What SAT or ACT score do you need for UCF?

As of November 2026: UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023 scored 1190 to 1350. On the ACT, that middle half scored 25 to 29.

UCF requires a test score from every freshman applicant for fall 2027. Here are the score bands, who sends which test, the odds, the costs, the deadlines and what we tell families to do next.

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

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

The middle half of SAT senders scored 1190 to 1350. That band describes enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent an SAT. On the ACT, the middle half of senders scored 25 to 29.

UCF admitted 39.5 percent of applicants. In fall 2023, 60,627 students applied and 23,948 were admitted. With that many applicants, we want our students to walk in with a score inside or above the band.

Does UCF require the SAT or ACT?

The test policy as UCF states it on its own admissions page.

Policy	Applies to	In UCF's words	Note	Source
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

Required means a score must be sent with the application.

UCF score bands, odds and costs

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

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a test scored inside the band. A quarter scored below it.

When are the UCF deadlines for fall 2027?

Deadlines for fall 2027 entry as UCF lists them.

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 are not listed.

Does UCF require the SAT or ACT?

Yes, UCF requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score for Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission. That 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. The university lists the SAT under code 5233 and the ACT under code 0735. Your child uses those codes to send official scores from the testing company.

SAT and ACT scores count if they were taken within the last five years. CLT scores count if they were taken July 1, 2023 or later. Since UCF takes the SAT or the ACT, we tell families to pick the test that fits their child best and put their effort there.

What SAT score do enrolled first-years at UCF have?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1190 and 1350. Those students were in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal numbers there are.

A quarter of the enrolled students who sent an SAT scored below 1190, and a quarter scored above 1350. So the band is not a cutoff. It shows where the middle of the class landed.

Our rule is simple. An SAT score of 1190 or higher puts your child inside or above the band, and that is a solid place to be. A score near 1350 or above sits at the top of the class, and we treat that as a strong score.

What ACT score do enrolled first-years at UCF have?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 29. These are also students from the fall 2023 class.

An ACT score of 25 or higher puts your child inside or above the band. A score of 29 or higher sits at or above the top of it.

If your child has taken both tests, compare each score with its own band. We tell families to send the score that sits higher within its band, and to stop splitting time between both tests once the better fit is clear.

How many UCF students send the SAT and how many send the ACT?

In fall 2023, 73 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, and 27 percent sent an ACT. The SAT is the more common choice among UCF students.

That does not make the SAT the right choice for your child. Our students do best on the test whose style suits them. Some think well at the ACT's quick pace. Others prefer the SAT's pace and question style. A full-length practice run of each test is the clearest way we know to tell which one fits.

Should my child send a score to UCF?

Every applicant to UCF sends a score, so the question is only how strong it is. At a test-optional college, a family can hold back a weak score. At UCF the score always goes in, so we put our energy into raising it before the deadline.

Our rule for UCF: a score inside or above the band, 1190 to 1350 on the SAT or 25 to 29 on the ACT, is a solid score to send. A score below the band still has to be sent, so we tell families to think hard about another sitting first.

Scores stay valid for five years, so a score your child earns in junior year still counts when senior year applications go out. We like an early first sitting. It leaves room for a second try if the first one falls short.

How hard is it to get into UCF?

UCF admitted 39.5 percent of applicants in fall 2023. That year, 60,627 students applied and 23,948 were admitted.

With that many applicants, we want our students to have every part of the application as strong as it can be. The test score is the part a family can change the fastest with focused practice. That is why we tell families to aim for a score inside or above the band, not just near it.

What does it cost to apply to and attend UCF?

The application fee at UCF is $30. The full price of a year is $23,133.

The average net price after aid is $10,411. That is what families paid on average once grants and scholarships were taken off the full price. Your own price may be higher or lower.

UCF publishes a net price calculator, as every US college must. We tell families to run it with their own income and savings before they compare schools, so the numbers on the table are their numbers.

When are the UCF deadlines for fall 2027?

UCF lists October 15, 2026 as the early action deadline and May 1, 2027 as the regular deadline for fall 2027 entry. Other early rounds are not listed.

As of November 2026, the early action date has passed. For families still applying, the regular deadline is the one that matters now.

We tell families to work backward from that date. Pick a test date that leaves time for scores to reach UCF well before May 1, 2027, and leave room for a second sitting if the first one comes in below the band.

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 UCF bands: 1190 to 1350 on the SAT and 25 to 29 on the ACT. That shows which test fits your child and how far there is to go.

Plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just the section that went worst last time. Steady work across every section is what moves our students' scores.

Call us at 949.229.5359, or book the free mock SAT and free mock ACT at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. We will go over the results with you and help you build a plan around the UCF deadline.

Questions parents ask

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

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

What SAT score do students at UCF have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1190 and 1350.

What ACT score do students at UCF have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 29.

When is the UCF application deadline for fall 2027?
UCF lists October 15, 2026 as the early action deadline and May 1, 2027 as the regular deadline for fall 2027 entry.

How much does it cost to apply to UCF?
The application fee at UCF is $30.

Method and sources: The test policy shown is the one on UCF's own admissions page, and it names Summer and Fall 2027 freshman admission. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent that test, from the latest federal file (IPEDS); they do not describe every applicant or every admitted student. Applicant and admit counts also come from that federal file, and prices come from the College Scorecard.