Does Texas A&M Require SAT? No, Test-Optional for 2027

No. Texas A&M does not require the SAT or ACT for freshman applicants. Its freshman admissions page says: "Texas A&M University is test optional and will not require ACT or SAT scores for freshman applicants." That applies to students applying for fall 2027. The same page adds: "We encourage students who have test scores to send them. The submission of test scores will not create any unfair advantage or disadvantage for those students who provide them."

This page covers the policy and the dates. For how a specific score compares, see SAT and ACT scores for Texas A&M. Policy sources: Texas A&M's freshman admissions page and the Test-Optional Admissions section of its admissions FAQs (both checked October 1, 2026).

Texas A&M's Test-Optional Policy for Fall 2027

Texas A&M's FAQ defines the term simply: test optional means you are not required to provide SAT or ACT scores as part of your admission file. Freshman applicants can complete a file without them. A few lines from that FAQ are worth knowing word for word:

• Scores can only help. "Test scores will only be used to benefit you in the admission process. You will not be penalized for low test scores or no test scores."
• The policy is not a one-year pilot. Asked whether it will stay in place, Texas A&M answers that it is in place all year and for the foreseeable future.
• Home-schooled students are included. They are not required to submit scores either.
• Without scores, the rest of the file carries the review. Texas A&M says all academic factors are considered as part of holistic review.

Texas A&M's latest Common Data Set marks the SAT and ACT as "Not required for admission, but considered if submitted" for students applying for fall 2027. That is a different rule from the state's other flagship: UT Austin requires the SAT or ACT.

If You Send Scores: Official Reports and No Superscore

Texas A&M handles scores differently from many test-optional schools, so read this part carefully.

• Scores must come from the testing agency. The freshman page says "You must send your scores through the testing agency." The FAQ confirms that Texas A&M will not take scores off your high school transcript. Texas A&M does use a self-reported academic record (STARS) for courses and grades, but that is not how test scores reach it.
• Texas A&M does not superscore. The page says "Your highest total score from a single test date will be considered for admission." The FAQ is blunter: "No. Texas A&M does not super score."
• The essay and writing sections are not required.
• Scores expire after five years.
• Plan for processing time. Texas A&M says to allow 2 to 4 weeks for scores to be received.

Because only your best single test date counts, a retake helps only if the new total beats your old total. That is the opposite of how it works at schools that combine section highs, which SAT superscoring explained covers. For the mechanics of ordering reports, see how to send SAT scores to colleges and how to send ACT scores to colleges.

Top 10% Automatic Admission and Test Scores

For Texas residents, class rank matters more than any test. Texas A&M's page says: "Texas A&M automatically admits all students in the top 10%." To qualify, you must attend a public or private high school in Texas, rank in the top 10% of your graduating class on or before the application deadline, report that rank on STARS, provide an official transcript with a numeric rank, satisfy the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy, and have all required documents in by the deadline. No SAT or ACT score is part of that list.

Test scores still show up in three specific places:

• Home-schooled Texas residents. Under Texas House Bill 3041, public universities assign a rank to students from non-traditional schooling based on entrance exam medians. Texas A&M says that for students applying for fall 2027, the scores used to determine top 10% ranking are a 1290 SAT and a 27 ACT. Home-schooled students who do not test are assigned a rank using the academic factors in their file.
• Texas private high school students. Under the Uniform Admission Policy, students at Texas private high schools claim an exemption either through coursework or through official scores: at least 480 SAT Reading and Writing and 530 SAT Math, or ACT scores of at least 18 English, 22 Reading, 22 Math, and 23 Science.
• Engineering. Automatic admission to the university is not automatic admission to engineering. The College of Engineering says it uses a total holistic review for all engineering applications, including top 10% admits, and lists class rank and SAT or ACT scores among the academic factors, while noting that submitting scores is optional.

Texas residents who finish high school in another state may still qualify for top 10% admission and must submit a residency questionnaire. Most out-of-state students are admitted through holistic review.

Texas A&M Deadlines for Fall 2027

Texas A&M's fall timeline lists one application deadline for College Station. As of October 1, 2026, the freshman page does not list an early action or early decision round.

Decisions are released on a rolling basis. Texas A&M says top 10% applicants typically hear within three weeks of completing their file, and that applying early does not guarantee an early decision. The application fee is $75.

Which Test Dates Still Work for Texas A&M

Texas A&M's FAQ says it will accept December test scores, but it "must receive your December test scores by December 15 for consideration." Line that up with this year's score release dates from College Board and ACT and you get a tighter picture.

On the published calendars, the November 7 SAT is the last test whose scores come out before Texas A&M's December 15 date. If you still need a score for this application, register by October 23 and list Texas A&M as a score recipient when you register, since Texas A&M asks you to request scores at the time of testing and warns that delivery can take 2 to 4 weeks. Sooner is safer: Texas A&M's Common Data Set lists December 1 as the latest date for scores to be received for fall admission, which is earlier than the December 15 date in the FAQ. If December is your only option, contact the admissions office first to ask whether a score released after December 15 can be considered. The freshman page lists test scores received after the admission decision or admission deadline as information that is not considered on appeal.

How Texas A&M Uses Scores Beyond Admission

• Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Texas A&M's FAQ says students are encouraged to keep submitting scores "to help satisfy TSI requirements if admitted." TSI is the state of Texas's college readiness program.
• Course placement. In its Common Data Set, Texas A&M reports that it does not use the SAT or ACT for placement. It lists AP, CLEP, and institutional exams instead.
• Scholarships. Texas A&M's admissions pages do not say how test scores factor into scholarships. Check the criteria for each award on the incoming freshman scholarships page before you decide a score is not worth sending.

What a Competitive Score Looks Like at Texas A&M

The most recent official numbers are in Texas A&M's Common Data Set for 2025-2026 (section C9), which reports scores for first-year students who enrolled in fall 2025.

Even with a test-optional policy, most Aggies sent a score: about 77% of enrolled first-years submitted the SAT and about 19% submitted the ACT. The same Common Data Set shows 62,967 first-year applicants and 32,531 admitted for fall 2025, about 52%.

What that means for you: a 1280 SAT or a 28 ACT is the midpoint of the enrolled class, and a 1200 sits inside the middle range. Texas A&M says low scores will not be held against you, so the downside of sending is small. Still, a score below about 1160 or 24 adds little to a holistic review file, and leaving it off is reasonable. For statewide context, see the average SAT score in Texas, and for a general framework, should I submit my SAT scores.

If you are retesting for the November 7 SAT, remember that Texas A&M counts one test date, so you need both sections strong on the same day. Larry Learns has 25,000+ SAT and ACT practice questions on the web, iPhone, and Android, and the free plan includes 3 quizzes and 3 AI explanations a day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas A&M's SAT Policy

Does Texas A&M require the SAT for fall 2027?

No. Texas A&M says it is test optional and will not require ACT or SAT scores for freshman applicants.

Is Texas A&M test-optional for engineering?

Yes. The College of Engineering reviews every engineering applicant holistically, including top 10% admits, and notes that submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional.

Does Texas A&M superscore the SAT or ACT?

No. Texas A&M says it does not superscore. It considers your highest total score from a single test date.

Can I self-report SAT scores to Texas A&M?

No. Texas A&M says test scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. It does not accept scores from a high school transcript.

Do top 10% students need SAT scores for Texas A&M?

No. Texas residents who rank in the top 10% of a Texas high school class and meet the other listed conditions are automatically admitted, and none of those conditions is a test score. Engineering applicants are still reviewed holistically for placement.

What is the Texas A&M application deadline for fall 2027?

December 1, 2026 for College Station, with additional documents due December 15, 2026. The freshman page does not list an early action round.

Optional at Texas A&M still leaves room for a score to help you, and other schools on your list may require one. Start a free practice quiz now, or create a free account to track your progress.