Auburn SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Auburn's admitted-student SAT middle 50 is 1260 to 1380 and ACT middle 50 is 26 to 31, based on the most recent class reporting from BigFuture and Auburn Admissions.
• Auburn is test-optional for Fall 2026 only, and only for a very narrow group. Applicants without scores must have at least a 3.6 high school GPA, and historically fewer than 10 percent of enrolled students came through this pathway.
• Starting Fall 2027, Auburn requires SAT or ACT scores. The pandemic-era test-optional window is ending. Current sophomores and freshmen should plan to test regardless of Auburn's 2026 policy.
• Auburn superscores both the SAT and ACT across test dates. No SAT Writing or ACT Writing is required.
• Overall acceptance rate is approximately 46 percent for the most recent cycle, down from 71 percent in Fall 2021. Auburn has become meaningfully more selective in five years.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for Auburn?

Auburn does not publish a minimum and uses a holistic review. What it does publish are the middle 50 percent score ranges for admitted students, reported through College Board BigFuture:

Half of Auburn's admitted class scored inside those bands. Practical target: aim for a 1320 SAT or a 28 ACT to land in the middle of the admitted pool. A 1260 or 26 keeps you competitive. A 1380 or 31 puts you at or above most admits. Non-resident applicants tend to submit higher scores, averaging around 30.5 on the ACT versus 27.7 for in-state residents.

Auburn Is Test-Optional for Fall 2026, but the Window Is Narrow

Auburn's test-optional policy began during the pandemic and has been sunsetting since. For the Fall 2026 application cycle specifically, a small number of exceptionally strong academic applicants may apply without SAT or ACT scores, subject to these conditions:

• Minimum 3.6 high school GPA. Applicants below this threshold cannot use the test-optional pathway.
• Limited space. Auburn's admissions office has stated that historically fewer than 10 percent of enrolled freshmen were admitted without test scores, and the admitted-without-scores average GPA has hovered around 4.2 weighted. The pathway is narrow in practice, even narrower than the 3.6 minimum suggests.
• Stronger signal elsewhere required. Because Auburn is unable to see your test score, the rest of the file carries more weight: rigor, class rank, trend, and course-specific strength in the subjects relevant to your intended major.

If your GPA is below 3.6, you must submit test scores. If your GPA is above 3.6 and your test score lands at or above Auburn's admitted 25th percentile (1260 SAT or 26 ACT), submitting is the better move, because a strong score strengthens the file. Test-optional is the right call only for the narrow band of 3.6+ GPA applicants whose test scores fall meaningfully below the admitted range.

Fall 2027 and Beyond: Auburn Returns to Required Testing

Auburn announced in October 2025, as reported by The Auburn Plainsman, that SAT or ACT scores will be required for all first-year applicants beginning Fall 2027. The test-optional pathway ends after the Fall 2026 cycle.

Practical implications:

• Current sophomores and freshmen (Class of 2028, Class of 2029): plan to take the SAT or ACT. There is no test-optional pathway for you.
• Current juniors applying for Fall 2026: the narrow test-optional pathway is still available if you have a 3.6+ GPA, but submitting a score is still the stronger strategy if your score meets the admitted range.
• Auburn scholarships: many merit scholarships at Auburn have always required test scores, even during the test-optional era. If you want to be considered for merit aid, you need to test regardless.

Auburn Superscores (Both SAT and ACT)

Auburn implements superscoring across test dates, which matters meaningfully for retake planning:

• SAT superscore: Auburn combines your highest Reading & Writing score and your highest Math score across all SAT sittings into a new composite. You do not need a single high sitting.
• ACT superscore: Auburn takes the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science subscores across dates and builds a superscored composite. The ACT Writing section is not required.
• Self-reporting accepted: scores can be self-reported on the application. Official score reports are only required if you enroll.

Because superscoring rewards multiple sittings, a three-test strategy (junior spring, fall senior year, and one optional retake) is a reasonable default if your first sitting lands below your target.

Auburn Admission Profile: By the Numbers

Auburn's most recently reported admission cycle, summarized from BigFuture's Auburn profile and Auburn Admissions:

Auburn's 25-point drop in acceptance rate from 2021 to 2025 is the single most important context for the test policy change. A university that was admitting seven in ten applicants in 2021 is now admitting roughly four and a half in ten. The test-required return reflects an institution that can now afford to demand more signals per applicant.

Auburn GPA Requirements

Auburn does not publish a formal minimum GPA. The admitted class profile tells the practical story:

• 83 percent of admitted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or above.
• 11 percent fall in the 3.50 to 3.74 range.
• Remaining 6 percent had GPAs below 3.50, typically offset by high test scores or other compensating factors.
• Resident average: 4.12 weighted. Non-resident average: 4.21 weighted.

Auburn reads both weighted and unweighted GPA when provided, and specifically considers course rigor (AP, IB, dual enrollment) relative to what your high school offers.

Core Curriculum Auburn Expects on Your Transcript

Auburn publishes specific course expectations that go beyond a strong GPA:

• Four years of English across all applicants.
• Three years of social studies.
• Three years of math, including Algebra I, Algebra II, and one of Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, or Analysis. Some majors (especially engineering) expect additional math.
• Two years of science, including Biology and a Physical Science with lab. STEM-leaning majors should exceed this minimum.

Missing a required year in any category is a bigger problem than a slightly lower test score. If your transcript has a gap, address it in the application (a summer course, community college credit) before submitting.

In-State vs Out-of-State at Auburn

Auburn is a public university with a state-funded mission, and the in-state and out-of-state admitted profiles differ in a revealing way:

• Alabama residents average 27.7 ACT and 4.12 GPA at admit. The path to admission is clear for in-state students with solid profiles.
• Non-resident applicants average 30.5 ACT and 4.21 GPA at admit. Out-of-state applicants face higher de-facto thresholds, though not formal cutoffs.
• Tuition differential is substantial. In-state tuition is roughly one-third of out-of-state tuition, so the admit advantage compounds with a financial advantage.

If you are applying from out of state, target 1380+ SAT or 31+ ACT as your realistic lower bound. Anything below that needs to be offset by exceptional non-academic strengths.

Auburn Application Deadlines and Scholarships

Auburn uses a single main application deadline and several scholarship-adjacent dates:

Apply by December 1 if you want Auburn merit scholarship consideration. The February 1 deadline is the hard gate for admission itself, but by that point most scholarship decisions are essentially made.

A Realistic Prep Plan for Auburn-Level Scores

Because Auburn is returning to required testing and the 2026 test-optional pathway is narrow, most applicants should plan to test. If your current practice SAT is 1150 or ACT is 22, here is a reasonable pathway:

1. Sophomore spring to junior summer. Take one timed official SAT (Bluebook) and one timed ACT. Pick the higher percentile test and commit to it.
2. Junior fall. Structured prep. Two to three hours per week plus a full timed test every two or three weeks. Focus on your weakest section first.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. Use the score report to redirect prep. Auburn superscores, so early sittings help you build a composite.
4. Summer before senior year. Intensive prep window. Target one full practice per week with precision review of every miss.
5. Fall senior year. Second sitting, ideally early enough for scores to return before Auburn's December 1 scholarship priority deadline. A third sitting in October or November is reasonable if superscore gains are still meaningful.

For Auburn's admitted middle, the key score targets are 1320 SAT or 28 ACT (center of admitted range) and 1380 SAT or 31 ACT (top of admitted range, strong for non-resident applicants). For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you best, see our SAT vs ACT guide.

What Auburn Weighs Beyond Test Scores

Through its holistic review, Auburn considers, in rough order of weight:

1. Academic record and course rigor. GPA, transcript trend, and the difficulty of your coursework relative to what your school offers.
2. Standardized test scores. SAT or ACT superscore, where submitted.
3. Academic performance relative to peers at your high school. Auburn explicitly weighs how you compare within your own context.
4. AP, IB, and honors coursework. Rigor matters independently of GPA.
5. Grade trend. A rising trajectory matters more than a flat high line.
6. Intended major fit. Some colleges within Auburn (Engineering, Business, Nursing) have higher de-facto thresholds and additional course expectations.

Auburn does not require letters of recommendation. There is no required application essay, though one can be submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions About Auburn SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for Auburn?

Approximately 1320, based on the admitted middle 50 of 1260 to 1380. The 25th percentile is 1260; the 75th percentile is 1380. Non-resident averages run slightly higher than resident averages.

What is the average ACT score for Auburn?

Approximately 28 composite, with a middle 50 of 26 to 31. Alabama residents average 27.7; non-residents average 30.5.

What are Auburn's SAT requirements?

For Fall 2026, Auburn is test-optional, but only for applicants with a 3.6+ GPA, and the pathway is narrow in practice. Starting Fall 2027, SAT or ACT scores are required for all first-year applicants. Auburn superscores the SAT across test dates.

What are Auburn's ACT requirements?

Same as the SAT policy. Test-optional for 3.6+ GPA applicants in Fall 2026 only; required starting Fall 2027. Auburn superscores the ACT and does not require ACT Writing.

Is Auburn test-optional?

Yes for Fall 2026, with a 3.6 GPA floor and narrow practical application. No for Fall 2027 and beyond. The pandemic-era test-optional window ends after the 2026 admissions cycle.

Does Auburn superscore the SAT?

Yes. Auburn uses the highest Reading & Writing and the highest Math across all SAT sittings to build a new superscore. Multiple sittings help.

Does Auburn superscore the ACT?

Yes. Auburn uses the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science subscores across dates to build a superscored composite. ACT Writing is not required.

What GPA do I need for Auburn?

Auburn does not publish a formal minimum. 83 percent of admitted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher. Average weighted GPA is 4.12 for Alabama residents and 4.21 for non-residents. Applicants going test-optional in Fall 2026 need at least a 3.6.

What is Auburn's acceptance rate?

Approximately 45.9 percent for the most recent reporting cycle, based on 25,284 admits from 55,056 applicants. This is down from 71 percent in Fall 2021, reflecting sharply increased selectivity over four years.

When is the Auburn application deadline?

February 1 is the application deadline. December 1 is the scholarship priority deadline, which should be the practical target for anyone pursuing Auburn merit aid. May 1 is the national candidate reply date for enrollment deposit.

Does Auburn offer Early Action or Early Decision?

No. Auburn uses a single February 1 deadline for admission. The December 1 scholarship priority deadline functions as an informal early application incentive, but it is not a separate Early Action round.

Can I get into Auburn with a 1200 SAT?

A 1200 sits below Auburn's admitted 25th percentile of 1260. Admission at that score typically requires compensating strengths: a strong GPA (ideally 4.0+ weighted), rigorous coursework, in-state residency, or a compelling personal story. Non-resident applicants with a 1200 face long odds.

Does Auburn require letters of recommendation or an essay?

No. Auburn does not require letters of recommendation, and the application essay is optional. Applicants pursuing specific scholarships or the Honors College may face additional requirements.

How selective is Auburn compared to other SEC flagships?

Auburn's ~46 percent acceptance rate places it in the middle of the SEC pack. It is more selective than Mississippi State or South Carolina, comparable to Tennessee, and less selective than Georgia, Texas, or Florida. The test-score profile tracks the acceptance rate: Auburn's admitted middle 50 is meaningfully below Georgia or Texas but above the less selective SEC publics.