Is 1450 a Good SAT Score? (2026)

Where a 1450 stands for college admissions, scholarships, and your next steps.

A 1450 is an excellent SAT score. It places you in the 99th percentile nationally and the 96th percentile among students who actually took the SAT, putting you in the top few percent of all test takers. You are more than 400 points above the national average of about 1030.

With a 1450, you are competitive at strong public flagships and a wide range of selective private universities. It sits just below the typical range at the very most selective schools, but for nearly every college a 1450 is a clear strength.

What Percentile Is a 1450 SAT Score?

Here is how a 1450 stacks up against other score tiers, using College Board percentile data:

A 1450 puts you in the top few percent of test takers. For the full mapping of scores to percentiles, see our SAT percentiles guide.

Colleges Where a 1450 Is Competitive

A 1450 is within range at most strong public flagships and many selective privates. Here is how it lands at a range of schools (middle-50% figures are for students who submitted scores):

A 1450 is a clear asset at strong public flagships like Michigan, UVA, UNC, and Georgia Tech (1370-1530), where you are comfortably in range. At selective privates such as USC, Boston College, and NYU, it lands right around the 25th percentile, so it keeps you competitive while the rest of your application carries weight. If you scored higher, see our guide to a 1500 SAT score; if lower, a 1400 SAT score.

Reach Schools With a 1450

At the most selective universities, a 1450 sits just below the typical admitted score, making them reaches on testing alone:

• Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.): middle 50% around 1500-1570
• Stanford and MIT: middle 50% around 1520-1570
• Duke and Northwestern: middle 50% around 1500-1570

A 1450 keeps you in contention at these schools, since it is close to the 25th percentile and admissions is holistic, but pushing to 1500 or higher would put you squarely in the middle of their range.

Does a 1450 Qualify for Scholarships?

A 1450 opens strong merit scholarship opportunities:

• Automatic full-tuition and large awards: Many public flagships offer their most generous automatic scholarships in the 1400 and up band combined with a strong GPA, and a 1450 clears those thresholds comfortably
• Honors colleges and named scholarships: A 1450 is competitive for admission to virtually any honors program and for competitive named scholarships
• National Merit: A 1450 generally serves as a qualifying confirming score for National Merit Finalist standing, depending on your section split

Check each school's financial aid page for its specific SAT-based award levels, since a 1450 often sits at the top automatic bracket.

Should You Retake the SAT With a 1450?

For most students, a 1450 is a finished score. Consider a retake mainly in these cases:

• You are aiming at the most selective schools (1500-plus medians): Moving from a 1450 into the 1500s shifts you from just-below to the middle of their range, which is worth it if those are your targets
• You are chasing a specific scholarship cutoff above 1450: A small gain can move you into a higher automatic award bracket

Outside of those cases, a 1450 already clears the testing bar nearly everywhere. Because most colleges superscore, you only need to lift one section, and there is no limit on retakes.

How to Go From 1450 to 1500

1. Audit your misses. At 1450 you are likely missing only a handful of questions. Categorize each as a content gap, a careless error, or a timing issue
2. Master the hardest content. The remaining points come from the most advanced math and the most nuanced reading and grammar questions
3. Eliminate careless errors. At this level, one or two avoidable mistakes is the gap between 1450 and 1500. Double-check the easier early questions
4. Train under timed conditions. Full-length practice keeps pacing from costing you points. Practice the toughest SAT questions on Larry Learns to drill where you lose points
5. Protect Module 1 accuracy. The adaptive format means a strong first module unlocks the harder, higher-scoring second module

1450 SAT: Where It Fits in the Big Picture

To put a 1450 in perspective:

• You scored in the top few percent of SAT test takers nationally
• You are within range at most strong public flagships and many selective privates
• You are a strong candidate for top merit scholarships and honors programs
• You are just below the typical range at the most selective universities, but firmly in contention with a strong application

A 1450 is a score that opens nearly every door. Whether to push higher depends on whether you are targeting the handful of schools where it would matter. See when to take the SAT to plan a retake.

Frequently Asked Questions About a 1450 SAT Score

Is 1450 a good SAT score?

Yes. A 1450 is in the 99th percentile nationally and the top few percent of test takers. It is an excellent score that is competitive at strong public flagships and many selective universities.

What colleges can I get into with a 1450 SAT?

You are within range at schools like Michigan, UVA, UNC, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest, and competitive (around the 25th percentile) at selective privates like USC, Boston College, and NYU. The most selective universities are reaches but still in contention.

Is 1450 enough for a full scholarship?

A 1450 clears the top automatic award brackets at many public flagships and is competitive for honors colleges and named scholarships. It also generally serves as a National Merit confirming score, depending on your section split.

Should I retake the SAT if I scored 1450?

For most students, no. A 1450 is a finished score for nearly every college. Consider a retake only if you are targeting schools with 1500-plus medians, or chasing a scholarship cutoff above 1450. Use superscoring to lock in your best sections.

How does a 1450 SAT compare to the ACT?

A 1450 SAT is roughly equivalent to a 33 on the ACT. Both place you in the top tier of test takers. See our SAT vs. ACT comparison for help deciding which test to focus on.