Does Pitt require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: No, Pitt does not require the SAT or ACT: it is test-optional through the Fall 2028 entering class, the published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored from 1270 to 1450.

Pitt is test-optional for students who start in fall 2027. Here is what the score bands mean, when 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.

Pitt is test-optional through Fall 2028. The university says it "has extended the test-optional program through Fall 2028." That covers students who start college in fall 2027.

The SAT band runs from 1270 to 1450. That is the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023. On the ACT, the middle half of submitters scored from 29 to 33.

December 1, 2026 is the scholarship date. Pitt admits on a rolling basis. A complete application in by December 1, 2026 is automatically considered for Pitt academic scholarships.

Does Pitt require the SAT or ACT?

This is the policy Pitt publishes on its own admissions page as of November 2026.

College	Policy	Term it covers	In Pitt's words	Source
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Test-optional	test-optional program extended through the Fall 2028 entering class	the university has extended the test-optional program through Fall 2028.	Source

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

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

Bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in the fall 2023 class.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	58416
admits, fall 2023	29033
admit rate, percent	49.7
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1270
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1450
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	29
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	33
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	41
share who sent an ACT, percent	12
application fee, dollars	55
full price of a year, dollars	38105
average net price after aid, dollars	30434

Score bands cover only students who chose to send that test.

Pitt deadlines for fall 2027 entry

Pitt admits on a rolling basis and lists a scholarship-consideration date.

Scholarship date	In Pitt's words	Source
2026-12-01	First-year students who complete and submit an application for admission and all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for University of Pittsburgh academic scholarships.	Source

Early decision, early action and regular dates are not listed.

Does Pitt require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No, Pitt does not require an SAT or ACT score from students applying for fall 2027. The university's admissions page says "the university has extended the test-optional program through Fall 2028." That is the published policy as of November 2026.

Yes, Pitt is test-optional for students who start in fall 2027. That covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. It also covers this year's juniors, who would start in fall 2028.

Test-optional means Pitt reads a score if your child sends one. Your child may also apply with no score at all. For a closer look at the numbers, see our companion page, What SAT or ACT score do you need for Pitt?

Could the policy change before fall 2027?

Pitt has stated that its test-optional program runs through Fall 2028, so students who start in fall 2027 sit inside that term. Pitt has not said what comes after Fall 2028.

Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. We tell families to check the Pitt admissions page each spring. We also tell them to plan as if a score could matter, because a strong score keeps every door open.

What scores do enrolled first-years carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored from 1270 to 1450. On the ACT, the middle half of submitters scored from 29 to 33. These numbers describe the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers.

Not every student sent a score. Among enrolled first-years, 41 percent sent an SAT and 12 percent sent an ACT. The bands say nothing about the students who chose not to send a score.

For fall 2023, Pitt had 58,416 applicants and admitted 29,033, an admit rate of 49.7 percent. The bands show where the middle of the class landed. Some students who sent a score sat below the band, and some sat above it.

Should my child send a score to Pitt?

We tell families to send a score that sits inside or above the 1270 to 1450 SAT band or the 29 to 33 ACT band. A score below the band is one to think hard about before sending.

At a selective test-optional college, we tell families it is nearly always good to have a score, because a strong score bolsters the odds of getting in and most merit scholarships are keyed to one. That is why our students sit for the test even when a college does not require it. Having a score gives your child a choice. Skipping the test takes that choice away.

Money matters here too. The full price of a year at Pitt is $38,105, and the average net price after aid is $30,434. The application fee is $55. Pitt publishes a net price calculator, so you can see a figure for your own family.

When are the deadlines?

Pitt lists December 1, 2026 as the date to have a complete application in for automatic scholarship consideration. Its update page says students who submit an application "and all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for University of Pittsburgh academic scholarships."

Pitt admits on a rolling basis. It does not list early decision, early action or regular deadline dates. Our rule is to treat December 1 as the real deadline. If your child wants a score in the file by then, plan the test date early and finish the rest of the application early too.

What should we do this month?

Start with a free full-length mock SAT and a free full-length mock ACT from Test Prep Gurus. Compare each result with the Pitt bands: 1270 to 1450 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. Then pick the test where your child lands closer to the band or above it.

Next, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our rule is to prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the section that felt hardest last time. Steady, full practice is what moves a score.

To book a free mock SAT or a free mock ACT, call us at 949.229.5359 or visit https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. We will help you read the result and build a plan that fits your child.

Questions parents ask

Is Pitt test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes, Pitt is test-optional for students who start in fall 2027.

Does Pitt require an SAT or ACT score?
No, Pitt does not require an SAT or ACT score from students applying for fall 2027.

What SAT scores do Pitt students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored from 1270 to 1450.

Should my child send a score to Pitt?
We tell families to send a score that sits inside or above the 1270 to 1450 SAT band or the 29 to 33 ACT band.

When is the Pitt scholarship deadline?
Pitt lists December 1, 2026 as the date to have a complete application in for automatic scholarship consideration.

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 is the one Pitt publishes on its own admissions page, which names a test-optional program through the Fall 2028 entering class. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal numbers, and they say nothing about students who did not send a score. Applicant and admit counts come from the same federal source, and prices come from the College Scorecard.