As of October 2026. Every number below is sourced; the list is at the end.
As of October 2026, the University of Florida requires a score. Its own requirements page says: "All applicants must submit test scores from the SAT, ACT and/or CLT." UF also prints what admitted students scored. The middle half of students admitted in 2026 scored 1420 to 1520 on the SAT and 32 to 35 on the ACT.
Florida settles this by regulation
This is not a campus choice. We checked 6 Florida public universities and all 6 require a score from first-year applicants. The rule is Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.002.
Two bands, two different groups
| What the band describes | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Students admitted in 2026, middle 50% (UF) | 1420-1520 | 32-35 |
| Enrolled first-years who sent a score, middle 50% (IPEDS 2023) | 1300-1480 | 28-33 |
Aim at the first row. It is newer, and it is the harder one. The second row describes the students who enrolled, which is a different group from the students who were admitted.
Neither row is a cutoff, and UF says so. The ranges "are NOT minimum criteria, nor does falling within these ranges guarantee that a student will be admitted."
Now put that next to the rest of the file. UF admitted 24.0% of 65,375 applicants (IPEDS, 2023). Of the enrolled class, 79% sent an SAT and 41% sent an ACT. Enrolled first-years averaged a 3.92 unweighted GPA (Common Data Set 2024-25). Admitted students ran 4.5 to 4.7 on UF's own core weighted scale.
Grades are near the ceiling on both scales. The score is one of the few lines left with room.
Which test, and one ACT change
UF reads all three exams the same way: "UF has no test preference. We superscore the SAT, ACT and CLT." Superscoring means UF combines your student's best section scores across dates.
One change matters for ACT families. UF's page says it "will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admissions." Scores used for review and for superscoring now count Reading, English and Mathematics only.
Pick the exam that fits your student. Then prepare for the whole SAT or ACT every sitting, never one section at a time.
If your student is at 1300
A 1300 sits at the bottom of the enrolled band. It is 120 points under the admitted one. Moving it takes 6 to 12 weeks of work.
Here is what our own students average, from our published results. Students who start at 1350 or below gain 190 points (1210 to 1400). Students who start above 1350 gain 120 (1400 to 1520). Among the students who start at 1350 or below, 63% gain 200 points or more. Research puts a typical retest gain with prep near 30 SAT points (Briggs, 2009).
An average is not a promise. Your student may land above it or below it. But a 1300 reaching UF's admitted band in one season is ordinary work.
One more number for the planning side. UF runs about $6,541 a year with aid and $22,523 a year at full price for in-state students (IPEDS). Its bands, policy and cost sit on its Reach page.
The move
This month, have your student sit one full practice SAT and one full practice ACT before picking an exam. The better fit is usually clear once both are on paper. Then block 6 to 12 weeks and work the whole test. Both mocks are free: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step, or call 949.229.5359 and we will set up a strategy call.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need a test score for the University of Florida?
Yes. UF's requirements page says all applicants must submit test scores from the SAT, ACT and/or CLT, and all 6 Florida public universities we checked require one under Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.002.
What SAT score do admitted UF students have?
The middle half of students admitted in 2026 scored 1420 to 1520 on the SAT and 32 to 35 on the ACT. UF says those ranges are NOT minimum criteria, nor does falling within these ranges guarantee that a student will be admitted.
Does UF superscore, and does the ACT science section still count?
UF has no test preference and superscores the SAT, ACT and CLT. Its page says UF will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admissions, and scores used for review and superscoring now count Reading, English and Mathematics only.
Written by Nick Standlea, founder of Test Prep Gurus. Updated October 2026.