UT Austin is the only Texas flagship that still requires the SAT, ACT, or CLT for Fall 2027; Texas A&M, UT Dallas, Texas Tech, Houston, Rice, and Baylor are all test-optional. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.
The table covers 7 colleges Texas 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 Texas families can earn: Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1500-1600 SAT tier) and Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1200-1290 SAT tier).
| School | SAT profile / cohort | ACT | Acceptance rate | Testing, fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University | 1510-1560 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 59% submitted SAT | Not published | 8.0% · fall 2025 | Optional but recommended; superscores the SAT and ACT |
| University of Texas at Dallas | 1170-1390 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 79% submitted SAT | Not published | 69.1% · fall 2025 | Optional in practice (no explicit test-optional label found) |
| Baylor University | 1190-1370 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 22% submitted SAT | Not published | 52.2% · fall 2025 | Optional for the 2027-2028 application |
| Texas A&M University | 1160-1390 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 76.7% submitted SAT | Not published | 51.7% · fall 2025 | Optional; will not require ACT or SAT scores |
| University of Houston | 1140-1310 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 55% submitted SAT | Not published | 75.8% · fall 2025 | Optional through June 1, 2030 |
| Texas Tech University | 1110-1260 · enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 34.8% submitted SAT | Not published | 69.1% · fall 2025 | Optional (one designation covers both admission and scholarships) |
| University of Texas at Austin | Not published | Not published | 22.2% · fall 2025 | Required (SAT, ACT, or CLT) |
| Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1500-1600 SAT tier) | 1500-1600 | See program rules | ~$36,000 over 4 years | $9,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry |
| Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1200-1290 SAT tier) | 1200-1290 | See program rules | ~$24,000 over 4 years | $6,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry |
Cohort notes: Rice: Rice recommends but does not require testing for Fall 2027 applicants. UT Dallas: UT Dallas says no test score guarantees a scholarship level. Baylor: Only 22% of Baylor's enrollees submitted an SAT score, so the range reflects a small, self-selected group. Texas A&M: A&M is test-optional for Fall 2027 even though the Texas Top 10% law requires either a class rank or a state-set test score. University of Houston: Test-optional applicants submit an essay and resume instead of scores. Texas Tech: Texas Tech ties its merit scholarship grid directly to the SAT or ACT even though testing is optional for admission. UT Austin: UT Austin still requires the SAT, ACT, or CLT from applicants even though its own Common Data Set does not publish a composite range. These are not interchangeable measures.
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Find my teen's target scoreRice reports a 1510 to 1560 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 59% submitted SAT). It admitted 8.0% of 36,791 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional but recommended; superscores the SAT and ACT. Rice recommends but does not require testing for Fall 2027 applicants.
UT Dallas reports a 1170 to 1390 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 79% submitted SAT). It admitted 69.1% of 36,353 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional in practice (no explicit test-optional label found). UT Dallas says no test score guarantees a scholarship level.
Baylor reports a 1190 to 1370 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 22% submitted SAT). It admitted 52.2% of 44,924 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional for the 2027-2028 application. Only 22% of Baylor's enrollees submitted an SAT score, so the range reflects a small, self-selected group.
Texas A&M reports a 1160 to 1390 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 76.7% submitted SAT). It admitted 51.7% of 62,967 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional; will not require ACT or SAT scores. A&M is test-optional for Fall 2027 even though the Texas Top 10% law requires either a class rank or a state-set test score.
University of Houston reports a 1140 to 1310 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 55% submitted SAT). It admitted 75.8% of 34,728 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional through June 1, 2030. Test-optional applicants submit an essay and resume instead of scores.
Texas Tech reports a 1110 to 1260 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025; 34.8% submitted SAT). It admitted 69.1% of 38,566 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Optional (one designation covers both admission and scholarships). Texas Tech ties its merit scholarship grid directly to the SAT or ACT even though testing is optional for admission.
UT Austin does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 22.2% of 90,690 applicants (fall 2025). Testing for fall 2027: Required (SAT, ACT, or CLT). UT Austin still requires the SAT, ACT, or CLT from applicants even though its own Common Data Set does not publish a composite range.
Texas has no statewide SAT-cutoff scholarship; Texas Tech's Presidential Merit Scholarship is the state's clearest guaranteed SAT-tier grid.
Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1500-1600 SAT tier): 1500-1600. $9,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry.
Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1200-1290 SAT tier): 1200-1290. $6,000/year with a 4.0-3.96 unweighted GPA, guaranteed only to freshmen admitted by April 1 for fall entry.
Awards require enrolling in 12+ hours a semester and renewing with a 30-hour, GPA-tiered cumulative requirement (3.5 for the top awards). Test-optional applicants get a flat grid instead, with a +$1,000 bonus for Top 10% rank. 4-year totals assume renewal at the same tier.
Rice, UT Dallas, Baylor and Texas A&M 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. UT Austin still require a score. A strong score is one more reason for a school to say yes, and a weak one can simply stay home.
Yes. Applicants must send at least one official SAT or ACT score (the CLT also counts). Texas A&M, Baylor, UH, Texas Tech, and Rice do not require one.
It's out of date. For Summer/Fall 2027 applicants, UT Austin's automatic-admission cutoff is the top 5% of a Texas high school class, same as 2026. Homeschool and non-traditional students qualify with an SAT of 1570 or higher.
Often, yes. Under HB 3, the state reimburses districts for one SAT, ACT, or TSIA per eligible student in spring of junior year or senior year, and many districts run SAT School Day, though it depends on the district.
At Texas Tech, a 1100+ SAT with a 3.0+ unweighted GPA guarantees at least $1,000/year, and a 1500+ with a 3.96+ GPA earns $9,000/year (Fall 2026 grid, admitted by April 1). UH publishes no automatic SAT grid; its Tier One full-tuition award is competitive, with a 1400+ SAT and top 10% rank improving the odds.
No. The main state award, the TEXAS Grant, is need-based and requires financial need, not a test score. Score-based money in Texas comes from individual universities and National Merit packages.
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.
University and state sources: Rice, UT Dallas, Baylor, Texas A&M, University of Houston, Texas Tech, UT Austin, Texas Tech Presidential Merit Scholarship (1500-1600 SAT tier). Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.
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