UT Austin SAT Requirements 2026 — Average Scores, Ranges & Texas A&M

UT Austin SAT Requirements

The University of Texas at Austin does not publish a minimum SAT score requirement. Instead, UT Austin uses holistic review with class rank playing a significant role due to the Texas Top 6% Rule. Under this state law, Texas high school students who graduate in the top 6% of their class are automatically admitted to UT Austin's College of Liberal Arts and a selection of other colleges — regardless of SAT score. However, most UT colleges and programs require review beyond the auto-admit threshold, making SAT scores relevant even for top-ranked students applying to engineering, business, computer science, and other competitive programs.

UT Austin's middle 50% SAT range is approximately 1210–1470 for enrolled freshmen. This means 25% of enrolled students scored below 1210 and 25% scored above 1470. The average SAT score for UT Austin sits around 1330–1350. However, these averages mask significant differences by school within UT:

The Cockrell School of Engineering (particularly electrical engineering, computer science, and chemical engineering) typically sees enrolled students with SAT scores of 1380–1540. CS at UT Austin is one of the most competitive programs in the country. The McCombs School of Business enrolled students trend toward 1350–1500. The College of Natural Sciences (pre-med pipeline, biology, chemistry) sees 1300–1480. The College of Liberal Arts and Education have enrolled score ranges closer to the university-wide range of 1210–1470.

UT Austin is test-optional for most programs as of recent policy — applicants can choose not to submit scores. However, for competitive programs like engineering, business, and CS where scores remain a useful differentiator, submitting a strong score (above the 75th percentile of your target school within UT) can strengthen your application. If your score is below 1200, the test-optional route may be more strategic for UT Austin application purposes.

One important nuance for out-of-state applicants: the Texas Top 6% auto-admit applies only to Texas residents graduating from accredited Texas high schools. Out-of-state and international applicants are reviewed holistically without the class rank guarantee, and they face more limited spots since UT prioritizes Texas resident enrollment. Out-of-state applicants should generally target 1350+ SAT scores to be competitive, with 1400+ for engineering and business programs. Texas resident applicants in the top 10–15% of their class who may not meet the 6% threshold should still aim for 1300+ to support their application across all UT colleges.

Texas A&M SAT Requirements

Texas A&M University (College Station) is the second flagship of the Texas public university system and one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment. Texas A&M's middle 50% SAT range is approximately 1130–1370 for all enrolled freshmen. The average SAT score for Texas A&M is approximately 1240–1270. Like UT Austin, the university-wide range masks significant variation by college:

The College of Engineering at Texas A&M (particularly aerospace, petroleum, electrical, and computer engineering) is nationally ranked and has enrolled students typically scoring 1280–1490. The Mays Business School enrolled students trend toward 1250–1450. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and many general studies programs see ranges closer to the university average of 1130–1370.

Texas A&M also participates in automatic admission through the Texas Top 10% Rule (a different threshold from UT's 6% rule). Texas residents in the top 10% of their high school class are automatically admitted to Texas A&M. For students below the automatic threshold, holistic review includes SAT scores, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and essays. Texas A&M has historically placed significant weight on numeric factors (GPA and SAT) compared to some other flagships, making standardized test scores particularly meaningful in borderline cases.

A practical note for Texas A&M SAT submission: the school is currently test-flexible, meaning SAT scores are considered but not required for most programs. However, for engineering and business applications where merit scholarship consideration begins at the application stage, submitting a score of 1300+ provides a competitive advantage and opens scholarship eligibility. Texas A&M's National Merit Scholarship program is one of the largest in the country — semi-finalists and finalists receive substantial scholarship offers.

Other Texas University SAT Ranges

Beyond UT Austin and Texas A&M, Texas has a large public university system with strong regional schools and specialized institutions. University of Houston (Houston): middle 50% approximately 1110–1330. Strong engineering, business, and law programs. Houston is a test-optional school. Texas Tech University (Lubbock): middle 50% approximately 1100–1320. Strong engineering and agriculture programs; scores above 1300 open merit scholarship consideration. University of North Texas (Denton): middle 50% approximately 1060–1280. One of Texas's largest universities with strong music, business, and education programs. Texas State University (San Marcos): middle 50% approximately 1020–1240. SACSCOC accredited, strong growth institution south of Austin. Baylor University (Waco): middle 50% approximately 1220–1430. Private Baptist university with strong pre-med, business, and engineering programs; selective private with scholarship opportunities at 1300+.

The UT System also includes UT Dallas (strong in CS/engineering, middle 50% approximately 1260–1460), UT San Antonio (accessible flagship with strong business and engineering programs, middle 50% approximately 1020–1240), and several other campuses. UT Dallas has become particularly competitive for CS and data science, with score expectations comparable to UT Austin for those programs. For general advice on what SAT score is competitive nationally and how Texas school scores compare to national benchmarks, see our guide to what is a good sat score. Understanding your specific college's score range — not just UT's average — lets you target your prep efficiently.

Texas Admissions Strategy: SAT and Class Rank

The Texas dual-flagships system creates a distinctive college planning environment. Students attending Texas high schools should understand their class rank precisely — this is not optional data at Texas schools. GPA-based rank is calculated differently across school districts, so confirm with your counselor whether your school calculates weighted or unweighted rank for college reporting purposes.

For students targeting UT Austin who are not in the top 6%: a strong SAT (1350+) combined with a compelling application can still result in admission, particularly for programs outside engineering and business that have less demand pressure. UT Austin evaluates applicants who don't auto-admit through essays (particularly the UT-specific short answer prompts) and an activities resume. The SAT is one quantitative data point in that evaluation — for programs outside the most competitive schools-within-UT, a 1300 SAT with a strong extracurricular record and well-crafted essays is competitive.

For Merit Scholarships at Texas public universities: both UT Austin (Forty Acres Scholars) and Texas A&M (Presidential and National Merit programs) use standardized test scores as part of merit scholarship evaluation. UT's Forty Acres requires extraordinary academic achievement, community impact, and leadership — SAT scores alone don't determine eligibility, but 1500+ is a realistic expectation for competitive candidates. Texas A&M's National Merit-linked scholarships are the most straightforward merit awards in Texas: National Merit finalists who list A&M as their first-choice university receive a defined scholarship package. For test registration and planning, see our SAT registration guide to find upcoming dates in Texas.

For students who want to strengthen their application beyond test scores, UT Austin's application includes a unique set of short-answer essays alongside the main application essays. These questions ask about your educational background, community, and how you've overcome challenges — components that carry significant weight in holistic review for students near the admissions margins. A 1300 SAT paired with exceptional essays and demonstrated leadership can outcompete a 1450 SAT with a generic application. For Texas A&M, the essay prompts emphasize leadership, community involvement, and career goals — aligned with Aggie values that the admissions office explicitly screens for. Test prep time is valuable, but for students already in the competitive range (1250+ for A&M, 1300+ for UT), essay quality often determines outcomes. See our what is sat examination guide for a complete overview of SAT format and section structure, and our sat prep courses guide for structured improvement options. For tracking score progress, our how to check sat scores step-by-step guide covers the College Board portal. To find test dates near Texas universities, see sat dates 2025 for the full schedule including San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas test centers.