What SAT or ACT score do you need for Maryland?

As of November 2026: Maryland is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1370 and 1520. On the ACT, the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score scored between 32 and 35.

Maryland does not require a score for fall 2027 entry. Here are the score bands, how many students send a score, what it costs, and what we tell families to do now.

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 says it is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. That covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027.

The SAT band at Maryland is 1370 to 1520. That is the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023. On the ACT, the band for the middle half of submitters is 32 to 35.

Maryland admitted 44.8 percent of applicants. In fall 2023, 59,377 students applied and 26,601 were admitted. At a school this selective, we tell families a strong score is one of the best tools they still control.

Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT?

Here is Maryland's test policy in the university's own words.

Policy	Applies to	In the university's words	Source
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 university 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 fall 2023. Prices are for a year at Maryland.

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

The middle half of submitters sits inside the band. A quarter scored below it.

When are Maryland's deadlines for fall 2027 entry?

These are the dates Maryland lists for students who start college in fall 2027.

Early action	Regular	Source
2026-11-01	2027-01-20	Source

Dates not shown here are not listed by the university.

Does Maryland require the SAT or ACT?

No, Maryland does not require a score for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. Maryland is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. That means the university reads a score if your child sends one, and your child can apply without one.

The university's admissions page puts it this way: "UMD is currently test-optional through to the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles." That covers high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027.

The university also says it is still studying the policy before it decides on a test rule for cycles after fall 2027. If your child is a junior or younger, we suggest you plan as if a score will count.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT to Maryland scored between 1370 and 1520. These are students who enrolled in fall 2023 and chose to send an SAT. A quarter of them scored below 1370, and a quarter scored above 1520.

Read this band as a picture of who enrolled, not as a line your child must clear. Students below the band do get in, and students inside it do not always get in. Still, the band is the best guide we have for what a strong Maryland score looks like.

When our students set an SAT goal for Maryland, we start with the band. A score near the middle of it is a solid target. A score near the top of it stands out.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT to Maryland scored between 32 and 35. That is a very high band. The students behind it are the ones who enrolled in fall 2023 and chose to send an ACT.

Some students do better on the SAT, and some do better on the ACT. The tests feel different, and a child who struggles on one can shine on the other. We tell families to have their child sit both tests in mock form first. Then pick the test where the score lands higher against Maryland's band, and put the prep time there.

How many Maryland students send a score?

Among enrolled first-years at Maryland, 42 percent sent an SAT and 8 percent sent an ACT. Some students send both, so these two shares do not simply add up.

What these shares tell you is plain. Plenty of students enroll at Maryland without sending any score at all. That is what test-optional looks like in practice. It also means a student who sends a strong score is showing the university something that many other applicants did not show.

Should my child send a score to Maryland?

If your child's SAT is 1370 or higher, or their ACT is 32 or higher, we tell families to send it to Maryland. A score inside or above the band is one to send. A score below the band is one to think hard about, because at a test-optional college you choose whether it is read.

At a selective test-optional college like Maryland, we tell families 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.

So our rule is to earn the score first and decide later. A score you choose not to send does no harm, but a test your child never took cannot help.

How hard is it to get into Maryland?

Maryland admitted 44.8 percent of applicants for fall 2023. That year, 59,377 students applied and 26,601 were admitted.

That makes Maryland a selective school, but not one out of reach for a strong student. By senior year, most of an application is already set. Grades and courses are mostly in place. A test score is one of the few pieces your child can still move in the months before applying, which is why we push our students to give it real effort.

What does it cost to apply to and attend Maryland?

The application fee at Maryland is $75. The full price of a year is listed at $29,299, and the average net price after aid is $15,678.

The net price is what families pay on average after grants and scholarships. Your own number may be higher or lower. Maryland, like every US college, publishes a net price calculator. We tell families to run it with their own income and savings before they rule a school in or out.

When are Maryland's deadlines for fall 2027 entry?

For fall 2027 entry, Maryland lists an early action deadline of Nov. 1, 2026 and a regular deadline of Jan. 20, 2027. As of this November, the early action date has passed, so seniors who have not yet applied are aiming at the regular deadline.

If your senior still wants a higher score, pick a test date that leaves time for scores to arrive before Jan. 20. If your child is a junior, the time to build a score is now, while the calendar is still open.

What should we do this month?

This month, have your child sit a free full-length mock SAT and a free full-length mock ACT with Test Prep Gurus. Then compare each result with Maryland's bands: 1370 to 1520 on the SAT and 32 to 35 on the ACT.

Once you know which test fits, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just one section, because every sitting is a chance at a better full score.

You can book both free mocks at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or call us at 949.229.5359. We will go over the results with you and help you set a plan that fits your child.

Questions parents ask

Is Maryland test-optional?
Maryland is test-optional for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles.

Does Maryland require an SAT or ACT score?
No, Maryland does not require a score for the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles.

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

What ACT score do Maryland students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT to Maryland scored between 32 and 35.

Should my child send a score to Maryland?
If your child's SAT is 1370 or higher, or their ACT is 32 or higher, we tell families to send it to Maryland.

When is Maryland's regular deadline?
For fall 2027 entry, Maryland lists an early action deadline of Nov. 1, 2026 and a regular deadline of Jan. 20, 2027.

Method and sources: The policy is the university's own statement on its admissions page, which names the Spring and Fall 2027 application cycles. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, which also holds the applicant and admit counts. Prices come from the College Scorecard, and deadlines come from the university's own deadlines page.