What SAT or ACT score do you need for Auburn?

As of November 2026: Auburn requires an SAT or ACT score from fall 2027 first-year applicants, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1240 to 1380. The middle half of those who sent an ACT scored 25 to 31.

Scores are required at Auburn for fall 2027. Here is where enrolled first-years landed, how many sent each test, and what we tell families to do next.

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

Auburn requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2027. Every first-year applicant for fall 2027 sends a score. That means high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027.

The middle half of SAT senders scored 1240 to 1380. Among enrolled first-years who sent an ACT, the middle half scored 25 to 31. A quarter of submitters scored below each band.

Auburn admitted 50.5% of applicants in fall 2023. Of 48,178 applicants, 24,330 were admitted. We read that as a fair shot for a well-prepared student, not a sure thing.

Does Auburn require the SAT or ACT?

Auburn's current test policy, in the university's own words.

College	Policy	Applies to	What changed	In Auburn's words	Source
Auburn University	Required	fall 2027 first-year applicants	test-optional pathway (limited, 3.6+ GPA) ended after fall 2026; required for fall 2027 and beyond	We are continuing a test-optional pathway for Fall 2026, but test scores will be required for Fall 2027 and beyond.	Source

Required means a score must be sent.

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

Score bands and shares describe enrolled first-years in fall 2023. Prices are for a full year.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	48178
admits, fall 2023	24330
admit rate, percent	50.5
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1240
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1380
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	25
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	31
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	17
share who sent an ACT, percent	71
application fee, dollars	50
full price of a year, dollars	34919
average net price after aid, dollars	24323

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

Does Auburn require the SAT or ACT?

Yes, Auburn requires an SAT or ACT score from fall 2027 first-year applicants. In its own words: "We are continuing a test-optional pathway for Fall 2026, but test scores will be required for Fall 2027 and beyond."

No, Auburn is not test-optional for fall 2027 applicants. If your child is a high school senior in the 2026-27 school year, who will start college in fall 2027, this rule applies to them. We tell families to treat the score as a fixed part of the Auburn application, just like the transcript.

Younger students face the same rule. The policy covers fall 2027 and beyond, so a sophomore or junior today should plan on testing too.

What SAT score do enrolled first-years at Auburn carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1240 and 1380. That is the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers.

A quarter of those students scored below 1240, and a quarter scored above 1380. So 1240 is not a cutoff, and 1380 is not a ceiling. The band simply shows where most SAT senders landed.

Our rule is plain. If your child's SAT is 1380 or higher, the score is a real strength on the application. If it sits between 1240 and 1380, it fits right in with the students who enrolled. If it is below 1240, there is room to grow, and we would plan more prep before the final test date.

What ACT score do enrolled first-years at Auburn carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 31. These are the same fall 2023 students, counted by the test they sent.

As with the SAT, a quarter of those students scored below 25 and a quarter scored above 31. The band shows a range, not a single target.

We use the same rule for both tests. A 31 or higher stands out. A score from 25 to 31 matches the middle of the class. A score under 25 is a signal to keep preparing before the last test date your child plans to use.

How many Auburn students send a test score?

In fall 2023, 71% of enrolled first-years sent an ACT and 17% sent an SAT.

The ACT is clearly the more common test among Auburn's enrolled students. That does not mean the SAT counts for less. It only shows which test most of these students chose to send.

Fewer than 5% of admits in recent cycles had no test score. With scores now required for fall 2027, every applicant in that group will send one. For your family, the share matters less than your child's own result.

Should my child send a score to Auburn?

Yes, every fall 2027 applicant to Auburn sends a score, so the only question is how strong it should be.

Our rule for families is simple. A score inside or above the band is one to be glad to send. A score below the band still goes in, because the rule is firm, but it is a sign to keep working. At a test-required college, the goal is the strongest score your child can reach by the last test date that counts.

We also tell families to focus on whichever test went better. If your child's SAT and ACT land in different spots, compare each with its own band and put your effort behind the stronger one.

Should my child take the SAT or the ACT for Auburn?

Our advice is to pick the test where your child scores higher, even though 71% of Auburn's enrolled first-years sent an ACT.

The tests feel different. Some students like the steady pace of the ACT, and others are more comfortable on the SAT. The only way to know is to sit a full mock of each under real timing.

Then compare each result with its Auburn band: 1240 to 1380 for the SAT, 25 to 31 for the ACT. Whichever score sits higher in its band is the test we would prepare for.

How hard is it to get into Auburn?

Auburn admitted 50.5% of applicants in fall 2023, offering a place to 24,330 of 48,178 applicants.

That is a real chance for a well-prepared student, but it is not a sure thing. Many applicants did not get in.

We tell families the score is the part of the file they can still change late in high school. Grades from earlier years are set. A stronger test score is one of the few pieces your child can still improve in the months before applying.

What does it cost to apply to and attend Auburn?

Auburn's application fee is $50, and the full price of a year is $34,919.

The average net price after aid is $24,323. That is what families paid on average once grants and scholarships came off the full price. Your own price may be higher or lower.

We tell families to look at both numbers side by side. The full price is the sticker, and the net price is closer to what a typical family paid. Many merit scholarships across the country are tied to test scores, so we treat a higher score as part of the cost plan too.

What should we do this month?

Sit a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus this month, then compare each score with Auburn's band.

You can sign up at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or call us at 949.229.5359. Both mocks are full-length and timed like the real thing, so the results show where your child stands today.

Next, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our students do best when they prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the section that felt weakest last time. Pick a test date that leaves room for that prep and for another try if your child needs it.

Questions parents ask

Does Auburn require the SAT or ACT?
Yes, Auburn requires an SAT or ACT score from fall 2027 first-year applicants.

Is Auburn test-optional for fall 2027?
No, Auburn is not test-optional for fall 2027 applicants.

What SAT score do Auburn students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1240 and 1380.

What ACT score do Auburn students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 31.

How many applicants does Auburn admit?
Auburn admitted 50.5% of applicants in fall 2023, offering a place to 24,330 of 48,178 applicants.

What does it cost to apply to and attend Auburn?
Auburn's application fee is $50, and the full price of a year is $34,919.

Method and sources: The policy comes from Auburn's own admissions page and applies to fall 2027 first-year applicants. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, so they say nothing about students who sent no score or students who were admitted but did not enroll. Prices come from the College Scorecard and are averages, not a quote for any one family.