Test policy · 50 states · Arizona

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

As of October 2026: No. All 3 Arizona public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University).

Arizona's public university governing board does not mandate SAT/ACT scores for admission; it only lets each university decide, and all three public universities (ASU, University of Arizona, NAU) are currently test-optional for first-year applicants.

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

Test-optional. Set by Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), covering first-year applicants, effective 2/19/2026 (Policy 2-105).

“A university may require that, in order to complete an application for admission, applicants must submit scores from college admission standardized tests.” — public.powerdms.com

ABOR Policy 2-105 (Admission Requirements, formerly 2-120/2-121, effective 2/19/2026) sets minimum GPA/core-competency standards and lets each university choose whether to require standardized test scores; it does not mandate them systemwide. Test scores also appear as one alternative way (alongside GPA sub-score or a college course) to demonstrate core-competency in English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Second Language. All three ABOR universities (ASU, UA, NAU) currently do not require ACT/SAT for general admission, so the practical effect statewide is test-optional.

Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) / Arizona's three public universities: Optional, first-year applicants, effective 2/19/2026. ABOR governs Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University. The board sets minimum GPA/core-competency admission standards and permits, but does not require, a university to mandate test scores. All three current member universities are test-optional for general first-year admission. 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. 0 required · 3 test-optional · 0 test-blind.

University	SAT / ACT	Applies to	CLT	Source
University of Arizona Flagship Tucson Test scores are an optional alternative pathway to satisfy ABOR core-competency subject requirements (e.g., English, Math) and can affect course placement.	Test-optional	current first-year applicants (page did not state a specific entering term)	—	“SAT and ACT scores are not required for general admission to the university; however, if you choose to submit official scores, they may be used to assist with class placement at orientation or to help fulfill our Core Competency Requirements.” arizona.edu
Arizona State University Tempe Scores may be submitted voluntarily for course placement or as supplemental information; not required for general admission.	Test-optional	fall 2027 first-year applicants (per admissions deadlines section of the page fetched)	—	“ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission, but may be submitted for ASU course placement or as supplemental information.” admission.asu.edu
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Test scores are optional for admission but used for scholarship consideration; also usable as an alternative way to satisfy ABOR core-competency course requirements.	Test-optional	current first-year applicants (page did not state a specific entering term)	—	“Send your official test scores for scholarship consideration (test scores are not required for admission).” in.nau.edu

Other public colleges in Arizona 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
Arizona State University Digital Immersion	53,782	64%	Test-optional	— · —
Glendale Community College	11,975	—	—	— · —
Rio Salado College	11,668	—	—	— · —
Paradise Valley Community College	5,117	—	—	— · —

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: No. All 3 Arizona public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University).

Statewide rule: Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) — test-optional, first-year applicants, effective 2/19/2026 (Policy 2-105).

University of Arizona, the flagship, is test-optional for current first-year applicants (page did not state a specific entering term).

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

Questions families ask

Is Arizona test-optional for its public universities in 2026? No. All 3 Arizona public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University).

Does University of Arizona require the SAT or ACT in 2026? Test-optional for current first-year applicants (page did not state a specific entering term). Test scores are an optional alternative pathway to satisfy ABOR core-competency subject requirements (e.g., English, Math) and can affect course placement. Source: arizona.edu.

Should my child take the SAT or ACT if Arizona'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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