Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers. Dates checked against College Board on October 9, 2026.
The short answer: College Board runs eight SAT Weekend dates in 2026-27, and 5 are still ahead: November 7, December 5, March 6, May 1, June 5. Maryland also gives the SAT free at school, so a junior's first official score can come from a school day. Anticipated dates run through June 2028.
All 2026-27 SAT dates and deadlines
| Test date | Register by | Late registration | Scores released |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 (passed) | August 7, 2026 | August 11, 2026 | September 4, 2026 |
| September 12, 2026 (passed) | August 28, 2026 | September 1, 2026 | September 25, 2026 |
| October 3, 2026 (passed) | September 18, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | October 16, 2026 |
| November 7, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | October 27, 2026 | November 20, 2026 |
| December 5, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | November 24, 2026 | December 18, 2026 |
| March 6, 2027 | February 19, 2027 | February 23, 2027 | March 19, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | April 20, 2027 | May 14, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 21, 2027 |
Deadlines close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Source: College Board test dates and deadlines and score release dates. Scores arrive about two weeks after each test (June takes a little longer), and that release date is when you learn whether a retake is needed, often just days before the next registration deadline.
The SAT at school in Maryland
Many Maryland counties give the SAT free during the school day to all 11th graders as their chosen way to meet the state's 2013 College and Career Readiness law, which requires a no-cost college-readiness assessment but does not name the SAT specifically for every county.
Nationally, SAT School Day runs from October 1 to 30, 2026 in the fall and from March 1 to April 30, 2027 in the spring. Your school picks its own day inside that window and registers students itself, so ask the counselor for the date.
Source: Maryland testing information.
Which Maryland colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027
| College | Fall 2027 testing | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | Test optional | 1530 to 1565 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Test optional | 1410 to 1520 |
| Loyola University Maryland | See the school's policy | 1210 to 1370 |
| Towson University | See the school's policy | 920 to 1230 |
| Washington College | See the school's policy | 1155 to 1340 |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | See the school's policy | 1110 to 1320 |
| Salisbury University | Test optional | Not published |
| Morgan State University | Test optional | Not published |
Every college on this list is test optional for fall 2027, so a score is a choice, not a requirement. A score inside or above a school's range can still help, and some scholarships still use scores.
Scholarship scores and their deadlines
Banneker/Key Scholarship: Requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA each semester and 30 credits/year to keep it; selection is by committee review plus interview, not a score formula
Senatorial and Delegate Scholarships: Need-based and awarded at each state senator's or delegate's discretion to residents of their district; renewable with continued eligibility
The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Maryland SAT prep page. Count back from the scholarship's testing deadline and from your earliest application deadline, and plan around whichever comes first.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Maryland colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreAnticipated 2027-28 SAT dates
| Anticipated test date | Cycle |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| September 18, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| October 9, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| November 6, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| December 4, 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| March 4, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
| May 6, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
| June 3, 2028 | Spring 2028 |
These are College Board's own published planning dates, with no registration deadlines yet, and College Board can still move them. It already moved one: the October 2027 date is now October 9. Nothing past June 2028 has been published.
Quick answers
When is the next SAT in Maryland?
November 7, 2026. Register by October 23, 2026, or by October 27, 2026 with the late fee. Weekend SAT dates are the same in every state. Register early to get a test center close to home.
When should a junior take the SAT?
A first official score in the fall or winter of junior year, then a retake in March or May. That leaves June and the anticipated August 2027 date as insurance, with scores back before senior-year applications open.
How many times should my teen take the SAT?
Two or three sittings is typical. Many colleges superscore, combining the best section scores across dates, so a planned second attempt usually costs little and can add points. Check each college's own policy.
Are the PSAT dates the same as the SAT dates?
No. The PSAT/NMSQT is given at school between October 1 and 30, 2026. Schools register students themselves, and only the junior-year PSAT counts toward National Merit.
More for Maryland families
Every date without a plan is a wasted shot
Between school, sports and deadlines, most students get two or three test dates that really count. In a free Strategy Session we count your teen's remaining dates, set the target score for their Maryland colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Maryland Colleges.
