What SAT or ACT score do you need for the University of Miami?

As of November 2026: The University of Miami requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2026 undergraduate admission and beyond, which covers fall 2027, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1330 to 1470. On the ACT, the middle half of senders scored 30 to 33.

The University of Miami requires a test score for fall 2026 and fall 2027 entry. Here are the score bands, how many students get in, what a year costs, and what we tell families to do this month.

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

A score is required, and the SAT band runs from 1330 to 1470. The University of Miami requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2026 entry and beyond. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored from 1330 to 1470.

The ACT band runs from 30 to 33. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored from 30 to 33. Some scored below that band and some scored above it.

Only 18.5 percent of applicants got in. In fall 2023, the University of Miami admitted 8,933 of 48,286 applicants. That makes it a reach for most students, even those with a strong score.

Does the University of Miami require the SAT or ACT?

Here is the testing policy as the University of Miami states it on its own admissions page.

College	Policy	Applies to	In the college's words	Source
University of Miami	required	fall 2026 undergraduate admission and beyond (covers fall 2027)	Test Required for Fall 2026	Source

Required means a score must be sent with the application.

What scores do University of Miami students carry, and what does it cost?

Score bands, the share of students who sent each test, how many applied and got in, and what a year costs.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	48286
admits, fall 2023	8933
admit rate, percent	18.5
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1330
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1470
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	30
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	33
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	32
share who sent an ACT, percent	21
application fee, dollars	70
full price of a year, dollars	86078
average net price after aid, dollars	37244

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal figures. Prices come from the College Scorecard.

Does the University of Miami require the SAT or ACT?

Yes, the University of Miami requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2026 undergraduate admission and beyond, which covers students entering in fall 2027. The college's own admissions page puts it in plain words: "Test Required for Fall 2026." That means a score must be sent with the application.

No, the University of Miami is not test-optional for students entering in fall 2026 or fall 2027. If your child is a high school senior in the 2026-27 school year, who starts college in fall 2027, this rule applies to them.

The policy reads "and beyond," so we tell families of younger students to plan on sending a score as well. Building a plan early gives your child time to prepare without a rush.

What SAT score do enrolled first-years at the University of Miami carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1330 and 1470. These are students from the fall 2023 class, the latest federal figures, who enrolled and chose to send an SAT.

This band is not a cutoff. Some students who enrolled scored below 1330, and some scored above 1470. The band simply shows where the middle of the group landed.

We read 1330 as the low end of the band and 1470 as the high end. A score near the top of that range, or above it, puts your child among the strongest senders in the class.

What ACT score do University of Miami first-years carry?

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 30 and 33. Like the SAT band, this describes students in the fall 2023 class who enrolled and sent an ACT.

Again, this is not a floor. Some enrolled students scored below 30, and some scored above 33. The band tells you where most senders sat, not who was turned away.

Our students often find that one test suits them better than the other. We tell families to compare a result on each test with its own band and go with the stronger fit.

How many University of Miami students send a score?

In fall 2023, 32 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT and 21 percent sent an ACT. Those shares describe that class.

For fall 2026 and beyond, the college requires a score, so every applicant sends one. When you plan, we would not lean much on those shares. What matters for your child is the band the senders landed in and how their own score compares.

Should my child send a score to the University of Miami?

Every applicant to the University of Miami sends a score, so the question is only how strong it is. There is no choice to skip it for fall 2026 or fall 2027 entry.

Our rule is simple. A score inside or above the band, 1330 to 1470 on the SAT or 30 to 33 on the ACT, is a strong one to send. A score below the band still gets sent, since the college requires one, but we tell families to treat it as a sign to keep preparing and sit the test again.

We also tell families to send whichever test shows the better result against its own band. If your child has both, put the stronger one forward.

How hard is it to get into the University of Miami?

In fall 2023, the University of Miami admitted 8,933 of 48,286 applicants, an admit rate of 18.5 percent. That is a selective college by any measure.

We tell families to treat it as a reach for most students, even with a score inside the band. A strong score helps, but it is one part of a full application. We suggest building a college list that also has schools where your child is a likely fit.

What does it cost to apply to and attend the University of Miami?

The University of Miami charges a $70 application fee. The full price of a year is $86,078, and the average net price after aid is $37,244.

The net price is what families pay on average once grants and scholarships come off the full price. Your own cost could be higher or lower than that average.

The college publishes a net price calculator, as every US college must. We tell families to sit down together and run it before the application goes in, so the cost is never a surprise.

What should we do this month?

This month, have your child sit a full-length mock SAT and a full-length mock ACT, then compare each result with the University of Miami bands of 1330 to 1470 and 30 to 33. That one step tells you where your child stands today and which test to focus on.

Next, plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. That gives enough time to build real skill without burning out. Our rule is to prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just one section, so each score your child sends is their best.

Test Prep Gurus offers a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT. You can call us at 949.229.5359 or start at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

Questions parents ask

Does the University of Miami require the SAT or ACT?
Yes, the University of Miami requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2026 undergraduate admission and beyond, which covers students entering in fall 2027.

Is the University of Miami test-optional?
No, the University of Miami is not test-optional for students entering in fall 2026 or fall 2027.

What SAT score do University of Miami students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1330 and 1470.

What ACT score do University of Miami students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 30 and 33.

How hard is it to get into the University of Miami?
In fall 2023, the University of Miami admitted 8,933 of 48,286 applicants, an admit rate of 18.5 percent.

How much does it cost to apply to the University of Miami?
The University of Miami charges a $70 application fee.

Method and sources: The testing policy comes from the University of Miami's own admissions page, which states "Test Required for Fall 2026" and applies to fall 2026 undergraduate admission and beyond, covering fall 2027. The SAT and ACT bands describe the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal file, along with applicant and admit counts from the same year. The full price and average net price come from the College Scorecard and are averages, not any one family's cost.