Is 1190 a Good SAT Score? (2026)

Where a 1190 lands at state universities, why it is the exact Florida Bright Futures Medallion cutoff this year, and whether a fall retake is worth it.

Yes, a 1190 is a good SAT score. It sits at the 80th percentile nationally and the 74th percentile among students who actually take the SAT, so you outscored about three in four recent test takers. It is 145 points above the class of 2026 average of 1045.

A 1190 also happens to be a number with real money attached. For Florida students graduating in 2026-27, it is the exact minimum SAT score for the Florida Medallion Scholars award, which pays 75% of tuition and applicable fees at a Florida public university. This guide covers what a 1190 means for admissions, for that scholarship, and for your next step.

What Percentile Is a 1190 SAT Score?

Here is how a 1190 compares with nearby scores in the College Board's current percentile tables:

The two columns answer different questions. The national percentile compares you with all US 11th and 12th graders, including students who never take the SAT. The user percentile compares you with actual SAT takers who graduated in the past three school years, which is the group you compete with in admissions. For most purposes the user percentile, 74th, is the more honest number.

For context, the College Board's 2026 SAT annual report puts the class of 2026 average at 1045 across about 1.95 million test takers. About 28% of that class scored 1200 or higher, so a 1190 lands just under that line. For the full score-by-score chart, see our SAT percentiles guide.

Colleges Where a 1190 Is Competitive

These ranges come from each university's 2025-26 Common Data Set (section C9). They describe enrolled first-year students from fall 2025 who submitted SAT scores, not admitted students and not a cutoff:

A 1190 is inside or above the middle 50% at every school in this table. At Florida Atlantic, North Florida, and Georgia State it is a clear strength. At South Florida, Oklahoma, and UNC Charlotte it is in range but below the typical submitter, so the rest of your application carries more of the weight. If you are looking at USF specifically, our USF SAT and ACT guide goes deeper.

One caveat about reading these numbers: the share of students who send an SAT score varies a lot. At Florida International, 92% of enrolled first-years submitted the SAT, so its range describes nearly the whole class. At Kentucky only 9% did, at UNC Charlotte 16%, and at Oklahoma 22%, so those ranges describe a smaller group that chose to send scores.

Where a 1190 Is a Stretch

At the most selective public universities in the same states, a 1190 falls well below the typical student:

• University of Florida. The middle 50% for enrolled first-years in fall 2025 was 1330-1490. A 1190 is 140 points below the 25th percentile.
• Florida State University. FSU reports a middle 50% of 1380-1480 for students admitted for fall 2026 (admitted, not enrolled, so it runs higher than a Common Data Set range). FSU also says all applicants must submit at least one ACT, CLT, or SAT score, so you cannot leave a score off the application there.
• Other schools whose ranges start in the upper 1200s and 1300s. Check section C9 of the school's Common Data Set to see where its 25th percentile sits.

A score below a school's 25th percentile does not rule you out, because admission looks at grades and course rigor first. But it does mean the score is not helping you there. Where scores are optional, you can usually leave a below-range score off the application.

Does a 1190 Qualify for Scholarships?

This is the section where a 1190 matters most, because of Florida Bright Futures.

According to the Florida Department of Education's 2026-27 Bright Futures requirements, the Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) award requires a combined SAT score of 1190 for 2026-27 graduates (an ACT of 24 or a CLT of 82 also qualifies). So if you are a Florida senior in the class of 2027, a 1190 clears the test requirement with zero points to spare.

Four details are worth knowing before you celebrate or panic:

• The bar rises for current juniors. For 2027-28 graduates the Medallion minimum goes up to 1200. If you are in the class of 2028, a 1190 is 10 points short, the smallest gap the score scale allows.
• The score is only one requirement. FMS also requires a 3.00 weighted GPA in 16 college-preparatory courses, plus 75 volunteer service hours, 100 paid work hours, or a combination totaling 100 hours. You also have to submit the Florida Financial Aid Application by August 31 after graduation.
• Bright Futures superscores. The Bright Futures Student Handbook says the SAT combined score is the sum of your best Reading and Writing score and your best Math score across eligible test dates. A 600 in Reading and Writing from August plus a 590 in Math from December counts as a 1190.
• You have time. Tests taken on or before August 31 of your graduation year count (January 31 for mid-year graduates), and the handbook says you can take the SAT an unlimited number of times before then.

What it is worth: the handbook says Medallion Scholars receive an award covering 75% of tuition and applicable fees at a Florida public institution, and Academic Scholars receive 100%. Medallion Scholars in an associate degree program at a Florida College System institution also receive 100%. Our Bright Futures SAT score guide covers the test requirement in detail, and FMS vs. FAS compares the two awards.

Outside Florida, a 1190 can still matter. Several public universities publish automatic merit awards tied to GPA and test scores, and the thresholds vary widely. Check the scholarship page of each school on your list instead of trusting a general rule.

Should You Retake the SAT With a 1190?

Use your situation to decide:

• Florida senior, already at 1190: you have met the Medallion test requirement. Retake only if you are aiming at schools where a 1190 is below range, or if Academic Scholars (1330) is realistic for you.
• Florida junior at 1190: retake. You need 10 more points for Medallion under the 2027-28 requirement, and you have every test date through August 2028 to get them.
• Your schools' middle 50% brackets 1190 (most of the table above): a retake is optional.
• Your schools start in the upper 1200s or require scores: retake with a focused plan.

On timing: if you took the October 3 SAT, your scores arrive on October 16. The next test dates you can still register for are November 7 (register by October 23, late registration through October 27; scores November 20) and December 5 (register by November 20, late registration through November 24; scores December 18), per the College Board's test calendar. After that, the next date is March 6, 2027.

Because many colleges superscore the SAT, and Bright Futures does too, raising just one section can lift the score that counts.

How to Go From 1190 to 1290

A 100-point gain is about 50 points per section. At this level that usually means fixing a handful of repeatable mistakes, not learning the test from scratch.

1. Find your weaker section. A 1190 is often an uneven split, such as 630 and 560. The lower section usually has the cheaper points.
2. Use the Knowledge and Skills breakdown on your score report. It rates you across eight content domains. Pick the two weakest and drill only those for the first two weeks.
3. In Math, go after the second module. At 1190 you are probably solid on linear equations and basic data questions. The points you are missing tend to be in quadratics, functions, and multi-step word problems.
4. In Reading and Writing, lock in the grammar rules. Punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and transitions follow rules you can memorize, so they are the fastest points to pick up.
5. Take a full Bluebook practice test one to two weeks before test day so the adaptive modules and the timing feel familiar.

For daily practice that fits between classes, Larry Learns has quick SAT quizzes with explanations; the free plan includes 3 quizzes and 3 AI explanations a day.

1190 SAT: Where It Fits

• You scored higher than about 74% of recent SAT takers and 80% of all US 11th and 12th graders.
• A 1190 concords to a 24 on the ACT in the official ACT/SAT concordance, which is also the Medallion ACT minimum for 2026-27 graduates (see our ACT to SAT conversion chart).
• You are inside or above the middle 50% at many state universities, and below it at flagships like the University of Florida.
• You are exactly at the Bright Futures Medallion minimum for the class of 2027, and 10 points under it for the class of 2028.

The band just below is covered in our guide to a 1150 SAT score, and the one just above in our guide to a 1200.

Frequently Asked Questions About a 1190 SAT Score

Is 1190 a good SAT score?

Yes. A 1190 is at the 80th percentile nationally and the 74th among SAT takers, 145 points above the class of 2026 average of 1045. It fits well at many state universities but is below range at the most selective flagships.

Is 1190 enough for Bright Futures?

For Florida students graduating in 2026-27, yes: 1190 is the minimum SAT score for Florida Medallion Scholars, as long as you also meet the 3.00 weighted GPA and service or work hour requirements. For 2027-28 graduates the minimum rises to 1200. Florida Academic Scholars requires a 1330 (1350 for 2027-28 graduates).

Does Bright Futures superscore the SAT?

Yes. The Bright Futures handbook says the SAT combined score is the sum of your best Reading and Writing score and your best Math score from eligible test dates. Tests taken through August 31 of your graduation year count.

What ACT score is equal to a 1190 SAT?

The official ACT/SAT concordance matches a 1190 SAT to a 24 on the ACT. SAT totals from 1160 to 1190 all concord to a 24.

What colleges can I get into with a 1190 SAT?

No score guarantees admission, but a 1190 is inside or above the middle 50% of enrolled students at schools like Florida Atlantic, North Florida, Florida International, Georgia State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Florida, and UNC Charlotte. At the University of Florida, where the range is 1330-1490, it is well below the typical student.

Should I retake the SAT with a 1190?

Retake if you are a Florida junior who needs 1200, if your target schools' ranges start above 1190, or if a scholarship tier is within reach. November 7 and December 5 are the remaining 2026 test dates. If your schools' ranges already bracket 1190, a retake is optional.

Ready to push past 1190? Take a free SAT practice quiz to see where your points are hiding, or create a free account to track your progress before test day.