If you are researching LSU SAT scores requirements, here is the most important update before anything else: LSU has reinstated its standardized testing requirement after going test-optional in the years following COVID-19. Starting summer 2027, applicants with a GPA below 3.5 must submit test scores. By summer 2028, all applicants must submit scores regardless of GPA.

That means your SAT score matters again. Here is exactly what you need to know.

LSU SAT Score Requirements at a Glance

Does LSU Require the SAT?

Yes. The LSU Board of Supervisors voted in February 2026 to reinstate standardized test score submissions for all applicants to its Baton Rouge campus. The decision came directly from LSU’s own academic data. According to interim Provost Troy Blanchard, retention rates for students admitted as test-optional applicants from 2021 to 2024 were 4.3% lower than students who submitted test scores.

The Board’s Academic Committee argued the change would better align LSU with peer institutions and strengthen academic performance across incoming classes.

There is no minimum SAT score required for admission. Test scores are one component of a holistic admissions review that also considers GPA, coursework rigor, essays, and extracurricular activities. But submitting a strong score significantly strengthens your application.

What SAT Score Do You Need for LSU?

The LSU SAT score data breaks down like this:

• Average SAT score: 1248
• 25th percentile: 1180 (below this range puts you at a disadvantage)
• 75th percentile: 1320 (above this range makes you a strong candidate)
• Average GPA of admitted students: 3.83
• Acceptance rate: 73.3%

A score of 1180 is the practical floor. A score of 1248 puts you right at the average. A score of 1320 or above puts you well ahead of the majority of admitted students.

Here is the SAT section breakdown for admitted LSU students:

What SAT Score Is Competitive for LSU?

LSU has an acceptance rate of 73.3%, which means most applicants who meet the basic academic profile are admitted. But meeting the basic profile is not the same as being prepared. Here is how to read your score in the context of LSU admissions.

Score below 1180: You are below the 25th percentile. Admission is still possible but the rest of your application — GPA, essays, coursework rigor — needs to carry significant weight to compensate.

Score of 1180 to 1248: You are within the competitive range of admitted students. Your SAT score is not a concern and the rest of your application will determine the outcome.

Score of 1248 to 1320: You are at or above the average. Your SAT score is a strength in your application and will not raise any questions during the review process.

Score of 1320 and above: You are in the top quarter of admitted students. At this level your score actively strengthens your application and positions you well for merit scholarship consideration.

LSU’s SAT Score Choice Policy

LSU uses a “Highest Sitting” score choice policy. This means LSU considers only your highest composite score from a single test date. You can take the SAT multiple times and choose which score to submit. Your application readers will see only the score you send.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you control which score gets submitted and LSU only looks at one sitting, you can test multiple times without any risk. Retaking the SAT under this policy is almost always worth it if your current score is below your target range.

How GPA Interacts With Your SAT Score

The average GPA for admitted LSU students is 3.83, which means LSU expects students near the top of their class. Most admitted students show mostly A’s, ideally with several AP or IB courses.

If your GPA is at or below 3.83, a stronger SAT score can help offset that gap. The two numbers work together in LSU’s holistic review. A student with a 3.6 GPA and a 1300 SAT is in a much better position than a student with a 3.6 GPA and a 1150 SAT.

If you are a junior or senior with a GPA that is difficult to change at this stage, your SAT score is the most actionable variable left in your application. Improving it is the single highest-leverage move you can make before applying.

Why LSU Reinstated the SAT Requirement

The data behind LSU’s decision is worth understanding because it tells you something meaningful about what the university expects from incoming students.

From 2021 to 2024, test-optional students at LSU had:

• Retention rates 4.3% lower than students who submitted test scores
• Lower average GPAs than peers who tested

LSU’s interim Provost stated clearly that standardized scores continue to provide valuable information as one of several components in the admissions process. The university is not using test scores to gatekeep. It is using them to identify students who are genuinely prepared for the academic demands of college coursework.

Submitting a strong SAT score signals exactly that.

LSU SAT Requirements Compared to Similar Schools

To put LSU’s SAT requirements in context, here is how it compares to schools at a similar level of selectivity:

Reach schools (harder to get into than LSU):

• Drexel University — SAT average 1340
• Penn State University Park — SAT average 1330
• University of Connecticut — SAT average 1330
• Auburn University — SAT average 1304

Same level as LSU:

• University of Cincinnati — SAT average 1260
• Texas Christian University — SAT average 1242
• University of Oklahoma — SAT average 1238
• Temple University — SAT average 1230
• University of Alabama — SAT average 1230

Safety schools (easier to get into than LSU):

• Quinnipiac University — SAT average 1200
• Ohio University — SAT average 1195
• Florida International University — SAT average 1160
• California State University Long Beach — SAT average 1145

If you are scoring at or above 1248, you are competitive for LSU and several similarly selective universities. A score of 1320 or above opens the door to schools ranked above LSU on this list.

How to Hit Your LSU SAT Target

If your current score is below 1180 or you are aiming to push it to 1248 or higher before applying, the path is straightforward: targeted preparation built around the specific sections and question types that are costing you points.

The students who improve their SAT scores enough to cross meaningful thresholds share a consistent approach:

• They started with a diagnostic baseline that showed them exactly where their points were going
• They focused preparation on their weakest sections rather than reviewing material they already knew
• They practiced with full timed tests to build the pacing habits that prevent avoidable errors under pressure
• They reviewed every mistake before moving on and used that analysis to drive the next session
• They tracked progress over time so improvement was measurable, not assumed

That approach works regardless of starting point. A student scoring 1100 can realistically reach 1200 or above with structured preparation over several weeks. A student at 1200 can push to 1300 with targeted work on two or three specific weak areas.

How ScoreSmart Can Help You Hit Your LSU Target

If LSU is on your list and your SAT score is not where it needs to be yet, ScoreSmart’s SAT test prep is built around exactly the kind of preparation that moves scores. Rather than giving you a generic curriculum, ScoreSmart shows you precisely which sections and question types are costing you the most points and builds your preparation around closing those specific gaps.

Whether you need to cross the 1180 threshold to stay competitive or push from 1248 to 1320 to stand out, the analytics ScoreSmart provides give you a clear, specific path to improve your SAT score before your application deadline.

Your target score is reachable. The question is whether your preparation is built to get you there.

The Bottom Line

Here is what every LSU applicant needs to know about SAT score requirements:

• LSU now requires SAT or ACT scores starting summer 2027 for students with GPAs below 3.5, expanding to all applicants in summer 2028
• The average SAT score for admitted students is 1248
• The competitive range is 1180 to 1320, with 1180 as the practical floor and 1320 putting you in the top quarter
• There is no minimum score required for admission, but scores below 1180 add pressure to the rest of your application
• LSU’s “Highest Sitting” policy means you can retake the SAT as many times as needed and submit only your best score
• Retention data confirms that students who submitted test scores performed better academically at LSU — which is exactly why the requirement was reinstated

A score of 1248 or above puts you in a strong position. A score of 1320 or above makes your SAT a genuine asset in your application. Get there with the right preparation and your path to LSU becomes significantly clearer.