Does UCF require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: Yes, UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission, according to its published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1190 to 1350 in fall 2023.

UCF requires a test score for fall 2027. Here is what that means for your child, what the score bands show, and what to do this month.

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

UCF requires a test score for fall 2027 UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission. SAT and ACT scores count if they were taken within the last five years.

The SAT middle half runs 1190 to 1350 Enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023 had a middle half of 1190 to 1350. Those who sent an ACT had a middle half of 25 to 29.

39.5 percent of applicants got in UCF had 60,627 applicants for fall 2023 and admitted 23,948 of them, an admit rate of 39.5 percent.

Does UCF require the SAT or ACT?

This is the policy UCF publishes for the 2027 term, in its own words.

College	Policy	Applies to	In UCF's words	Score age	Source
University of Central Florida	Required	Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission	Official Standardized Test Scores from either SAT [code: 5233], ACT [code: 0735], or CLT	SAT/ACT scores valid if taken within the last five years; CLT valid if taken July 1, 2023 or later.	Source

Published policy as of November 2026.

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

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023. Prices are for a year at UCF.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	60627
admits, fall 2023	23948
admit rate, percent	39.5
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1190
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1350
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	25
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	29
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	73
share who sent an ACT, percent	27
application fee, dollars	30
full price of a year, dollars	23133
average net price after aid, dollars	10411

Bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal file.

UCF deadlines for fall 2027 entry

These are the dates UCF lists for students starting in fall 2027.

Early Action	Regular	In UCF's words	Source
2026-10-15	2027-05-01	The Early Action application deadline for Summer and Fall 2027 is October 15.	Source

Other early rounds have no date listed.

Does UCF require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

Yes, UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission. That is the university's published policy as of November 2026. It covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. No, UCF is not test-optional for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission.

SAT and ACT scores count if they were taken within the last five years. A CLT score counts if it was taken on July 1, 2023 or later. Your child can pick whichever test fits best, and we tell families to choose the one where practice scores come out stronger.

We go deeper on the score side in our guide, What SAT or ACT score do you need for UCF?, at https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-ucf.

Could the UCF test policy change before fall 2027?

UCF's published policy as of November 2026 already names Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission, so seniors applying now have a stated rule to plan around. We tell our students to plan on sending a score and not to wait for news.

For juniors aiming at fall 2028, UCF has not stated a rule yet. Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. We tell juniors to check the UCF freshman admissions page then, and to keep preparing for a test either way. Since SAT and ACT scores count for five years at UCF, a strong score earned this year can still help later.

What SAT and ACT scores do enrolled first-years at UCF carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1190 to 1350 in fall 2023. For those who sent an ACT, the middle half scored 25 to 29. In that class, 73 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT and 27 percent sent an ACT.

These bands describe students who enrolled and sent that test. They do not describe everyone who applied. A quarter of those submitters scored below the band, and a quarter scored above it. So the band is a picture of the class, not a line your child must clear.

For context, UCF had 60,627 applicants for fall 2023 and admitted 23,948, an admit rate of 39.5 percent.

Should my child send a score to UCF?

Every UCF applicant for Summer and Fall 2027 sends a score, so the only question is how strong it is. Our rule is simple. A score inside or above the 1190 to 1350 SAT band, or the 25 to 29 ACT band, is a strong one to send. A score below the band is a signal to keep preparing before the deadline, not a reason to give up.

Because a score is required, we tell families to aim for the best score your child can earn before applications are due. That means picking test dates early, so there is room to sit again if the first try falls short.

Cost matters too. The application fee is $30. The full price of a year is $23,133, and the average net price after aid is $10,411. UCF publishes a net price calculator, and we tell families to run it with their own numbers.

When are the UCF deadlines for fall 2027?

UCF lists a regular deadline of May 1, 2027 for fall 2027 entry. The Early Action deadline for Summer and Fall 2027 was October 15, 2026, so that date has passed as of November 2026. No other early dates are listed.

Since the test is required, we tell families to work backward from May 1. Pick a test date that leaves time for an official score to reach UCF. Leave room for another sitting if your child wants a higher score.

What should we do this month?

Start with a full-length mock SAT and a full-length mock ACT, both free at Test Prep Gurus. Compare each result with the UCF bands: 1190 to 1350 on the SAT and 25 to 29 on the ACT. Then choose the test that fits your child better.

Next, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our students prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the section that felt weakest last time.

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 build a plan around the May 1, 2027 deadline.

Questions parents ask

Does UCF require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027?
Yes, UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission.

Is UCF test-optional for fall 2027?
No, UCF is not test-optional for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission.

What SAT scores do UCF first-years have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1190 to 1350 in fall 2023.

When is the UCF deadline for fall 2027?
UCF lists a regular deadline of May 1, 2027 for fall 2027 entry.

How long are SAT and ACT scores valid at UCF?
SAT and ACT scores count if they were taken within the last five years.

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 UCF's own freshman admissions page, which names Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission as the term it covers, as published in November 2026. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, and they do not describe all applicants. Applicant and admit counts come from the same federal file, and prices come from the College Scorecard.