SAT Scores for Tennessee Colleges, School by School (2026-27)

UT Knoxville, MTSU, and Memphis require the SAT or ACT for Fall 2027 entry, while Vanderbilt, Belmont, Tennessee Tech (above a 3.0 GPA), and Sewanee are test-optional. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.

The table covers 7 colleges Tennessee families apply to most, from the most selective to the large public universities. Read each cohort note before comparing numbers. The bottom rows show the score-based money Tennessee families can earn: HOPE Scholarship and General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE).

Tennessee college score profiles and cohort notes

Cohort notes: Vanderbilt: Only 24% of Vanderbilt's enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score, versus 28% for the ACT. UT Knoxville: Admitted-student data for Fall 2026 runs higher, ACT 28-32, which UT equates to roughly a 1300-1440 SAT. Sewanee: Sewanee has not posted a 2024-25 or 2025-26 CDS, so this figure is from Fall 2023. Belmont: Belmont is test-optional, and only 15% of enrollees submitted an SAT score. Tennessee Tech: Only 3% of Tennessee Tech enrollees submitted an SAT score; the ACT is the real measure for admission and scholarships. MTSU: Only 6.6% of MTSU's enrollees submitted an SAT score, so this is a thin sample. These are not interchangeable measures.

School by school

Vanderbilt University: 1510 to 1560

Vanderbilt reports a 1510 to 1560 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1530); 24% submitted SAT). It admitted 5.4% of 48,196 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 34-35. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional for Fall 2027 and 2028; required again for Fall 2029. Only 24% of Vanderbilt's enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score, versus 28% for the ACT.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville: 1280 to 1380

UT Knoxville reports a 1280 to 1380 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1330); 25% submitted SAT). It admitted 43.6% of 53,841 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 26-31. Testing for fall 2027: Required. Admitted-student data for Fall 2026 runs higher, ACT 28-32, which UT equates to roughly a 1300-1440 SAT.

University of the South (Sewanee): 1230 to 1358

Sewanee reports a 1230 to 1358 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2023-24, fall 2023 (median 1290); 21% submitted SAT). It admitted 50.9% of 5,018 applicants (fall 2023). The matching ACT range is 27-31. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Sewanee has not posted a 2024-25 or 2025-26 CDS, so this figure is from Fall 2023.

Belmont University: 1160 to 1360

Belmont reports a 1160 to 1360 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1260); 15% submitted SAT). It admitted 93.7% of 9,140 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 24-30. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Belmont is test-optional, and only 15% of enrollees submitted an SAT score.

Tennessee Technological University: 1040 to 1270

Tennessee Tech reports a 1040 to 1270 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1160); 3% submitted SAT, thin sample). It admitted 78.7% of 10,892 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 21-27. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional above a 3.0 GPA; below that, 2.5 GPA plus ACT 17 / SAT 920 is required. Only 3% of Tennessee Tech enrollees submitted an SAT score; the ACT is the real measure for admission and scholarships.

Middle Tennessee State University: 1020 to 1220

MTSU reports a 1020 to 1220 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 (median 1120); 6.6% submitted SAT, thin sample). It admitted 63.6% of 17,724 applicants (fall 2025). The matching ACT range is 19-25. Testing for fall 2027: Required. Only 6.6% of MTSU's enrollees submitted an SAT score, so this is a thin sample.

University of Memphis: Not published

Univ. of Memphis does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 72% of 15,084 applicants (fall 2024 (IPEDS)). The matching ACT range is 18-24. Testing for fall 2027: Required.

Where Tennessee's scholarship scores sit

Tennessee's lottery-funded HOPE and GAMS scholarships pay real money tied to a single-sitting ACT or SAT score.

HOPE Scholarship: 1060 SAT. Up to $4,500/year (freshman/sophomore) and $5,700/year (junior/senior), qualifying on either a 1060 SAT / 21 ACT or a 3.0 weighted GPA.

General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE): 1330 SAT. An extra $1,000/year on top of HOPE, requiring both a 1330 SAT / 29 ACT AND a 3.75 weighted GPA.

Scores must come from a single national or state test date before enrollment; superscores and the ACT Residual test are not accepted. The GPA is a weighted Uniform Grading Policy GPA, not unweighted.

The misconception: test optional means the SAT does not matter in Tennessee

Sewanee and Belmont are test optional for fall 2027, so many families assume the score is irrelevant. The ranges above come from the students who chose to send one, and they sit well above the overall class. Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville, Tennessee Tech and MTSU still require a score. And HOPE Scholarship and General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE) are awarded on the SAT or ACT whatever the admissions policy.

Quick answers

What SAT score do you need for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship?

1060 on the SAT (or 21 on the ACT), from a single national or state test date taken before the first day of college. A student can qualify on GPA instead with a 3.0 weighted GPA. HOPE pays up to $4,500 a year for the first two years at a 4-year school and up to $5,700 a year after that.

What score gets the General Assembly Merit Scholarship?

1330 SAT or 29 ACT, and a 3.75 weighted GPA. The student needs both. GAMS adds $1,000 a year on top of HOPE, bringing the total to about $24,400 over four years. ACT superscores don't count.

Does UT Knoxville require the SAT?

Yes. The UT System requires the ACT or SAT from all first-year applicants. For Fall 2027 entry, only tests taken through December 2026 count, and UT superscores.

Is the SAT given free at school in Tennessee?

State law requires every public-school junior to take the ACT or the SAT, and each district chooses which one (or offers both). Most give the ACT. The state also pays for a free ACT Senior Retake during the school day, and state test dates count for HOPE.

Can my child superscore to reach the HOPE or GAMS cutoff?

No. THEC states that the ACT superscore is not accepted for HOPE or GAMS, so the 21/1060 or 29/1330 has to come from one sitting. Colleges such as UTK and Sewanee do superscore for admission, which is a different rule.

Are these ranges cutoffs?

No. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not an admission cutoff. Some rows describe enrolled students or score submitters only, as labeled. A position within a range does not guarantee admission or merit aid.

More for Tennessee families

• SAT prep in Tennessee
• Tennessee SAT test dates for 2026-27
• Tennessee scholarship score requirements
• Find your teen's target score

Sources

University and state sources: Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville, Sewanee, Belmont, Tennessee Tech, MTSU, Univ. of Memphis, HOPE Scholarship, General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE). Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.