What SAT or ACT score do you need for Tennessee?

As of November 2026: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville requires the SAT or ACT from all fall 2026 and fall 2027 first-year applicants, and the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1190 to 1340. On the ACT, the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score landed between 25 and 31.

Tennessee requires a test score from every first-year applicant. Here is where enrolled first-years landed, how many sent each test, what it costs, the deadlines, 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.

Tennessee requires the SAT or ACT. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville requires a test score from every first-year applicant for fall 2026 and fall 2027. A score is part of every application here, not an extra.

The middle half of SAT senders scored 1190 to 1340. Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent an SAT, the middle half scored between 1190 and 1340. On the ACT, the middle half of senders scored between 25 and 31.

Most enrolled first-years sent the ACT: 78 percent. In fall 2023, 78 percent of enrolled first-years sent an ACT and 28 percent sent an SAT. Either test is accepted, so we tell families to pick the test where their child scores higher.

Does Tennessee require the SAT or ACT?

The test policy in the university's own words, for the terms it names.

College	Policy	Applies to	In the university's words	Source
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Required	fall 2026 and fall 2027 first-year applicants	UT requires all first-year applicants to submit ACT/SAT scores as part of their application for admission.	Source

Required means every first-year applicant must send an SAT or ACT score.

Tennessee: score bands, who sends a score, how many get in, what it costs

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

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	50488
admits, fall 2023	23224
admit rate, percent	46.0
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1190
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1340
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	25
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	31
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	28
share who sent an ACT, percent	78
application fee, dollars	50
full price of a year, dollars	33678
average net price after aid, dollars	18976

Bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in the fall 2023 class, the latest federal data. They do not describe admitted students.

When are the Tennessee deadlines for fall 2027 entry?

Application deadlines from the university's own dates page. Rounds with no date are not listed.

College	Early action	Regular decision	In the university's words	Source
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	2026-11-01	2027-01-05	November 1: Early Action Submission Deadline ... January 5: Regular Decision Submission Deadline	Source

Dates are submission deadlines for students who start in fall 2027.

Does Tennessee require the SAT or ACT?

Yes -- the University of Tennessee-Knoxville requires the SAT or ACT from all fall 2026 and fall 2027 first-year applicants. In the university's own words: "UT requires all first-year applicants to submit ACT/SAT scores as part of their application for admission."

No, Tennessee is not test-optional for fall 2026 or fall 2027 first-year applicants. That matters most for high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027. Their plan has to include an official test date that lands in time for the round they choose.

We tell families to treat the test the way they treat the transcript. It is something to plan for early, not something to squeeze in at the end of senior fall. When the score is required, the only open question is how strong it will be, and that part is still in your child's hands.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1190 and 1340. These are students who enrolled in fall 2023, the latest federal numbers.

A quarter of those students scored below 1190, and a quarter scored above 1340. So 1190 is not a floor, and 1340 is not a ceiling. It is simply the range where the middle of the class sits.

When our students take a mock SAT, we put their score right next to this band. A score at 1340 or above sits with the top part of the class. A score near 1190 sits at the low edge of the middle. That is still a real place to be, but steady prep often moves it up into the heart of the band.

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

The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 31. As with the SAT, a quarter scored below 25 and a quarter scored above 31.

Some students do better on the ACT, and some do better on the SAT. The tests feel different, and the pacing is different. We have our students take a full mock of each before they choose, because the band alone does not tell you which test fits your child.

Once your child has both mock scores, set each one next to its own band. The test where your child sits higher in the band is usually the test to prepare for.

How many Tennessee first-years send an SAT or an ACT?

In fall 2023, 78 percent of enrolled first-years sent an ACT and 28 percent sent an SAT. The ACT is the more common test at Tennessee.

That does not make the ACT the better test for your child. Either test is accepted, and each has a clear band to aim for. Since a score is required, these shares tell you which test most students took, not whether to send a score. Pick the test where your child scores higher against its band.

Should my child send a score to Tennessee?

Every applicant to Tennessee sends a score, so the real question is how strong that score is. Our rule for families is simple.

A score inside or above the 1190 to 1340 SAT band, or the 25 to 31 ACT band, is a score to send with confidence. A score below the band still gets sent, because the university requires it. In that case the work is to raise it before the deadline, not to wonder whether to send it.

We tell families to aim for the middle of the band or higher. Starting early gives your child room to prepare well and to choose a test date without a rush in the fall of senior year.

How hard is it to get into Tennessee?

Tennessee admitted 46 percent of applicants in fall 2023, with 23,224 admits out of 50,488 applicants. That is a large pool of students.

We do not read that rate as a promise or a warning for any single student. It is the overall picture. What we do point out is that grades from past years are already set, while a test score is a part of the application your child can still move this year.

What does it cost to apply to and attend Tennessee?

The application fee at Tennessee is $50. The full price of a year is $33,678, and the average net price after aid is $18,976.

The average net price is what families paid on average once grants and scholarships were taken off the full price. Your own number may be higher or lower. Every US college publishes a net price calculator. We tell families to run it with their own income and savings before they decide a school is too costly or a sure bargain.

When are the Tennessee deadlines for fall 2027 entry?

The early action deadline for fall 2027 entry is November 1, 2026, and the regular decision deadline is January 5, 2027. Other early rounds are not listed.

For seniors who have not yet applied, regular decision on January 5, 2027 is the date ahead. Since a score is required, your child's test date has to fit in time for that deadline. We tell families to work backward from the deadline and choose a test date that leaves room for scores to be sent.

For juniors, these dates are a preview. The same rhythm usually repeats, so planning a test date in the spring or summer before senior year keeps the fall calm.

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. Taking both under real timing shows you where your child stands and which test fits better.

Next, put each score next to its band: 1190 to 1340 on the SAT and 25 to 31 on the ACT. If the score is inside or above the band, keep it strong. If it sits below, that tells you how much ground there is to cover.

Then plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Our rule is to prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just one section, so the full score rises together.

To set up the free mock SAT and free mock ACT, call us at 949.229.5359 or visit https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. Our students start right where your child is today.

Questions parents ask

Does Tennessee require the SAT or ACT?
Yes -- the University of Tennessee-Knoxville requires the SAT or ACT from all fall 2026 and fall 2027 first-year applicants.

Is Tennessee test-optional?
No, Tennessee is not test-optional for fall 2026 or fall 2027 first-year applicants.

What SAT scores do Tennessee students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1190 and 1340.

What ACT scores do Tennessee students have?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored between 25 and 31.

How much does it cost to apply to Tennessee?
The application fee at Tennessee is $50.

When are the Tennessee application deadlines?
The early action deadline for fall 2027 entry is November 1, 2026, and the regular decision deadline is January 5, 2027.

Method and sources: The test policy comes from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's own admissions page and applies to fall 2026 and fall 2027 first-year applicants. The SAT and ACT bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023, the latest federal data from IPEDS; they do not describe admitted students or every applicant. Prices come from the College Scorecard, and deadlines come from the university's own dates page.