Does CU Boulder require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: CU Boulder is test-optional for the 2027 first-year application cycle, which is the published policy as of November 2026. Among enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023, the middle half scored between 1230 and 1420.

CU Boulder does not require the SAT or ACT for students who apply in the 2026-27 school year. Here is what the score bands mean, when we tell families to send a score, and what to do this month.

By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

CU Boulder is test-optional for the 2027 first-year cycle. Scores are not required, and only 20 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, while 8 percent sent an ACT.

The middle half of SAT senders scored 1230 to 1420. For enrolled first-years who sent an ACT in fall 2023, the middle half scored between 28 and 33.

CU Boulder admitted 83.3 percent of applicants. In fall 2023 the college had 56,069 applicants and made 46,705 admits.

Does CU Boulder require the SAT or ACT?

This is the policy CU Boulder publishes for the 2027 first-year application cycle.

College	Policy	Applies to	In the college's words	Note	Source
University of Colorado Boulder	Test-optional	2027 first-year application cycle	SAT/ACT scores are not required and we take a holistic approach when reviewing your application	Applicants may self-report scores if they want them considered. ACT Writing/Science sections not used as of April 2025.	Source

Test-optional means the college reads a score if one is sent.

CU Boulder: score bands, who sends a score, how many get in, what it costs

Bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023. Prices are for a full year.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	56069
admits, fall 2023	46705
admit rate, percent	83.3
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1230
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1420
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	28
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	33
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	20
share who sent an ACT, percent	8
application fee, dollars	65
full price of a year, dollars	37684
average net price after aid, dollars	25346

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score sits inside the band.

CU Boulder deadlines for fall 2027 entry

Check the college's first-year page for its current dates.

College	Regular date	Where to check
University of Colorado Boulder	--	Source

A blank date means it is not listed here, not that the round does not exist.

Does CU Boulder require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No, CU Boulder does not require an SAT or ACT score for the 2027 first-year application cycle. That is the published policy as of November 2026.

Yes, CU Boulder is test-optional for the 2027 first-year application cycle. In the college's own words, "SAT/ACT scores are not required." Test-optional means the college reads a score if your child sends one. Applicants may self-report scores if they want them considered.

If your child wants to see how a score stacks up, our companion page, What SAT or ACT score do you need for CU Boulder? (https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-cu-boulder), walks through the bands in more detail.

Could the policy change before fall 2027?

CU Boulder's published policy names the 2027 first-year application cycle, so it covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027.

Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. If your child is a junior planning ahead, we suggest you check the CU Boulder admissions page again in the spring to see what it says for the next cycle.

One detail for ACT takers: as of April 2025, CU Boulder does not use the ACT Writing or Science sections.

What scores do enrolled first-years carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1230 and 1420, and the middle half who sent an ACT scored between 28 and 33. These figures describe the fall 2023 class, the latest federal figures we have.

Not many students sent a score. Only 20 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, and 8 percent sent an ACT.

In fall 2023, CU Boulder had 56,069 applicants and made 46,705 admits, for an admit rate of 83.3 percent. The full price of a year was $37,684, and the average net price after aid was $25,346. The college publishes a net price calculator, and we tell families to run it with their own numbers.

Should my child send a score to CU Boulder?

We tell families that an SAT of 1230 or higher, or an ACT of 28 or higher, puts a CU Boulder applicant inside or above the band of enrolled first-years who sent a score.

Our rule is simple: a score inside or above the band is one to send, and a score below the band is one to think hard about. Because CU Boulder is test-optional, an application is complete without a score. Many enrolled first-years did not send one, so leaving it off is a normal choice.

We also tell families that a strong score gives a student one more clear strength to show. That is why we like to see a student prepare and test first, and then decide.

When are the deadlines?

CU Boulder's first-year page at https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/apply/first-year-students is the place to find its fall 2027 application dates. We suggest you look them up there this week and write them on the family calendar.

The application fee is $65. Our advice is to pick a test date that lets a score come back before the date your child plans to apply.

What should we do this month?

We offer a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, and this month is a good time for your child to sit both, full length. Compare the results with the CU Boulder bands of 1230 to 1420 on the SAT and 28 to 33 on the ACT.

Then plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our students prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just one section.

To book a free mock test or talk through a plan, call us at 949.229.5359 or visit https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

Questions parents ask

Is CU Boulder test-optional?
Yes, CU Boulder is test-optional for the 2027 first-year application cycle.

Does CU Boulder require an SAT or ACT score?
No, CU Boulder does not require an SAT or ACT score for the 2027 first-year application cycle.

What SAT and ACT scores do CU Boulder students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1230 and 1420, and the middle half who sent an ACT scored between 28 and 33.

Should my child send a score to CU Boulder?
Our rule is simple: a score inside or above the band is one to send, and a score below the band is one to think hard about.

Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.

Method and sources: The policy comes from CU Boulder's own admissions page, which names the 2027 first-year application cycle as test-optional. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, so they do not describe students who did not send a score. Applicant and admit counts are from the same federal file, and prices come from the College Scorecard.