1590 SAT Score: Popular Colleges You Can Get Into

1590 is about as strong as SAT scores get. You're in range at places like MIT and Stanford, though both stay reaches because they admit so few students. About 1,570 colleges match this score, so you have plenty of selective options to look through.

How 1590 SAT Compares Nationally

  • Percentile: 99th - higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.
  • National average: Above 1050 - you're above the typical score.
  • ACT equivalent: ~36 composite (College Board/ACT concordance).
  • College options: Competitive at 1,570 schools (76 target, 53 reach, 1,441 safety).

Is a 1590 SAT Score Good?

Yes, a 1590 SAT is an outstanding score. You are near the top of the scale and competitive at some of the most selective colleges in the country.

Caltech's middle 50% is 1530-1580, and Harvard's is 1510-1580, so you sit at the high end of both. They are still reaches because almost nobody gets in, not because of your SAT. A target like Michigan (1360-1530) is a different story: 1590 is above that usual band and you have a good shot.

Colleges still weigh your GPA, essays, activities, and recommendations. A 1590 will not carry a thin application at the toughest schools, but it takes the test off the worry list.

Colleges You Can Get Into with a 1590 SAT

Brown, Chicago, and Princeton list middle 50% ranges of 1510-1580, and a 1590 fits inside them. Those schools are still tougher to get into. UCLA stays a reach even though 1590 is above its 1300-1530 band, while Florida (1320-1480) is a more comfortable target. The tables sort schools by how hard they are to get into with this score.

Target Schools (Competitive Chance of Admission)

You land above the middle 50% at Florida (1320-1480) and at the high end for Michigan (1360-1530). These are good-fit schools where you have a strong shot.

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

Coral Gables, FL

 1320-1480 1400 19% Medium

Athens, GA

 1270-1480 1375 38% Medium

Irvine, CA

 1230-1430 1330 29% Medium

College Park, MD

 1400-1530 1465 45% Medium

Madison, WI

 1380-1520 1450 45% Medium

Seattle, WA

 1200-1453 1326 39% Medium

Raleigh, NC

 1300-1470 1385 42% Medium

Villanova, PA

 1395-1510 1452 27% Medium
View all 76 target colleges

Reach Schools (Lower Admission Chance)

Even a 1590 does not make Caltech (1530-1580) or Johns Hopkins (1520-1570) easy. Your score is in their range, but low admit rates keep them reaches.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Pasadena, CA

 1530-1580 1555 3% Low

Cambridge, MA

 1520-1580 1550 5% Low

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

Baltimore, MD

 1520-1570 1545 6% Low

Philadelphia, PA

 1510-1570 1540 5% Low

Evanston, IL

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low

Houston, TX

 1510-1570 1540 8% Low
View all 53 reach colleges

Safety Schools (Very High Chance of Admission)

You clear the middle 50% by a wide margin at Ohio State (1310-1480) and Penn State (1240-1420). Odds look strong here, and this group is huge.

College SAT Range Avg SAT Acceptance Rate Your Chance

Clemson, SC

 1240-1410 1325 38% High

Tempe, AZ

 1100-1320 1210 90% High

University Park, PA

 1240-1420 1330 61% High

Blacksburg, VA

 1280-1450 1365 55% High

East Lansing, MI

 1180-1360 1270 85% High

Tuscaloosa, AL

 1170-1400 1285 77% High

Orlando, FL

 1200-1350 1275 40% High

San Diego, CA

 1090-1300 1195 36% High

Auburn, AL

 1260-1390 1325 46% High

Columbus, OH

 1310-1480 1395 61% High

Waco, TX

 1200-1400 1300 51% High

Knoxville, TN

 1200-1370 1285 42% High
View all 1,441 safety colleges

View the full list of colleges that accept a 1590 SAT

Top Choices in Popular U.S. States

Browse colleges for a 1590 SAT in popular states:

Local Options for a 1590 SAT

View by state:

Browse by region:

East 1590 SAT Midwest 1590 SAT Mid-Atlantic 1590 SAT New England 1590 SAT Pacific Northwest 1590 SAT South 1590 SAT Southeast 1590 SAT West 1590 SAT

Should you retake the SAT if you have a 1590?

You do not need another SAT date for almost any college. A retake only makes sense if you want a 1600 for yourself or you are aiming at the most selective STEM schools and think a perfect score could help. For everyone else, this score is already more than enough.

Pros of retaking Cons of retaking
A 1600 can help at the most selective schools Little room left to improve
One more try if you missed a couple questions Time better spent on essays and activities

Serious prep often raises SAT scores by about 50-100 points, but that kind of jump is rare from 1590. If you sit again, review the questions you missed and run a couple of timed sections instead of starting over.

Apply with this 1590 unless a perfect score is still a goal you want to chase.

1590 SAT to ACT Equivalent Conversion

Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores. The following table shows the 1590 SAT to ACT equivalent and nearby scores for context. These conversions are approximate.

SAT Score ACT Equivalent
1530 35
1550 35
1570 36
1590 36

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

Frequently Asked Questions

A 1590 SAT places you in about the 99th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than about 99% of recent test-takers.

Next Steps

Published: August 19, 2026