Test policy · 50 states · Kentucky

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

As of October 2026: No. All 5 Kentucky public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and 2 more).

Kentucky has no statewide testing mandate -- each public university sets its own policy -- but every major Kentucky public university checked is currently test-optional for fall 2026/2027 freshmen, with GPA-based carve-outs at a couple of schools requiring a score below a certain GPA.

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. Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education does not set a testing requirement; each public university in Kentucky sets its own policy.

No evidence found of a statewide Kentucky statute or Council on Postsecondary Education regulation mandating or banning ACT/SAT use for first-year admission; each public university publishes and sets its own policy.

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 · 5 test-optional · 0 test-blind.

University	SAT / ACT	Applies to	CLT	Source
University of Kentucky Flagship Lexington test-optional policy extended through 2028-29 Applies to freshman applicants and transfer applicants with fewer than 24 credit hours; about 7-10% of applicants currently submit scores.	Test-optional	through the 2028-29 academic year	—	“The University of Kentucky has implemented a test-optional policy through the 2028-29 academic year.” admission.uky.edu
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond	Test-optional	current freshman cycle, all terms	—	“Submit ACT or SAT scores (not required, but encouraged for proper course placement)” eku.edu
Murray State University Murray Kentucky statewide rule requires any freshman with an ACT below 18 English/19 math/20 reading (or equivalent SAT) to enroll in a subject-specific developmental course, regardless of test-optional admission status.	Test-optional	current freshman cycle	—	“Our test-optional admissions process provides greater access for students.” murraystate.edu
University of Louisville Louisville	Test-optional	current freshman cycle	—	“SAT/ACT scores are optional for admission and many automatic scholarships” louisville.edu
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Students with a 2.00-2.49 unweighted GPA must submit an ACT/SAT score and reach a Composite Admission Index of at least 60.	Test-optional	current freshman cycle	—	“Students with a 2.50 unweighted high school GPA or greater are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores for admission purposes” wku.edu

Other public colleges in Kentucky 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
Northern Kentucky University	8,246	96%	Test-optional	5% · 79%

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 5 Kentucky public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and 2 more).

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

University of Kentucky, the flagship, is test-optional for through the 2028-29 academic year.

University of Kentucky: test-optional policy extended through 2028-29.

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

Questions families ask

Is Kentucky test-optional for its public universities in 2026? No. All 5 Kentucky public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and 2 more).

Does University of Kentucky require the SAT or ACT in 2026? Test-optional for through the 2028-29 academic year. Applies to freshman applicants and transfer applicants with fewer than 24 credit hours; about 7-10% of applicants currently submit scores. Source: admission.uky.edu.

Should my child take the SAT or ACT if Kentucky'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.

Every state

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming · The 50-state report →