Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: No -- Maryland is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles, the published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1370 and 1520.

Maryland does not require a test score for fall 2027 entry. Here is what the score bands mean, when to send a score, and what we tell families to do this month.

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

Maryland is test-optional through the Fall 2027 cycle. The university's own page says it is test-optional through the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. Among enrolled first-years, 42 percent sent an SAT and 8 percent sent an ACT.

The middle SAT band runs from 1370 to 1520. That band describes enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in the fall 2023 class. On the ACT, the middle half of submitters scored between 32 and 35.

Maryland admitted 44.8 percent of applicants. In fall 2023, Maryland had 59,377 applicants and admitted 26,601. That is a selective school, and we plan for it that way.

Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT?

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

College	Policy	Applies to	In the university's words	Source
University of Maryland-College Park	Test-optional	Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles	UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles.	Source

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

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

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in the fall 2023 class. Prices are for a year of college.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	59377
admits, fall 2023	26601
admit rate, percent	44.8
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1370
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1520
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	32
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	35
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	42
share who sent an ACT, percent	8
application fee, dollars	75
full price of a year, dollars	29299
average net price after aid, dollars	15678

Bands cover only enrolled first-years who sent a score, not every student.

Maryland deadlines for fall 2027 entry

These are the dates Maryland lists on its own deadlines page.

Early action	Regular	In the university's words	Source
2026-11-01	2027-01-20	Early Action Deadline: Nov. 1 ... Regular Deadline: Jan. 20	Source

Early decision and priority dates are not listed.

Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No, Maryland does not require the SAT or ACT for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles; it is test-optional. The university's own admissions page says, "UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles." That is the published policy as of November 2026.

Yes, Maryland is test-optional, which means it reads a score if one is sent. This covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. A student can apply with a score or without one.

For a closer look at the numbers, see our companion page, What SAT or ACT score do you need for Maryland?, at https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-university-of-maryland.

Could the policy change before fall 2027?

Maryland's published policy covers the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles, so the rule for fall 2027 entry is already on the university's own page. Seniors applying this school year can plan around it.

The picture is less settled for juniors. Maryland says it is still assessing the policy's impact to decide on a test requirement for cycles beyond fall 2027. Juniors in the 2026-27 school year would start college in fall 2028, so no rule for them has been stated yet.

Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. We tell families of juniors to check Maryland's admissions page then. Our rule for juniors is to prepare as if a score could be required, so a change never catches them short.

What scores do enrolled first-years carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1370 and 1520. On the ACT, the middle half of submitters scored between 32 and 35. These figures come from the fall 2023 class, the latest federal file.

Keep in mind who these students are. Among enrolled first-years, 42 percent sent an SAT and 8 percent sent an ACT. The bands show what the senders scored, not what every student scored. Some enrolled students who sent a score scored below the band, and some scored above it.

In fall 2023, Maryland had 59,377 applicants and admitted 26,601, an admit rate of 44.8 percent. That tells us Maryland is selective, and we plan with our students on that basis.

Should my child send a score to Maryland?

Our rule at Maryland is that an SAT of 1370 or higher, or an ACT of 32 or higher, is a score to send. A score below the band is one to think hard about, since Maryland is test-optional and a student can apply without it.

We tell families that at a selective test-optional college like Maryland 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 we push our students to earn a score they are proud of, then decide whether to send it.

Cost is part of the choice too. The full price of a year at Maryland is $29,299, and the average net price after aid is $15,678. Maryland publishes a net price calculator, and we tell families to run it with their own income and savings.

When are the deadlines?

The regular deadline for fall 2027 entry at Maryland is January 20, 2027. The early action deadline was November 1, 2026, and that date has now passed. Early decision and priority dates are not listed.

The application fee is $75. For seniors who still want a score on the application, we tell families to work back from January 20, 2027 and choose a test date that leaves room for real prep first.

What should we do this month?

This month, have your child sit a full-length mock SAT and a full-length mock ACT, then compare each result with Maryland's bands of 1370 to 1520 and 32 to 35. The test that comes out stronger is usually the one to focus on.

Test Prep Gurus offers a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT. Call us at 949.229.5359 or start at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

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 part that feels weakest. That steady work is what moves a score into the band.

Questions parents ask

Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT in 2027?
No, Maryland does not require the SAT or ACT for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles; it is test-optional.

Is Maryland test-optional?
Yes, Maryland is test-optional, which means it reads a score if one is sent.

What SAT scores do Maryland students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1370 and 1520.

Should my child send a test score to Maryland?
We tell families that at a selective test-optional college like Maryland 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.

When is the Maryland application deadline for fall 2027?
The regular deadline for fall 2027 entry at Maryland is January 20, 2027.

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 Maryland's own admissions page, which names the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles as test-optional. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal file, and say nothing about students who sent no score. Applicant, admit and score figures come from IPEDS, and prices come from the College Scorecard.