University of Houston SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Key Takeaways

• UH's admitted-student SAT middle 50 is 1170 to 1330 and ACT middle 50 is 22 to 27. The published acceptance rate is approximately 74 percent.
• UH is test-optional through June 1, 2030. Applicants without scores are not disadvantaged in the review.
• UH offers assured admission for first-year applicants who meet specific class-rank, GPA, or score thresholds. The criteria differ slightly between Fall 2026 (current cycle) and Fall 2027 onward.
• The Fall 2026 freshman application deadline is June 1, 2026, with supporting documents due by June 8. The scholarship priority deadline (Tier One) was November 3, 2025 for fall 2026 applicants.
• The Tier One Scholarship is UH's flagship merit award: full tuition and required fees, two years of on-campus housing and meal plan, plus $1,000 research and $2,000 study abroad stipends. Recommended profile is a 1400+ SAT or 30+ ACT plus top 10 percent class rank, but test-optional applicants are also considered.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for UH?

UH does not publish a competitive minimum but uses a holistic review with a clear assured-admission pathway. The middle 50 percent score ranges for the most recent admitted class:

Half of UH's admitted students scored inside 1170 to 1330 on the SAT and 22 to 27 on the ACT. Practical target: aim for a 1250 SAT or a 25 ACT to land in the middle of the admitted pool. A 1170 or 22 keeps you competitive at the 25th percentile. A 1330 or 27 puts you above three-quarters of admits and into competitive scholarship territory.

UH's 74 percent overall acceptance rate makes it one of the most accessible major Texas public universities, but the assured admission and scholarship pathways reward stronger profiles meaningfully. Pushing your test score from the 25th to the 75th percentile of admits opens up the Academic Excellence Scholarship and Tier One Invitational consideration.

UH Is Test-Optional Through June 2030

UH adopted a long-running test-optional policy: "Applicants have the option to apply for admission with or without a test score through June 1, 2030." Applicants face no disadvantage by omitting standardized tests.

• You choose whether to submit scores. Test-optional applies to all first-year applicants for the Fall 2026 cycle and beyond.
• Self-reporting is accepted. If you submit scores, self-report on the application. Official score reports are required only after admission, before enrollment.
• Tier One and Academic Excellence Scholarships consider test-optional applicants. If your scores are below the recommended thresholds (1400 SAT or 30 ACT for Tier One; 1300 SAT or 28 ACT for top Academic Excellence amounts), going test-optional and letting the rest of the file carry the application is the standard advice.

If your scores are at or above the admitted middle 50 (1170+ SAT or 22+ ACT), submit. If your scores are below the 25th percentile (under 1170 SAT or 22 ACT), go test-optional. The assured admission pathway includes a no-test option for class-rank-strong applicants.

The UH Assured Admission Pathways (2026 Cycle)

UH's assured admission criteria let qualified applicants skip the holistic review entirely. The criteria for the Fall 2026 cycle (current through July 31, 2026):

For Fall 2027 entering students (applicants applying after August 1, 2026), UH transitions to a simpler three-pathway model:

• Top 10 percent of high school class, OR
• 3.5+ unweighted GPA, OR
• 1250+ SAT or 26+ ACT.

Meeting any one of these three criteria triggers assured admission for Fall 2027 and beyond. Applicants who do not meet any of the three are reviewed holistically.

UH Application Deadlines

UH operates on a term-by-term application schedule with priority scholarship deadlines:

Three notes on UH's timeline:

• The application fee is $75 for U.S. applicants. Fee waivers from College Board, ACT, and NACAC are accepted.
• Tier One Scholarship has a strict early deadline. The November 3 priority deadline is firm: applications submitted after that date are not eligible for Tier One review. Other scholarships have later priority deadlines.
• Fall is the largest entry term. June 1 is the broad freshman deadline, but applying earlier improves housing options and maximizes scholarship consideration. Most strong UH applicants apply by mid-fall.

The Tier One Scholarship: UH's Flagship Merit Award

UH's Tier One Scholarship is named after the Tier One research designation UH holds (Carnegie R1 status). It is the most prestigious merit award the university offers and is highly competitive:

• Full tuition and required fees for four years (five years for Architecture students).
• On-campus housing and meal plan for the first two years at UH.
• One-time $1,000 undergraduate research stipend.
• One-time $2,000 study abroad stipend.
• Recommended profile: 1400+ SAT or 30+ ACT plus top 10 percent class rank. Test-optional applicants are eligible.

The Tier One process has a defined structure:

1. Apply by November 3, 2025 with the Tier One Scholarship application plus the UH application for admission.
2. Letter of recommendation due November 10, 2025.
3. Supporting information due November 10, 2025 (transcript, scores if submitting, class rank).
4. December 15 notification: top scorers invited to the Tier One Invitational and on-campus interview in January.
5. Mid-March: awardees notified.

The Tier One Scholarship is competitive with limited slots. Even applicants who do not advance can still receive other UH merit aid through the Academic Excellence Scholarship pathway.

Other UH Merit Scholarships

Beyond the Tier One Scholarship, UH offers several other merit awards:

• Academic Excellence Scholarship: Awarded based on academic profile (typically 3.5+ unweighted GPA plus rigorous coursework). Test submitters with ACT 28+ or SAT 1300+ tend to receive larger amounts. No separate application required for many UH-administered tracks.
• National Merit Scholarship: National Merit Finalists who name UH as their first-choice institution receive automatic scholarship support covering tuition and required fees, plus the $1,000 research and $2,000 study abroad stipends.
• Honors College Scholarships: Students admitted to the Honors College are eligible for additional merit awards. Honors admission is a separate application track for high-achieving students.
• Departmental and college-specific scholarships: Each UH college (Bauer Business, Cullen Engineering, Hilton Hospitality, etc.) has its own merit aid pool. Some require separate applications.

For Texas residents, UH's in-state tuition combined with merit aid can produce one of the strongest value plays in the state. The combination of the Academic Excellence Scholarship, departmental aid, and Texas Grant or other state aid can substantially reduce the net cost.

UH GPA Requirements and Course Rigor

UH does not publish a strict minimum GPA outside the assured admission pathways, but the admit pool clusters around a 3.75 average unweighted GPA. UH's expectations on coursework include:

• English: 4 years.
• Math: 4 years (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, plus a fourth math beyond Algebra II).
• Science: 3 to 4 years (with at least 2 lab sciences; 4 years preferred for engineering and natural sciences).
• Social science: 3 years.
• Foreign language: 2 years of the same language (recommended for some colleges).

For competitive Bauer Business, Cullen Engineering, or pre-health track applicants, AP, IB, dual enrollment, or Honors coursework is essentially expected at the available level. Texas has strong dual enrollment infrastructure, which can substantially boost rigor signal for in-state applicants.

What UH Weighs Beyond Test Scores

For applicants outside the assured admission pathways, UH's holistic review considers:

1. Class rank. The single most heavily weighted factor for Texas residents. Top 10 percent class rank triggers assured admission with no test minimum.
2. GPA and course rigor. Strong unweighted GPA in challenging coursework.
3. Standardized test scores (when submitted). Required to qualify for assured admission via the test-score pathway and for top scholarship amounts.
4. Essay (optional but encouraged). A short essay can strengthen borderline files. Specific, distinctive responses outperform generic templates.
5. Letters of recommendation. Required for Tier One Scholarship; optional but considered for general admission and other merit awards.
6. Activities and leadership. Particularly relevant for Tier One Scholarship and Honors College.

UH does not require interviews for general admission. Tier One Scholarship finalists are invited to a mandatory on-campus interview as part of the Tier One Invitational in January.

A Realistic Prep Plan for UH-Level Scores

If UH is your target and your current practice SAT is 1080 or ACT is 19, here is a workable pathway to the admit middle 50 (and scholarship territory):

1. Sophomore spring to junior summer. Take one timed official Bluebook SAT and one ACT. Pick whichever scores higher in percentile.
2. Junior fall. Begin structured prep, two to three hours per week, with full timed tests every two to three weeks. Focus on your weakest section first.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. Lock in your strongest section. Texas residents in the 11 to 25 percent of class rank should aim for at least 1080 SAT or 21 ACT to qualify for current assured admission.
4. Summer before senior year. Heavy prep window. Push toward the all-university admit middle (1250 SAT or 25 ACT) and Academic Excellence territory (1300 SAT or 28 ACT).
5. September or October of senior year. Second official sitting. For the Tier One Scholarship (November 3 deadline), this needs to happen by early October to have scores in time.

Score targets to anchor on: 1080 SAT or 21 ACT for current assured admission (11-25% class rank), 1170 SAT or 24 ACT for current assured admission (26-50% class rank) and the all-university 25th admit percentile, 1250 SAT or 26 ACT for the all-university admitted middle and the upcoming Fall 2027 assured admission threshold, 1300 SAT or 28 ACT for top Academic Excellence Scholarship amounts, and 1400 SAT or 30 ACT for Tier One Scholarship competitiveness.

For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you, see our SAT vs ACT guide, and use the SAT score calculator to convert raw practice scores. For section-specific prep, our SAT math topics and ACT math topics guides break down what each test covers.

Frequently Asked Questions About UH SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for the University of Houston?

Approximately 1250, based on a published admitted middle 50 of 1170 to 1330. The 25th percentile is 1170 and the 75th percentile is 1330. Tier One Scholarship recipients tend to cluster at 1400 or higher.

What is the average ACT score for the University of Houston?

Approximately 25 composite, with a published admitted middle 50 of 22 to 27. A 27 puts you at the 75th percentile of admits and qualifies you for upper-tier Academic Excellence Scholarship consideration.

What are UH's SAT requirements?

UH is test-optional through June 1, 2030. There is no published minimum SAT, but the admitted middle 50 SAT range is 1170 to 1330. The current assured admission SAT thresholds are 1080 (11-25% class rank) or 1170 (26-50% class rank). Self-reported scores are accepted at application.

What are UH's ACT requirements?

UH is test-optional. The admitted middle 50 ACT composite is 22 to 27. The current assured admission ACT thresholds are 21 (11-25% class rank) or 24 (26-50% class rank).

Is UH test-optional?

Yes. UH is test-optional through June 1, 2030 for all first-year applicants. Applicants without scores are not disadvantaged in the review and remain eligible for both assured admission (via the no-test pathway) and competitive scholarships including Tier One and Academic Excellence.

What GPA do I need for UH?

UH does not publish a strict minimum GPA outside the assured admission pathways. The average admitted GPA is approximately 3.75 unweighted. Current assured admission for test-optional applicants requires a 3.40+ GPA (11-25% class rank) or 3.45+ GPA (26-50% class rank). For Fall 2027 entering students, the simplified pathway requires either top 10% rank, 3.5+ GPA, or 1250+ SAT/26+ ACT.

What is UH's acceptance rate?

Approximately 74 percent overall. UH is one of the more accessible major Texas public universities by acceptance rate, but the assured admission and scholarship pathways reward strong profiles meaningfully. Tier One Scholarship and Honors College admit at much tighter rates.

How does assured admission work at UH?

UH offers automatic admission for applicants who meet specific class rank, GPA, or test score thresholds. For Fall 2026 (current cycle), the criteria depend on class rank tier (top 10%, 11-25%, 26-50%) combined with either test scores or GPA. For Fall 2027 onward, the criteria simplify to: top 10% class rank, OR 3.5+ GPA, OR 1250+ SAT (or 26+ ACT). Meeting any one pathway triggers assured admission.

When is the UH application deadline?

For Fall 2026, the application deadline is June 1, 2026, with supporting documents due by June 8. For scholarship priority (including Tier One), the deadline was November 3, 2025. Spring 2026 deadline is December 1, 2025; Summer 2026 deadline is May 1, 2026.

What is the Tier One Scholarship at UH?

UH's flagship merit scholarship. Covers full tuition and required fees for four years (five years for Architecture), on-campus housing and meal plan for the first two years, plus $1,000 undergraduate research and $2,000 study abroad stipends. Recommended profile is a 1400+ SAT or 30+ ACT with top 10 percent class rank, but test-optional applicants are considered. Application deadline was November 3, 2025 for Fall 2026; finalists invited to on-campus interview in January.

Does UH offer scholarships for National Merit Finalists?

Yes. National Merit Finalists who select UH as their first-choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation receive automatic scholarship support covering tuition and required fees plus the $1,000 research and $2,000 study abroad stipends, similar to the Tier One package.

What is the UH Honors College?

UH's Honors College is a separate admission track for high-achieving students seeking a more rigorous interdisciplinary academic experience. Honors admission requires a separate application alongside the UH freshman application. Honors students are eligible for additional merit awards and access to Honors-only courses, dedicated advising, and an Honors residence community.

How does UH compare to other Texas public universities?

UH is meaningfully more accessible by admit rate (~74 percent) than UT Austin (~30 percent overall) and Texas A&M (~64 percent). UH's admitted SAT middle 50 (1170 to 1330) sits below UT Austin (1340 to 1520) and Texas A&M (1190 to 1410), but above many regional Texas publics. UH's Tier One Scholarship and Honors College create competitive pathways for high-achieving applicants seeking strong merit aid.