Test policy · 50 states · Alabama

Do Alabama's public universities require the SAT or ACT in 2026?

As of October 2026: It depends on the campus. Of the 10 Alabama public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (Auburn University); 9 are test-optional (University of Alabama, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M), Alabama State University and 6 more).

Alabama has no statewide law requiring the SAT or ACT; each public university (or its governing board) sets its own policy. Most Alabama public universities are currently test-optional for applicants entering fall 2027, but the University of Alabama System and Auburn University are phasing testing back in: Auburn already requires scores starting fall 2027, and UA/UAB/UAH will require scores for all applicants by fall 2028.

Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach, highschoolreach.com), October 2026. Figures and the table may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

The statewide rule

No statewide rule. each public university in Alabama sets its own policy.

No Alabama statute or statewide board mandates an SAT/ACT policy for public universities. Each university's own board of trustees sets its policy (e.g., the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved UA/UAB/UAH's phased return to required testing; Auburn's Board of Trustees approved its own test-preferred/required timeline). These are institutional/system decisions, not state law.

University of Alabama System (UA Tuscaloosa, UAB, UAH): Varies by campus, fall 2027 and fall 2028 first-year applicants. All three System campuses are reinstating required testing on different timelines. UA: optional for GPA 3.0+, required below 3.0 for fall 2027; required for all fall 2028. UAB: optional for GPA 3.5+ through summer/fall 2027; required for all from fall 2028. UAH: fully optional through fall 2027; required for all from spring 2028. Source

University by university

The flagship and the state's largest public universities. Each label comes from the university's own admissions page, quoted; "applies to" is the entering term the page names. 1 required · 9 test-optional · 0 test-blind.

University	SAT / ACT	Applies to	CLT	Source
Auburn University Flagship Auburn test-optional pathway (limited, 3.6+ GPA) ended after fall 2026; required for fall 2027 and beyond Auburn describes itself as 'test-preferred' even during the optional window; fewer than 5% of admits in recent cycles had no test score. Auburn's own admissions landing page (auburn.edu/admissions/prospective-students/freshmen/test-optional/) returned a 404 on direct fetch; this quote is from Auburn's official admissions blog on the auburn.edu domain, which states the same timeline.	Required	fall 2027 first-year applicants	—	“We are continuing a test-optional pathway for Fall 2026, but test scores will be required for Fall 2027 and beyond.” onthelawn.auburn.edu
University of Alabama Flagship Tuscaloosa required below a 3.0 GPA starting fall 2027; required for all applicants starting fall 2028 Test-optional for applicants with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or above; a test score is required if GPA is below 3.0. UA states it will have no minimum test score for admission. Page frames this as an update to a previously fully test-optional policy.	Test-optional	fall 2027 first-year applicants	—	“a standardized test score (ACT or SAT) will be required for students whose cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0” admissions.ua.edu
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M) Normal Page requires a minimum 2.25 high school GPA to be accepted without a test score, and states test scores are still required to receive a merit-based scholarship. The page's language ('in response to restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic') reads like an older announcement that may not have been updated with a current effective term; treat the dates with caution (see gaps).	Test-optional	unknown - page does not state a specific entering term	—	“AAMU Announces Waiver of ACT/SAT Testing Requirements for Enrollment” aamu.edu
Alabama State University Montgomery Published sliding scale for applicants who submit scores (e.g. GPA 2.00-2.49 pairs with ACT 18/SAT 940-970 down to GPA 3.5+ pairs with ACT 15/SAT 810-850). A separate Tier II pathway admits with a 2.4+ GPA and no test score at all.	Test-optional	current entering first-year applicants (undergraduate catalog, 2023-2025 edition)	—	“Alabama State University is now test optional.” alasu.smartcatalogiq.com
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Admission for test-optional applicants is evaluated on high school GPA; JSU recommends submitting scores for scholarship consideration and some program placement.	Test-optional	unknown - page does not state a specific entering term	—	“JSU is Test-Optional for freshman admission, meaning ACT/SAT scores are not required.” jsu.edu
Troy University Troy Troy also publishes an unconditional/conditional admission index that uses ACT/RSAT scores (e.g. 20 ACT for unconditional, 17-19 for conditional) for applicants who do submit scores, and separately exempts applicants age 21+ from submitting scores. The page also has an older 'beginning classes in 2024' test-optional reference for a GED-related pathway; could not fully reconcile which pathway each date governs.	Test-optional	students beginning classes in 2027	—	“Students beginning classes in 2027 can be admitted without submitting ACT or RSAT scores.” troy.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Birmingham test-optional ends after the summer/fall 2027 cycle; required for all starting fall 2028 Optional only for applicants with a weighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher; a test score is required for admission and scholarship review if GPA is 3.49 or below. Early Medical/Dental/Optometry programs require test scores regardless.	Test-optional	summer/fall 2027 first-year applicants	—	“UAB will not require an ACT or SAT score for admission or merit scholarship consideration for Summer or Fall 2027” uab.edu
University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Huntsville required starting spring 2028 No hard GPA cutoff to go test-optional, though UAH advises a strong test-optional candidate has roughly a 3.5 GPA. Any score submitted is used for admission/scholarship review even for test-optional applicants.	Test-optional	fall 2026, spring 2027, summer 2027, and fall 2027 first-year applicants	—	“Any new freshman applying for the Spring 2028 term and forward will be required to submit a test score for admissions consideration.” uah.edu
University of North Alabama Florence UNA's baseline freshman requirement is a 2.5 unweighted GPA regardless of test submission; ACT submission is encouraged for scholarship and course-placement purposes.	Test-optional	unknown - page does not state a specific entering term	—	“UNA is test optional, meaning students can apply with or without ACT/SAT scores.” una.edu
University of South Alabama Mobile Applicants with a 3.4+ high school GPA are automatically admitted without scores; those below 3.4 go through a holistic review (page does not state scores become mandatory in that review, only that they are recommended if ACT 21+/SAT 1060+).	Test-optional	spring, summer, and fall 2027 first-year applicants	—	“USA will be offering spring, summer, and fall 2027 applicants a test-optional path for admission to USA.” southalabama.edu

Other public colleges in Alabama with 5,000 or more students

Not individually checked for this report. The policy flag and the share of enrolled first-years who submitted a score are what each college reported to the federal government for the 2023 admissions cycle (IPEDS); check the college's own page before relying on it.

College	Students	Admit rate	Reported to IPEDS, 2023	Submitted SAT · ACT
University of Alabama at Birmingham	11,635	88%	Test-optional	5% · 49%
University of Alabama in Huntsville	6,591	74%	Test-optional	6% · 58%
Alabama A & M University	6,124	66%	Test-optional	24% · 67%

What this means for your family

Optional describes the checkbox, not the outcome. At test-optional colleges that publish both numbers, students who sent a score were admitted at a higher rate than students who did not, and 115 colleges nationally still require one. Take a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT, prepare for the whole test over 6 to 12 weeks, and decide college by college whether to send the score.

How much a score moves with preparation, by starting score: Test Prep Gurus results. The submit-or-withhold arithmetic: Do test scores still matter?

At a glance

JSON (all states) · For AI agents

As of October 2026: It depends on the campus. Of the 10 Alabama public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (Auburn University); 9 are test-optional (University of Alabama, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M), Alabama State University and 6 more).

There is no statewide rule in Alabama; each public university sets its own policy.

Auburn University, the flagship, is required for fall 2027 first-year applicants.

Auburn University: test-optional pathway (limited, 3.6+ GPA) ended after fall 2026; required for fall 2027 and beyond.

University of Alabama: required below a 3.0 GPA starting fall 2027; required for all applicants starting fall 2028.

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): test-optional ends after the summer/fall 2027 cycle; required for all starting fall 2028.

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH): required starting spring 2028.

Checked against each university's own admissions page, October 2026. Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach).

Questions families ask

Is Alabama test-optional for its public universities in 2026? It depends on the campus. Of the 10 Alabama public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (Auburn University); 9 are test-optional (University of Alabama, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Alabama A&M), Alabama State University and 6 more).

Does Auburn University require the SAT or ACT in 2026? Required for fall 2027 first-year applicants. Auburn describes itself as 'test-preferred' even during the optional window; fewer than 5% of admits in recent cycles had no test score. Auburn's own admissions landing page (auburn.edu/admissions/prospective-students/freshmen/test-optional/) returned a 404 on direct fetch; this quote is from Auburn's official admissions blog on the auburn.edu domain, which states the same timeline. Source: onthelawn.auburn.edu.

Should my child take the SAT or ACT if Alabama's public universities do not require it? Yes. Most families apply to colleges in more than one state, 115 four-year colleges nationally require a score, and at test-optional colleges students who submit a score are admitted at higher rates than students who do not. A strong score also opens merit scholarships. Start with a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT, prepare for the whole test over 6 to 12 weeks, and decide college by college whether to send it.

Method: for each state, the flagship and the public universities with roughly 8,000 or more undergraduates. Each policy label was read from the university's own first-year admissions page (or the state or system regulation), quoted verbatim, and re-checked by a second pass, October 2026. "Required" means a score is required of most first-year applicants (exemptions in the notes); "test-optional" means a score is considered if sent; "test-blind" means a score is not considered even if sent. Community colleges and private colleges are not covered. Policies change: the page carries the term each page named, and the report is refreshed each October.

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