is a 1190 SAT Score Good for 2026?

A 1190 SAT score is considered Average — National Norm. Nationally, this puts you in the 44th–54th percentile among approximately 1.7 million annual test-takers.

Strategic Admissions Guidance — 2026 Cycle

A 1190 puts you right at the national average — roughly the middle of the pack among all SAT test-takers. That is a meaningful baseline, and it tells colleges that you are prepared for college-level work. It does not close doors; it simply defines which doors are most naturally open to you right now.

The honest counselor conversation here is this: your college options are real and plentiful, but they will be strongest at open-access universities, regional state schools, and colleges with acceptance rates above 60%. These are not consolation prizes — many of them have genuinely excellent programs, particularly in career-oriented fields like nursing, education, business, and engineering technology.

For the 2026 cycle, test-optional policies remain widespread among schools in the 50–80% acceptance rate range. I recommend evaluating each school individually: if your 1190 is below their reported 25th percentile, apply test-optional and let your transcript and personal statement carry the weight. If your score is at or above their 25th percentile, submit it — it helps.

One strong recommendation at this score level: invest real energy in your personal statement. Students with average test scores who write a specific, vivid, and memorable essay consistently outperform students with higher scores who submit generic or vague essays. The essay is where your score stops mattering and your voice starts.

👉 Your Next Step: Write your personal statement draft this week. For students near the national average, a compelling essay is the highest-leverage item in the entire application — more impactful than a 50-point SAT improvement at most schools in your realistic range.

What a 1190 Means in the 2026 Admissions Cycle

In the 2026 admissions cycle, standardized test scores have made a significant structural comeback after years of test-optional experimentation. MIT, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, and many other elite institutions now require SAT or ACT scores for all applicants. This shift means your score carries more weight than it did in 2021–2024 — but it is not the only thing that matters. Admissions offices continue to evaluate your transcript (course rigor and grade trend), personal statement, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular story as a complete picture.

To help you identify the right college list, our team has analyzed Common Data Set (CDS) submissions from hundreds of US and Canadian universities to categorize schools into Reach, Match, and Safety tiers specifically for a 1190 applicant. See the full school list below.

Best Colleges for 1190 SAT Score

Following is the list of colleges that accept 1190 SAT Score.

LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Math ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
LogoInstituteStateAverage SAT ScoreSAT Reading ScoresSAT Maths ScoresAcceptance RateStatus
Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo CollegeMichigan1270 610 - 700578 - 673 76.23% Match
Southwestern University Southwestern UniversityTexas1269 600 - 690570 - 650 39.07% Match
Gordon College Gordon CollegeMassachusetts1268 598 - 690570 - 680 58.78% Match
State University of New York at New Paltz State University of New York at New PaltzNew York1267 600 - 680570 - 660 58.7% Match
Seattle University Seattle UniversityWashington1266 570 - 670560 - 680 76.05% Match
Endicott College Endicott CollegeMassachusetts1263 590 - 680570 - 660 72.29% Match
Florida Southern College Florida Southern CollegeFlorida1263 590 - 660580 - 650 59.07% Match
Emmanuel College Emmanuel CollegeMassachusetts1263 590 - 680580 - 650 80.6% Match
Bryant University Bryant UniversityRhode Island1263 580 - 670580 - 670 65.65% Match
LeTourneau University LeTourneau UniversityTexas1262 570 - 690570 - 680 40.68% Match
Champlain College Champlain CollegeVermont1262 605 - 680560 - 660 66.72% Match
University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Carolina WilmingtonNorth Carolina1262 620 - 690600 - 670 74.01% Reach
University of Arizona University of ArizonaArizona1261 580 - 700580 - 720 85.66% Match
Grove City College Grove City CollegePennsylvania1261 566 - 684562 - 690 73.4% Match
Michigan State University Michigan State UniversityMichigan1261 580 - 670570 - 680 83.92% Match
Le Moyne College Le Moyne CollegeNew York1260 580 - 670580 - 670 75.29% Match
Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson UniversityPennsylvania1259 590 - 680560 - 670 86.14% Match
Long Island University Long Island UniversityNew York1259 580 - 670560 - 680 89.77% Match
Biola University Biola UniversityCalifornia1258 580 - 690550 - 670 60.08% Match
Duquesne University Duquesne UniversityPennsylvania1257 590 - 680570 - 670 78.85% Match
University of Oregon University of OregonOregon1257 580 - 690550 - 670 85.11% Match
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottArizona1256 580 - 680580 - 680 75.19% Match
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPennsylvania1256 580 - 670570 - 660 86.39% Match
Eckerd College Eckerd CollegeFlorida1256 600 - 678550 - 658 78.69% Match
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFlorida1256 570 - 670570 - 680 66.28% Match
Nazareth University Nazareth UniversityNew York1256 610 - 680560 - 650 79.5% Match
Hollins University Hollins UniversityVirginia1256 550 - 710550 - 620 70.86% Match
Manhattan University Manhattan UniversityNew York1254 570 - 670580 - 670 78.49% Match
Covenant College Covenant CollegeGeorgia1254 590 - 710540 - 680 81.76% Match
DePaul University DePaul UniversityIllinois1254 570 - 680560 - 660 73.53% Match
University of Massachusetts-Lowell University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusetts1253 590 - 670590 - 680 85.24% Match
University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabama1251 570 - 700560 - 700 88.42% Match
Concordia University-Wisconsin Concordia University-WisconsinWisconsin1250 - - 67.53% Safety
Knox College Knox CollegeIllinois1250 530 - 680590 - 705 71.13% Match
University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Carolina School of the ArtsNorth Carolina1250 600 - 710550 - 640 33.1% Match
Earlham College Earlham CollegeIndiana1250 608 - 690570 - 673 74.22% Match
Concordia University Ann Arbor Concordia University Ann ArborMichigan1250 - - 72.09% Safety
Conception Seminary College Conception Seminary CollegeMissouri1250 - - 100% Safety
Salisbury University Salisbury UniversityMaryland1250 600 - 670580 - 640 88.63% Match
Truman State University Truman State UniversityMissouri1249 573 - 648553 - 670 79.96% Match
Westminster University Westminster UniversityUtah1249 598 - 718550 - 660 68.83% Match
SUNY Polytechnic Institute SUNY Polytechnic InstituteNew York1248 560 - 650590 - 680 78.44% Match
Lipscomb University Lipscomb UniversityTennessee1248 580 - 680565 - 670 66.64% Match
Berea College Berea CollegeKentucky1248 588 - 680568 - 655 32.71% Match
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisiana1248 590 - 670560 - 660 74% Match
Drew University Drew UniversityNew Jersey1247 560 - 680550 - 640 69.44% Match
George Mason University George Mason UniversityVirginia1247 580 - 670560 - 670 88.83% Match
The College of New Jersey The College of New JerseyNew Jersey1247 570 - 670570 - 670 62.14% Match
James Madison University James Madison UniversityVirginia1247 600 - 670570 - 650 76.25% Match
University of Missouri-Columbia University of Missouri-ColumbiaMissouri1247 580 - 670570 - 660 77.02% Match
University of North Carolina Asheville University of North Carolina AshevilleNorth Carolina1247 600 - 690570 - 660 93.89% Match
Cedarville University Cedarville UniversityOhio1246 570 - 690540 - 670 62.82% Match
Cornell College Cornell CollegeIowa1246 580 - 655570 - 663 80.66% Match
New Saint Andrews College New Saint Andrews CollegeIdaho1245 590 - 680580 - 650 85.71% Match
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth Dakota1245 560 - 650570 - 670 85.25% Match
University of Northwestern-St Paul University of Northwestern-St PaulMinnesota1244 488 - 630493 - 663 91.88% Match
Benedictine College Benedictine CollegeKansas1244 560 - 660557 - 650 76.45% Match
Union University Union UniversityTennessee1243 540 - 690490 - 650 47.18% Match
Bethel University Bethel UniversityMinnesota1243 520 - 625545 - 615 90.99% Match
Michigan Technological University Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan1243 560 - 660560 - 670 87.94% Match
High Point University High Point UniversityNorth Carolina1242 560 - 650550 - 650 76.83% Match
University of Illinois Chicago University of Illinois ChicagoIllinois1242 560 - 660560 - 680 78.5% Match
Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois1242 570 - 660570 - 670 45.17% Match
Saint Michael's College Saint Michael's CollegeVermont1241 600 - 680550 - 630 91.85% Match
University of Mary Washington University of Mary WashingtonVirginia1241 600 - 690540 - 640 86.26% Match
College of Our Lady of the Elms College of Our Lady of the ElmsMassachusetts1240 590 - 670560 - 650 87.66% Match
Elmira College Elmira CollegeNew York1239 543 - 650573 - 682 90.8% Match
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahoma1239 580 - 670560 - 660 76.54% Match
College of Charleston College of CharlestonSouth Carolina1238 580 - 660550 - 640 72% Match
Luther College Luther CollegeIowa1238 550 - 650548 - 668 73.27% Match
Siena College Siena CollegeNew York1238 540 - 680553 - 680 70.57% Match
Hope College Hope CollegeMichigan1237 550 - 660540 - 650 75.85% Match
Bradley University Bradley UniversityIllinois1237 550 - 650540 - 650 76.66% Match
University of Scranton University of ScrantonPennsylvania1237 580 - 660570 - 660 84.35% Match
Fisk University Fisk UniversityTennessee1236 590 - 700570 - 780 57.91% Match
Salve Regina University Salve Regina UniversityRhode Island1236 600 - 660560 - 635 69.91% Match
University of South Florida University of South FloridaFlorida1235 580 - 670560 - 660 40.96% Match
Western Washington University Western Washington UniversityWashington1235 570 - 690540 - 660 91.31% Match
Wagner College Wagner CollegeNew York1234 580 - 670570 - 650 83.46% Match
Saint Mary's College Saint Mary's CollegeIndiana1233 560 - 650540 - 660 81.11% Match
Saint Norbert College Saint Norbert CollegeWisconsin1233 533 - 610533 - 610 92.15% Match
Pace University Pace UniversityNew York1232 580 - 668550 - 660 77.14% Match
Taylor University Taylor UniversityIndiana1232 540 - 670530 - 670 76.11% Match
St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's College of MarylandMaryland1232 570 - 690540 - 640 75.39% Match
Western New England University Western New England UniversityMassachusetts1231 570 - 650560 - 660 83.26% Match
University of Utah University of UtahUtah1231 590 - 698590 - 700 87.17% Match
University of Redlands University of RedlandsCalifornia1231 548 - 670530 - 653 80.92% Match
University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouri1230 570 - 750580 - 790 74.99% Match
Oglethorpe University Oglethorpe UniversityGeorgia1230 573 - 670533 - 650 60.06% Match
University of Houston University of HoustonTexas1229 580 - 660570 - 670 69.53% Match
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNew Hampshire1229 570 - 670550 - 650 86.87% Match
Holy Cross College Holy Cross CollegeIndiana1229 490 - 660490 - 640 73.71% Match
Roger Williams University Roger Williams UniversityRhode Island1228 580 - 660550 - 640 87.78% Match
Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar CollegeVirginia1227 560 - 670540 - 640 71.74% Match
University of Mount Union University of Mount UnionOhio1227 560 - 620510 - 670 80.1% Match
United States Merchant Marine Academy United States Merchant Marine AcademyNew York1226 570 - 650570 - 650 32.47% Match
Valparaiso University Valparaiso UniversityIndiana1226 540 - 660540 - 650 92.22% Match
Marymount Manhattan College Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York1226 580 - 670520 - 630 78.88% Match
Wentworth Institute of Technology Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts1226 570 - 660570 - 660 85.37% Match
Bridgewater College Bridgewater CollegeVirginia1225 530 - 660540 - 715 90.81% Match
Goucher College Goucher CollegeMaryland1225 560 - 683520 - 683 72.9% Match
Xavier University Xavier UniversityOhio1224 530 - 658530 - 640 87.73% Match
California Lutheran University California Lutheran UniversityCalifornia1224 577 - 660557 - 660 88.88% Match
Adelphi University Adelphi UniversityNew York1224 580 - 650560 - 660 77.51% Match
Meredith College Meredith CollegeNorth Carolina1224 590 - 650520 - 610 74.66% Match
Queens University of Charlotte Queens University of CharlotteNorth Carolina1223 560 - 650550 - 650 67.68% Match
Berry College Berry CollegeGeorgia1223 570 - 658530 - 620 61.85% Match
John Brown University John Brown UniversityArkansas1222 590 - 675540 - 670 67.64% Match
Elon University Elon UniversityNorth Carolina1222 580 - 675563 - 630 67.31% Match
University of Minnesota-Duluth University of Minnesota-DuluthMinnesota1221 578 - 670550 - 665 81.75% Match
University of Mobile University of MobileAlabama1220 - - 72.51% Safety
Otterbein University Otterbein UniversityOhio1220 - - 83.3% Safety
Saint Johns University Saint Johns UniversityMinnesota1220 575 - 635570 - 645 90.48% Match
University of Iowa University of IowaIowa1220 570 - 660560 - 660 84.67% Match
University of Minnesota-Rochester University of Minnesota-RochesterMinnesota1220 - - 71.83% Safety
Mississippi State University Mississippi State UniversityMississippi1220 570 - 690540 - 720 76.32% Match
Kettering University Kettering UniversityMichigan1219 520 - 640540 - 670 79.09% Match
Rider University Rider UniversityNew Jersey1219 560 - 660540 - 650 79.4% Match
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksPennsylvania1219 540 - 650550 - 660 97.13% Match
University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisiana1219 560 - 645560 - 610 88.83% Match
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FAQ for SAT Score: 1190

How does a 1190 SAT score compare to the ACT?

A 1190 SAT score is roughly equivalent to a 23-24 on the ACT. It is considered slightly below average for highly selective schools but competitive for many public universities and less competitive private schools. You might consider applying to a range of schools with varying selectivity to maximize your chances.

What scholarships are available for a 1190 SAT score?

With a 1190 SAT, you may qualify for partial merit-based scholarships at many state schools. However, competitive private schools will likely offer fewer scholarship opportunities at this level. You may still be eligible for financial aid based on other aspects of your application.

Can I get into Ivy League schools with a 1190 SAT score?

A 1190 SAT score is significantly below the average for Ivy League schools, which generally expect scores closer to 1500. While your score may not make you competitive for these institutions, there are still other top schools where a 1190 will be sufficient.

Should I retake the SAT to improve my score?

If you’re targeting highly selective schools, retaking the SAT could be beneficial to improve your chances of admission. If your main goal is to attend a state school or mid-tier private college, your current score may already position you well, and retaking the test might not be necessary.

What is the national average SAT score?

The national average SAT score is around 1050, so your 1190 is above average. It’s a good score for many colleges, though you may want to consider improving it if you're aiming for more competitive schools.

Do test-optional colleges consider a 1190 SAT score if submitted?

Yes, many test-optional colleges will consider a 1190 SAT score if submitted. While not at the highest end, it still gives them a sense of your academic ability. Be sure to complement your score with strong essays, extracurriculars, and GPA.

What GPA is a 1190 SAT?

A 1190 SAT score typically corresponds with a GPA of around 3.0 to 3.4. This shows that you have the potential to succeed in college, though you may need to bolster your application with strong recommendation letters or compelling personal essays.

Can I get into NYU with a 1190 SAT?

NYU’s average SAT score is much higher than 1190, so your chances of getting in with a 1190 are slim. However, if you have exceptional extracurriculars, unique talents, or strong essays, it may still be worth applying.

Is 1190 a good SAT score for Harvard?

Harvard’s average SAT score is in the 1500-1600 range, so a 1190 is below their typical score. It’s unlikely to be competitive for Harvard, but you may still have strong options at other schools with slightly lower average SAT scores.

Can I get into MIT with a 1190 SAT?

MIT’s average SAT score is significantly higher than a 1190, making it an unlikely choice for admission with this score. However, you can still consider other top-tier schools with a lower average score if you excel in other areas like STEM or extracurriculars.

Can I get into Princeton with a 1190 SAT score?

Princeton’s SAT average is closer to 1500, so a 1190 SAT is below their typical range. However, you may still be competitive at other top-tier schools with slightly lower average scores, depending on your academic and extracurricular achievements.

Is a 1190 SAT score good?

A 1190 SAT score is above average, but it may limit your options at highly selective colleges. However, many good public universities and private colleges will see your score as competitive, so don’t be discouraged. Keep up your efforts and focus on applying strategically.

Which colleges can I get into with a 1190 SAT score?

With a 1190 SAT score, you’re competitive at many state universities and some private schools with moderate selectivity. Consider schools like University of Arizona, University of Oregon, or Marquette University where your score will make you a strong applicant.

Best Colleges for SAT Score Ranges

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