1420 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

You're in a good spot with a 1420. That result is around the 98th percentile and keeps you competitive at plenty of well-known colleges. Stanford and Columbia are still reaches, since their middle 50% starts around 1510 and they admit very few students. About 1,500 schools match this score, including nearly 200 where a 1420 is a solid fit.

How 1420 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 98th - higher than about 98% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~32 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,567 schools (188 target, 57 reach, 1,322 safety).

Is a 1420 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1420 SAT is a strong score, well above the 1050 national average and in line with a 32 ACT. You can still apply to famous private colleges, though most of them remain reaches at this number.

Northwestern and Penn both report a middle 50% of 1510-1570, so 1420 falls below their usual band. UCLA's 1300-1530 range overlaps your score, but that school is still a reach because it turns away most applicants.

Colleges will also look at your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations. A 1420 will not carry an application by itself, especially at schools that reject most of their applicants.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1420 SAT

Brown and the University of Chicago post a middle 50% of 1510-1580, so a 1420 is below that band and both stay reaches. UCLA (1300-1530) is also a reach even though the ranges overlap, while Michigan (1360-1530) is a closer match. The tables group schools into harder admits, good-fit options, and likely backups.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

A 1420 falls inside Michigan's middle 50% of 1360-1530 and near the high end of the University of Florida's 1320-1480 range. Those are good-shot schools if the rest of your application is solid.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Gainesville, FL

 1320-1480 1400 24% Medium

Austin, TX

 1250-1510 1380 27% Medium

Ann Arbor, MI

 1360-1530 1445 16% Medium

Tallahassee, FL

 1270-1410 1340 24% Medium

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% Medium

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Medium

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% Medium

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% Medium

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% Medium

Orlando, FL

 1200-1350 1275 40% Medium

San Diego, CA

 1090-1300 1195 36% Medium

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% Medium
View all 188 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Even a strong 1420 leaves many top schools as reaches. Duke and Vanderbilt both list a middle 50% of 1500-1570, so this score is under their typical band and admission stays tough.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Cambridge, MA

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Stanford, CA

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Chicago, IL

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

New York, NY

 1510-1580 1545 4% Low

Princeton, NJ

 1510-1580 1545 5% Low

Providence, RI

 1510-1580 1545 5% Low

Philadelphia, PA

 1510-1570 1540 5% Low

Evanston, IL

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low

Houston, TX

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low

Hanover, NH

 1500-1570 1535 5% Low

Durham, NC

 1500-1570 1535 6% Low

Nashville, TN

 1500-1570 1535 6% Low
View all 57 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

Your 1420 sits well above the middle 50% at Arizona State (1100-1320) and Michigan State (1180-1360). More than 1,300 colleges land in this bucket, so you have plenty of likely backups.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% High

East Lansing, MI

 1180-1360 1270 85% High

Tuscaloosa, AL

 1170-1400 1285 77% High

Lexington, KY

 1070-1290 1180 93% High

Greenville, NC

 1070-1240 1155 89% High

Honolulu, HI

 1081-1293 1187 87% High

San Marcos, TX

 980-1200 1090 89% High

Lubbock, TX

 1090-1280 1185 73% High

Houston, TX

 1160-1340 1250 74% High

Atlanta, GA

 940-1180 1060 55% High

Columbia, SC

 1180-1360 1270 60% High

San Jose, CA

 1010-1240 1125 85% High
View all 1,322 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1420 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1420 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1420 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1420 SAT Midwest 1420 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1420 SAT New England 1420 SAT Pacific Northwest 1420 SAT South 1420 SAT Southeast 1420 SAT West 1420 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1420?

A 1420 is already a strong SAT score, so a retake is optional. It mainly helps if you are chasing the most selective schools, where the middle 50% starts near 1510. If you like your target colleges, you can stop here.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
May move you closer to 1510 reach bands Time away from grades and activities
Could help at the most selective colleges Big jumps get harder at this level

Students who prep seriously often gain about 50-100 SAT points. At 1420, that kind of jump can matter at schools whose middle 50% starts around 1510. Focus on your weaker section, take timed practice tests, and review the questions you miss.

Apply with the 1420 if your mix of colleges already feels right, or prep for a retake if those ultra-selective reaches are your top priority.

1420 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1420 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1360 30
1380 30
1400 31
1420 32
1440 32
1460 33
1480 33

Individual colleges may interpret scores slightly differently, so treat concordance as a guide rather than an exact rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1420 SAT places you in about the 98th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 98% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026