Does Rutgers require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: No. Rutgers University-New Brunswick is test-optional through 2027, the published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1270 and 1480.

Rutgers says SAT and ACT scores are optional through 2027. Here is what the score bands mean for your child and what we tell families to do next.

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

Rutgers is test-optional through 2027 Rutgers University-New Brunswick publishes a test-optional policy that it says runs through 2027. Its admissions page states, "The SAT and ACT test submissions are optional for undergraduate applicants."

The middle half of SAT senders scored 1270 to 1480 Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent an SAT, the middle half scored from 1270 to 1480. On the ACT, the middle half of senders scored from 28 to 33.

51 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT In fall 2023, 51 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT and 5 percent sent an ACT. Rutgers admitted 65.3 percent of its applicants that fall.

Does Rutgers require the SAT or ACT?

This is the policy Rutgers University-New Brunswick publishes on its own admissions page, as of November 2026.

College	Policy	Term	In the college's words	Exception	Source
Rutgers University-New Brunswick	Test-optional	through 2027 (per page: "maintains test-optional and test-blind policies through 2027")	The SAT and ACT test submissions are optional for undergraduate applicants.	Rutgers-Camden BS/DO and Rutgers-Newark 7-year BA/MD joint-degree programs require at least one test score.	Source

Optional means the college reads a score if one is sent. Required means a score must be sent. Blind means scores are not read at all.

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

Score bands and shares describe enrolled first-years in fall 2023, the latest federal figures. Prices are for a year of study.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	43347
admits, fall 2023	28306
admit rate, percent	65.3
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1270
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1480
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	28
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	33
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	51
share who sent an ACT, percent	5
application fee, dollars	70
full price of a year, dollars	36993
average net price after aid, dollars	24406

Bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test, not every student who applied or was admitted.

Does Rutgers require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No, Rutgers University-New Brunswick does not require the SAT or ACT for students who start in fall 2027. Rutgers is test-optional, and its admissions page says this policy runs through 2027. The page puts it plainly: "The SAT and ACT test submissions are optional for undergraduate applicants." This is the published policy as of November 2026.

That covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who apply this fall and winter and start college in fall 2027. Optional means Rutgers reads a score if your child sends one, and your child can still apply without one.

There is one exception families should know about. The Rutgers-Camden BS/DO and Rutgers-Newark BA/MD joint-degree programs require at least one test score. If your child is aiming at one of those programs, plan on taking a test. For more on the score side of this question, see our companion page, What SAT or ACT score do you need for Rutgers? at https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-rutgers.

Could the policy change before fall 2027?

Rutgers says its test-optional policy holds through 2027, so seniors applying now for fall 2027 entry are covered by the rule on the page today. The admissions page does not say what comes after that.

This matters most for juniors in the 2026-27 school year, who will apply next year to start college in fall 2028. Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. We tell junior families to check the Rutgers admissions page again then and read the policy in the college's own words.

Our advice to juniors is to plan as if a score will help. A strong score is useful whatever the rule turns out to be, and it gives your child more choices across every college on the list.

What scores do enrolled first-years carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1270 and 1480. On the ACT, the middle half of senders scored between 28 and 33. These are students who enrolled in fall 2023, the latest federal figures, and only those who chose to send that test.

In that class, 51 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT and 5 percent sent an ACT. So the band tells you about the students who sent a score, not about every student on campus.

The band is not a cutoff. Some students who enrolled scored below it, and some scored above it. It simply shows where the middle of the senders landed. For context, Rutgers had 43,347 applicants for fall 2023 and admitted 28,306, an admit rate of 65.3 percent.

Should my child send a score to Rutgers?

If your child scores 1270 or higher on the SAT, or 28 or higher on the ACT, we tell families to send it. Our rule is simple: a score inside or above the band is one to send, and a score below it is one to think hard about.

At a selective test-optional college like Rutgers, we tell families it is nearly always good to have a score. A strong score bolsters the odds of getting in, and most merit scholarships are keyed to one. When a first score sits below the band, our students often prep and retest before they decide.

Money is part of this choice too. The full price of a year at Rutgers is $36,993, and the average net price after aid is $24,406. The application fee is $70. Rutgers publishes a net price calculator, and we suggest families run it with their own income and savings.

What should we do this month?

Sit a free full-length mock SAT and a free full-length mock ACT with Test Prep Gurus this month, then compare each result with the Rutgers bands of 1270 to 1480 on the SAT and 28 to 33 on the ACT. Your child will see which test fits better and how far the score sits from the band.

Next, pick a real test date and plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before it. Prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the section that felt weakest last time. Scores move most when the full test gets steady, careful practice.

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

Questions parents ask

Does Rutgers require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027?
No, Rutgers University-New Brunswick does not require the SAT or ACT for students who start in fall 2027.

Is Rutgers test-optional?
Rutgers is test-optional, and its admissions page says this policy runs through 2027.

What SAT scores do Rutgers students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1270 and 1480.

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

Do any Rutgers programs require a test score?
The Rutgers-Camden BS/DO and Rutgers-Newark BA/MD joint-degree programs require at least one test score.

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick publishes on its own admissions page, which names a test-optional term running through 2027. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, and do not cover students who did not send a score. Applicant, admit and band figures come from IPEDS, and prices come from the College Scorecard.