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Top Colleges That Accept 1450 SAT Score | Public & Private Universities

Last Updated on Jun 14, 2025

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Is 1450 a Good SAT Score for the First Time?

Absolutely. A 1450 SAT score is a stellar achievement—especially for a first-time attempt. It opens the doors to a broad range of selective colleges and universities, including top public flagships, many private research universities, and some elite liberal arts colleges. While a few Ivy League and top-tier schools might prefer even higher scores, your 1450 still gives you a strong shot—especially if you have a compelling GPA, powerful essays, extracurricular involvement, and recommendation letters.

Tip: Focus your efforts now on strengthening your overall application and looking for schools that offer generous merit scholarships to students in the 1450+ score range.

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What Colleges Accept a 1450 SAT Score?

A 1450 SAT score is highly competitive for many top 50 U.S. universities and liberal arts colleges. While some Ivy League schools may have average scores slightly higher, they still admit students with 1450s—especially with strong holistic applications. Some schools where a 1450 is within or above their mid-50% SAT range include:

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Boston University
  • University of Florida
  • Villanova University
  • University of Miami
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Northeastern University
  • University of Georgia

How Does a 1450 SAT Score Compare to the National Average?

The national average SAT score for the Class of 2024 was 1024. That makes a 1450 score nearly 430 points above average, placing you in the top few percent of all test-takers. Stat Insight: According to the College Board, a 1450 SAT score ranks within the 96th to 98th percentile nationally. That means you're outperforming the vast majority of students across the country.

Should You Retake the SAT if You Score a 1450?

In most situations, you don’t need to retake the SAT. A 1450 is already high enough to qualify for competitive colleges and scholarships. However, there are a few reasons you might consider a retake:

  • You’re applying to Ivy League or ultra-selective schools like MIT or Stanford, where the 75th percentile score is 1530+.
  • You’re confident you can raise your score to 1500+ with targeted prep.
  • You're aiming for top-tier merit-based scholarships that list 1500+ as a benchmark.

Otherwise, your time is better spent on strengthening your application in other areas.

1450 SAT to ACT Equivalent

A 1450 SAT score is approximately equivalent to an ACT score of 32–33. This level of performance is strong enough for admission at most colleges that accept the ACT as an alternative.

College Scholarships That Accept a 1450 SAT Score

Many universities offer merit-based scholarships to students with SAT scores of 1400 or higher. Here are a few notable examples:

  • University of Alabama – Offers automatic merit scholarships for scores starting at 1360, with higher awards for 1450+.
  • Arizona State University (ASU) – Provides the New American University Scholarship for high-scoring students.
  • University of South Carolina – Merit scholarships for in-state and out-of-state students with SAT scores of 1400+.
  • Temple University – Scholarships often awarded to applicants with SATs of 1400 or higher.
  • University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Offers academic excellence scholarships starting around a 1360 SAT.
  • University of Oklahoma – Generous scholarships available for students with a 1450+ SAT, including out-of-state tuition waivers.

Note: Each college sets its own scholarship policies, so check specific requirements and deadlines.

Top Colleges That Accept a 1450 SAT Score

A score of 1450 puts you in the top 5% of test-takers and makes you a very competitive applicant to many selective universities. The best colleges that often accept students with this score include Boston University, Northeastern University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida. These institutions highly regard excellent academic achievement coupled with well-rounded applications.

University Name

SAT Score Range

Average GPA

ACT Score

Acceptance Rate

Tuition Fees

Graduation Rate

Enrollment

Boston University

1390–1490

3.86

31–34

14%

$62,360

89%

34,000

University of Florida

1350–1490

4.4

29–33

23%

$6,380 (In-State)

89%

55,000

Villanova University

1360–1490

4.0

31–34

23%

$64,300

92%

10,870

University of Texas–Austin

1230–1480

3.84

29–34

29%

$11,698 (In-State)

88%

52,384

Northeastern University

1410–1540

4.04

33–35

18%

$60,192

89%

27,000

University of Georgia

1270–1470

4.0

28–33

40%

$11,180 (In-State)

87%

39,000

University of Wisconsin–Madison

1350–1480

3.86

29–33

49%

$11,168 (In-State)

87%

48,956

Case Western Reserve University

1400–1520

3.9

32–35

27%

$64,100

85%

12,000

University of Miami

1330–1480

3.8

30–33

27%

$57,194

82%

19,000

Penn State University

1160–1370 (Main)

3.68

25–30

56%

$19,672 (In-State)

74%

88,000+

A 1450 SAT score is a powerful tool in your college admissions arsenal. It gives you access to some of the best public and private colleges in the country, increases your chances of landing scholarships, and puts you well above the national average. While it may not be at the level of ultra-elite schools like Harvard or MIT, it’s more than enough to get you into excellent institutions where you can thrive academically and socially.

Latest SAT Exam Updates

Last updated on Jun 15, 2025

-> The next SAT 2025 Exam is going to be held on June 7, 2025. The Regular Registration Deadline for the same has ended on May 22, 2025 and the late registration deadline ended May 27, 2025. 

-> According to the SAT Exam Schedule, the next fall semester SAT after the June exam is on August 23, 2025.

-> Top US Universities use SAT Scores to measure a student’s preparedness for college-level studies in a consistent and standardized way.

-> The candidates can attempt the SAT Practice Tests by Testbook that offers a suite of solutions for high schoolers who want to improve their SAT score above 1400.

Colleges That Accept 1450 SAT Score FAQs

Yes, a 1450 is a great SAT score and puts you about in the top 5% of test-takers nationally. Although it will be slightly below the Ivy League average, it is still competitive at many top 50 universities and can make you a competitive candidate at schools such as Boston University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Northeastern University.

Though Ivy League colleges tend to have middle 50% SAT score ranges higher than 1450, institutions such as Cornell University or Dartmouth College may accept applicants with a 1450 if other areas of their application (GPA, essays, extracurriculars) are exceptional. Holistic admissions practices indicate that an excellent story can sometimes overcome a few points.

It depends on what you're aiming for. If you're aiming for Ivy League or top 10, a retake could make you more competitive. But for most top 50 to top 100 schools, a 1450 is a good score. Work on making your essays, recommendation letters, and activities stronger before considering retaking.

Most colleges provide merit scholarships to students with SAT scores of 1400 or above. Some prominent ones include the University of Alabama Academic Elite Scholarship and Baylor University Distinguished Scholarship Program. Always look up each institution's financial aid page for individual SAT-based awards.

The national average SAT score is around 1024, so a 1450 is considerably higher than average—by over 400 points. This puts you in a highly competitive percentile and can provide access to a broad range of outstanding public and private schools.

A 1450 SAT is around the equivalent of an ACT of 32 to 33 according to concordance tables used by the College Board and ACT. That positions you at or near the high end of test-takers in the ACT, too.

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