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. Weekend dates are open to every student, whatever your school offers during the 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 Minnesota
Minnesota Statute 120B.30 requires a district to pay, one time, for an interested student in grade 11 or 12 to take a college entrance exam (SAT or ACT) during the school day, to the extent state funding is available.
Ask your school counselor whether your district runs one, and when. Either way, the weekend dates above are open to everyone.
Source: Minnesota testing information.
Which Minnesota colleges need an SAT score for fall 2027
| College | Fall 2027 testing | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Carleton College | Test optional | 1460 to 1530 |
| Macalester College | Test optional | 1350 to 1480 |
| St. Olaf College | Test optional | 1320 to 1440 |
| University of Minnesota Twin Cities | Test optional | 1350 to 1490 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Test optional | Not published |
| University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) | Test optional | 1170 to 1360 |
| University of Minnesota Duluth | Test optional | 1180 to 1340 |
| University of Minnesota Morris | Test optional | Not published |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato | Test optional | Not published |
| St. Cloud State University | Test optional | Not published |
| Winona State University | See the school's policy | 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
Winona State Outstanding Academic Honors Award: $3,500 per year for up to 8 consecutive semesters; requires top 5% class rank or a 3.90 GPA, plus a 32 ACT or 1420 SAT
Winona State President's Honor Scholarship (top tier): $2,500 per year, renewable with a 3.50 cumulative GPA; requires top 5% class rank and a 3.90 GPA, plus a 28 ACT or 1260 SAT
The tiers, GPA rules and class years are on our Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota colleges, and build the six to twelve week plan to hit it. See the ranges at SAT Scores for Minnesota Colleges.