Average SAT Score in Texas: Scores and Context 2026

What is the average SAT score in Texas?

The average SAT score in Texas is about 964 for the class of 2025, with roughly 74 percent of graduates taking the test. That sits below the national average of 1029. The reason is not that Texas students are weaker. It is that Texas tests far more of them: when about three-quarters of graduates take the SAT, the average reflects the whole class, not just the college-bound few.

For Texas students, two state-specific rules shape how much that number matters: the Top 10% automatic admission law, and the recent return of the SAT requirement at the state's biggest flagships. This guide covers the average, both rules, and what a good score looks like for you. For how Texas compares nationally, see our average SAT score by state rankings, and for the opposite policy story, our average SAT score in California guide.

Texas's average SAT in context

Texas has one of the higher SAT participation rates in the country, in part because many districts offer the SAT for free during the school day. The more students who test, the more the average reflects the full range of the graduating class, which pulls the number down. This is the same effect that makes low-participation states look artificially high. A below-average state number does not mean a Texas student cannot score well, and it says nothing about an individual applicant. You can see exactly how participation drives the rankings in our SAT by state breakdown.

The Texas Top 10% Rule and automatic admission

Texas is unusual because of House Bill 588, the Top 10% Rule passed in 1997. Under it, students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their Texas high school class earn automatic admission to Texas public universities. Many campuses use the full top 10 percent threshold, while more selective ones set a higher bar.

The big exception is UT Austin, which is allowed to cap automatic admits at about 75 percent of its in-state class. To stay within that cap, UT Austin has tightened its automatic-admission threshold to the top 5 percent for students entering in fall 2026, down from 6 percent. The full law is summarized on Texas House Bill 588.

Automatic admission guarantees a seat at the university, but not your choice of major or campus honors program, and it does not replace the application or test requirements below.

Do Texas colleges require the SAT?

Here Texas runs in the opposite direction from California. After several test-optional years, the state's two largest flagships have brought the SAT back:

• UT Austin requires SAT or ACT scores again starting with the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
• Texas A&M also ended its test-optional policy and requires scores for first-year applicants in the same cycle.

This matters even if you are auto-admitted under the Top 10% Rule. Both schools use scores for major selection, honors programs, course placement, and scholarships, so a strong score still works in your favor. For students who are not in the automatic-admission range, scores carry even more weight in a holistic review. See the ranges Texas A&M looks for in our Texas A&M SAT and ACT score guide, and broader targets in SAT scores for colleges.

What is a good SAT score in Texas?

Do not use the 964 state average as your goal. With the flagships requiring scores again, a good Texas SAT score is set by national percentiles and your target schools' middle-50% ranges.

• Beating the national average of 1029 puts you in the top half of test takers nationwide.
• UT Austin's middle 50 percent of admitted students score about 1230 to 1490, and Texas A&M's about 1160 to 1390.
• The most selective programs and out-of-state privates often look for 1400 and up.

Find where any score lands in our good SAT score guide, and turn a practice result into a 400-1600 score with our score calculator.

Prepare for your best score

In Texas, your SAT score helps with automatic-admit major selection, non-auto-admit applications, honors, and scholarships, so it is worth taking seriously. The good news is that your score is the part of this you fully control. Start a free SAT practice quiz to find your baseline, then focus on the question types that lose you the most points. Work through full-length SAT practice on Larry Learns to climb toward a score that strengthens every Texas application.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Average SAT Score in Texas

What is the average SAT score in Texas?

The average SAT score in Texas is about 964 for the class of 2025, below the national average of 1029. Roughly 74 percent of Texas graduates take the SAT, and high participation pulls the state average down because it includes the entire class.

Do Texas colleges require the SAT?

UT Austin and Texas A&M both require SAT or ACT scores again starting with the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, ending their test-optional policies. Other Texas colleges vary, so check each school's current policy.

What is the Texas Top 10% Rule?

Under House Bill 588, students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their Texas high school class earn automatic admission to Texas public universities. UT Austin is an exception and has tightened its threshold to the top 5 percent for fall 2026 entry.

If I am auto-admitted, do I still need the SAT?

Yes. Automatic admission guarantees a seat at the university, but UT Austin and Texas A&M still require scores, which are used for major selection, honors programs, course placement, and scholarships.

What is a good SAT score in Texas?

Measure against national percentiles, not the state average. Beating 1029 puts you in the top half nationally. UT Austin's middle 50 percent of admitted students score about 1230 to 1490, and Texas A&M's about 1160 to 1390.

Why is Texas's average SAT below the national average?

Texas has high SAT participation, around 74 percent, because many districts offer the test for free during the school day. When most of the class tests, the average reflects all students rather than a self-selected, college-bound group, so it comes in lower.