What SAT or ACT score do you need for Pitt?

As of November 2026: Pitt is test-optional through the Fall 2028 entering class, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1270 to 1450. On the ACT, the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score landed between 29 and 33.

Pitt does not require a score for students entering through Fall 2028. Here is what enrolled first-years sent, how to decide whether your child should send one, and what to do before the December 1 scholarship date.

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

Pitt is test-optional through Fall 2028 High school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027, can choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score to Pitt.

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

December 1 is the date to plan around Pitt says students who submit a complete application and all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for its academic scholarships.

Does Pitt require the SAT or ACT?

Here is Pitt's testing policy in the university's own words.

College	Policy	Applies to	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 a family chooses whether to send a score.

Pitt score bands, admit rate and cost

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023.

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

Bands describe enrolled first-years who sent a score, not every applicant.

When are Pitt's deadlines for fall 2027?

Pitt uses rolling admission. December 1, 2026 is the scholarship date.

College	Scholarship date	In Pitt's words	Source
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	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?

No, Pitt does not require an SAT or ACT score from students entering through Fall 2028. Yes, Pitt is test-optional through the Fall 2028 entering class. The university's admissions page says it "has extended the test-optional program through Fall 2028."

That covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. It also covers the younger students coming up behind them, through the Fall 2028 entering class.

Test-optional means your family makes the choice. Your child can send a score, or apply without one. The rest of this page is about how to make that choice well.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT to Pitt scored between 1270 and 1450. These are students who started at Pitt in fall 2023 and chose to send an SAT. Those are the latest federal numbers.

A quarter of those submitters scored below 1270, and a quarter scored above 1450. So the band is not a line your child must clear. It is a picture of where most students who sent an SAT landed.

We tell families to read the band as a zone. A score near 1450 is strong at Pitt. A score near 1270 sits at the low edge of the middle. A score inside that range looks like the students who enrolled and sent one.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT to Pitt scored between 29 and 33. As with the SAT, these are students who enrolled in fall 2023 and chose to send an ACT.

Pitt's policy covers both the SAT and the ACT, so your child does not need to take both for Pitt. Our rule is to have your child sit a full-length practice version of each test. Then pick the test with the stronger result and put all of the prep into that one.

How many Pitt students send a score?

At Pitt, 41 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT and 12 percent sent an ACT. Sending a score is common at Pitt, but it is far from universal. At a selective test-optional college like this one, we tell families it is nearly always good to have a score: a strong one bolsters the odds of getting in, and most merit scholarships are keyed to a score.

This matters for your peace of mind. A student who applies without a score is taking a normal path at a test-optional school. A student who sends a strong score is also on a normal path. Neither choice is strange, so make the one that fits your child's results.

Should my child send a score to Pitt?

Our rule for Pitt is simple: if your child's SAT is 1270 or higher, or the ACT is 29 or higher, send it. That score sits inside or above the band for enrolled first-years who sent a score.

If the score sits below 1270 on the SAT or below 29 on the ACT, think hard before you send it. At a test-optional school, a score below the band does not have to be part of the application. We tell families to ask themselves a plain question: does this score make the application look stronger or weaker?

A score just under the band is often close enough to move with focused prep. Before you decide not to send, think about whether a retake could bring the score into range in time for the application.

How hard is it to get into Pitt?

Pitt admitted 29,033 of its 58,416 applicants for fall 2023, an admit rate of 49.7 percent. That is a large pool, and Pitt is selective.

We see the admit rate as a reason to give every part of the application real care. If your child has a score in the band, that is one more strong piece to include. If not, put the effort into the parts that are strong.

What does it cost to apply to and attend Pitt?

Pitt charges a $55 application fee, the full price of a year is $38,105, and the average net price after aid is $30,434. Net price is what families pay on average after grants and scholarships are taken off.

Pitt publishes a net price calculator, as every US college must. We tell families to run it early, because your own price can be quite different from the average. Scholarships are also tied to the December 1 date, which is the next question.

When are Pitt's deadlines?

Pitt uses rolling admission, and December 1, 2026 is the date that matters most for students entering in fall 2027. Pitt says that students who submit a complete application and all required materials by December 1 are automatically considered for its academic scholarships.

Early decision, early action and regular dates are not listed. Our advice is to treat December 1, 2026 as your real deadline. Any SAT or ACT score you plan to send should be in hand in time to go out with the application.

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 the results with the Pitt bands of 1270 to 1450 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. That tells you which test suits your child and how close the score already is.

Plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Prepare for the whole test every sitting. Do not plan to fix the math on this date and the reading on the next one. Our students do best when every sitting is a full effort.

Call us at 949.229.5359 or sign up for the free mock SAT and free mock ACT at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

Questions parents ask

Is Pitt test-optional?
Yes, Pitt is test-optional through the Fall 2028 entering class.

Does Pitt require an SAT or ACT score?
No, Pitt does not require an SAT or ACT score from students entering through Fall 2028.

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

Should my child send a score below the Pitt band?
If the score sits below 1270 on the SAT or below 29 on the ACT, think hard before you send it.

When should we apply to Pitt?
Our advice is to treat December 1, 2026 as your real deadline.

What does Pitt cost?
Pitt charges a $55 application fee, the full price of a year is $38,105, and the average net price after aid is $30,434.

Method and sources: The policy comes from Pitt's own first-year admissions page, which names the Fall 2028 entering class. The SAT and ACT bands, score-sending shares, applicants and admits describe the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers, and the bands cover only enrolled first-years who sent that test. Prices come from the College Scorecard and are averages, not any one family's cost.