Return to Testing Requirements : Colleges that have reinstated SAT/ACTs for admission
- University of Pennsylvania
“Beginning with the 2025-2026 undergraduate admissions cycle, Penn is reinstating a standardized testing requirement for applicants, with the goal of bringing clarity and transparency to the application process. Students applying for fall 2026 admission will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their admission materials. Penn’s updated policy will allow students facing hardship in accessing testing to submit a testing waiver with their application.”
- Harvard University
“HARVARD ANNOUNCED today that the College will reinstitute mandatory submission of standardized test scores for applicants, beginning with students applying for fall 2025 admission (the class of 2029).”
- Brown University
Source: https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-03-05/admissions
“Starting with next year’s application cycle (effective for the Class of 2029), Brown will reinstate the requirement that applicants for first-year admission submit standardized tests scores (the SAT or ACT, except in the rare circumstance when these tests are not available to a student). This will accompany enhanced communications to students and school counselors emphasizing that test scores are interpreted in the context of a student’s background and educational opportunities.”
- Dartmouth College
“Informed by new research, Dartmouth will reactivate the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission beginning with applicants to the Class of 2029.”
- Yale University
Source: https://news.yale.edu/2024/02/22/yale-announces-new-test-flexible-admissions-policy
“After four years with a test-optional policy that allowed applicants to decide whether or not to submit test scores, Yale will resume requiring scores of all applicants. But it will expand the list of tests that fulfill the requirement to include AP and IB exams in addition to the SAT and ACT.”
- Cornell University
Source: https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy
“Cornell will reinstitute standardized testing requirements for students seeking undergraduate admission for fall 2026 enrollment. To provide students with time to prepare and take standardized tests, Cornell will remain test optional for students applying in the upcoming admissions cycle for enrollment in fall 2025, as previously announced, although these applicants are encouraged to submit SAT and/or ACT scores to Cornell colleges and schools that are currently test-optional.”
- MIT
“At MIT Admissions, our mission is to recruit, select, and enroll a diverse and talented group of students who are a good match for MIT’s unique education and culture. Everything we do in our process is grounded by our goal to find and admit students who will succeed at MIT and serve the world afterward.
After careful consideration, we have decided to reinstate our SAT/ACT requirement for future admissions cycles. Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants, and also help us identify socioeconomically disadvantaged students who lack access to advanced coursework or other enrichment opportunities that would otherwise demonstrate their readiness for MIT.”
- Georgetown University
Source: https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/preparation-process/
“Georgetown University requires submission of SAT and/or ACT scores as part of our holistic application review process. Candidates for admission should submit official score reports from the College Board and/or ACT.”
- Caltech
“Caltech has reinstated its requirement for prospective students to submit SAT or ACT test scores as part of their application for admission to undergraduate study. The test requirement takes effect immediately, which means that all students who apply to Caltech beginning in fall 2024 and would enroll in fall 2025 are required to report test scores as part of their application.
This decision, which follows a recommendation from a faculty Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions Policy, reflects the judgment that standardized testing provides admissions officers and faculty reviewers useful information about academic preparedness as part of a holistic consideration of all prospective students. In reinstating the standardized testing requirement, Caltech reaffirms its commitment as a community of scientists and engineers to using all relevant data in its decision-making processes.”
- University of Texas at Austin
“After four years of test-optional admissions for undergraduate applications, The University of Texas at Austin will return to requiring standardized testing scores, beginning with applications for the Fall 2025 semester. The University suspended the standardized score requirement in Spring 2020 due to limited testing availability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our goals are to attract the best and brightest students and to make sure every student is successful once they are here. Standardized scores combined with high school GPA support this goal by improving early identification of students who demonstrated the greatest academic achievement, the most potential, and those who can most benefit from support through our student success programs,” said President Jay Hartzell.”
- Purdue University
“Purdue University expects applicants to have SAT or ACT scores. Recognizing that in some exceptional cases, applicants may not have been able to take a test, we allow submission of applications in those cases.”
- Stanford University (Fall 2026)
Source: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/first-year/testing.html
“Applications without ACT or SAT scores will not be at a disadvantage. In previous test-optional cycles, we admitted students who submitted ACT or SAT scores, and we admitted students who did not.
Beginning with the 2025–2026 application cycle, Stanford will reinstate its standardized testing requirement. ACT or SAT scores will be required for first-year and transfer students submitting applications for the Fall 2026 entry term.”
- Vanderbilt University (Fall 2026)
Source: https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/apply/testing-policies/
“Vanderbilt University will continue its test-optional policy through fall 2027. Scores from the ACT or SAT exams will not be required for students applying to enter the university for fall 2025, 2026, and 2027.
When applying to Vanderbilt, students will indicate on the application whether they wish to be considered with or without ACT or SAT scores. The applicant’s choice regarding ACT or SAT score submission will not advantage or disadvantage the application review. Vanderbilt will consider an applicant’s academic record, including rigor of coursework; ACT or SAT scores (if submitted);”
- University of Wisconsin (Fall 2027)
“Students who are applying for admission in spring 2025, fall 2025, spring 2026, fall 2026, and spring 2027 will not be required to submit an ACT or SAT score as part of their application for admission.”
- Georgia Tech
Source: https://admission.gatech.edu/first-year/standardized-tests#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20admitted%20and,ACT%20school%20code:%200818
“Official Scores
If you are admitted and choose to enroll at Georgia Tech, you will need to submit official test scores before attending orientation.”
