Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville reports a middle 50% SAT of 1020 to 1210 (enrolled, fall 2025 2025-26 CDS). We use 1120 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1020 to 1210 (enrolled, fall 2025 2025-26 CDS) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 21 to 28 |
| Acceptance rate | 73.9% (fall 2025 2025-26 CDS, 32,928 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional; scores required by Feb 1 to be considered for most academic merit scholarships |
| Type | Public university |
Source: U of Arkansas official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
The state flagship; pulled directly from UArk's own 2025-26 CDS Table C9, which publishes an SAT Composite line (1020-1210) separate from the section bands, so no composite was built by summing sections. 32,928 applied, 24,326 admitted (73.9%).
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | 1020 to 1210 | 73.9% |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 980 to 1190 | 55.6% |
| Arkansas State University | 950 to 1190 | 78.2% |
| University of the Ozarks | 910 to 1180 | 91.7% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Arkansas Colleges.
Arkansas runs the Academic Challenge Scholarship, a state lottery-funded award with a published ACT 19 / SAT 990 (or 3.00 GPA) qualifying floor that every Arkansas high schooler can use at any in-state college, while the University of Arkansas's own merit awards are now holistic rather than published SAT tiers, except for one Honors College award with a 27 ACT floor.
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship: A per-semester cash award that increases each year in school; renewal requires a 2.50 cumulative college GPA by the end of each spring semester.
University of Arkansas Honors College Academy Connection Scholarship: A one-time award tied to the Honors College's Academy Connection program; UArk's other freshman merit scholarships (Chancellor's, Silas Hunt, Advance Arkansas) no longer publish ACT/SAT cutoffs and are awarded holistically instead.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Arkansas SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| The Citadel | South Carolina | 1010 to 1220 |
| Illinois State University | Illinois | 1010 to 1210 |
| Kennesaw State University | Georgia | 1010 to 1210 |
| Kent State University | Ohio | 990 to 1230 |
A score that is competitive at U of Arkansas lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Arkansas 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 scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1020 to 1210. A score at or above 1210 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1020 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
U of Arkansas lists its policy as: Test-optional; scores required by Feb 1 to be considered for most academic merit scholarships. Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
73.9% (fall 2025 2025-26 CDS, 32,928 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for U of Arkansas? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
Book your free Strategy Session