Augusta University requires SAT or ACT scores for fall 2026 freshman admission

Augusta University will require SAT or ACT scores from applicants seeking freshman admission beginning in fall 2026, ending a temporary test-score waiver that applied through summer 2026 under the University System of Georgia’s admissions framework.

The requirement is part of a systemwide framework, not an admissions policy adopted by Augusta University alone. The University System of Georgia’s fall 2026-through-summer 2027 freshman admissions document identifies Augusta University among the institutions where test scores are required for fall 2026 admission and later.

How the admissions framework works

For applicants who must submit scores, USG uses its Freshman Index, which combines high-school grade-point average with SAT or ACT results. The framework lists a minimum Freshman Index of 2,500 for research universities.

USG also lists a minimum 3.4 high-school GPA benchmark for research universities, including Augusta University, under the relevant admissions framework. The GPA benchmark and Freshman Index are part of the system’s freshman-admission standards; applicants should consult current university admissions materials for any program-specific requirements or exceptions.

The change concerns undergraduate freshman admission. It does not establish that every Augusta University student—including transfer, graduate or professional-program applicants—must submit a test score.

What prospective students should know

The previous temporary waiver covered admission through summer 2026 at many USG institutions. For students planning to begin at Augusta University in fall 2026, preparing for and submitting an SAT or ACT score is now part of the application process covered by the updated system requirements.

USG’s policy identifies several other institutions with fall 2026 score requirements, including Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University and Kennesaw State University. The system notes that campus-specific qualifications apply at some schools.

Students should not substitute a Classic Learning Test score for an SAT score for fall 2026 under this policy. USG says CLT scores may substitute for SAT scores beginning in fall 2027, not fall 2026.

Summer option and fall timeline

Augusta University also lists a Summer 2026 Roar Ahead program for some students who did not submit test scores or whose scores do not meet the university’s fall 2026 requirements. The university lists a 3.4 GPA eligibility benchmark for that program.

The first day of fall classes is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026. Prospective freshmen planning for that term should account for testing and score submission as they complete their applications under the USG framework.