Data Notice: College testing policies change frequently. Always verify the current policy on each institution’s official admissions website before applying.

Test-Optional Admissions in 2026: Which Colleges Still Require the SAT/ACT?

The test-optional movement was one of the defining shifts in college admissions during the COVID-19 era. When standardized testing centers closed in 2020, colleges had no choice but to drop requirements. But the question was always whether those changes would stick.

In 2026, the answer is nuanced: some of the most prestigious universities have reinstated testing requirements, while the vast majority of colleges remain test-optional. According to FairTest, over 90 percent of ranked four-year colleges and universities will remain test-optional for the 2026 admissions cycle. But the schools returning to testing include some of the most selective in the country.

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Which Elite Schools Have Reinstated Testing?

The wave of reinstatements began in 2024 and has continued through 2026. According to Carnegie Prep’s admissions update, the following selective institutions now require the SAT or ACT:

Institution	Policy Change
Brown University	Required starting Fall 2025
Caltech	Required starting Fall 2025
Cornell University	Required starting Fall 2025
Dartmouth College	Required starting Fall 2025
Harvard University	Required starting Fall 2025
Stanford University	Required starting Fall 2026
Yale University	Required starting Fall 2025
University of Texas at Austin	Required starting Fall 2025
University of Pennsylvania	Required starting Fall 2026
University of Miami	Required starting Fall 2026
Ohio State University	Required starting Fall 2026

Seven of the eight Ivy League schools have returned to testing requirements — Columbia being the notable exception.

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Which Prestigious Schools Remain Test-Optional?

Despite the high-profile reinstatements, many top-ranked universities continue test-optional policies. According to Fortuna Admissions and Crimson Education, these include:

• Columbia University — Test-optional through at least Fall 2026
• Princeton University — Test-optional through at least Fall 2026
• University of Chicago — Test-optional (permanently, since 2018)
• Emory University — Test-optional through Fall 2026
• University of Southern California — Test-optional through Fall 2026
• Vanderbilt University — Test-optional through Fall 2026
• Amherst College — Test-optional
• Bowdoin College — Test-free (tests not considered even if submitted)
• Middlebury College — Test-optional
• Wesleyan University — Test-optional

The landscape varies significantly by tier. Among the top 20 national universities, there is roughly a 50/50 split between test-required and test-optional. Below the top 50, test-optional is overwhelmingly the norm.

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Why Schools Are Reinstating Tests

The universities that brought testing back have cited internal research showing that standardized test scores add predictive value to their admissions decisions. According to Test Innovators, the key arguments are:

1. Predictive validity. Multiple studies, including internal research at Dartmouth and Harvard, found that SAT/ACT scores predict first-year college GPA more reliably than high school GPA alone — particularly across different high school grading standards.

2. Equity concerns. Counterintuitively, some schools argue that testing helps identify talented students from under-resourced high schools. Without test scores, admissions officers may default to other proxies for rigor — like AP course availability — that disadvantage students at schools that do not offer them.

3. Information loss. Without test scores, admissions decisions rely more heavily on subjective factors (essays, recommendations, extracurriculars), which can be influenced by coaching and resources that wealthier students have greater access to.

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Why Schools Are Staying Test-Optional

The case for remaining test-optional is equally compelling:

1. Application diversity. Schools that dropped testing requirements saw significant increases in applications from underrepresented groups, first-generation students, and low-income families.

2. Testing access. SAT/ACT testing is not equally accessible. Students in rural areas may need to travel long distances to reach a testing center, and low-income families may not afford test prep.

3. Holistic review. Many admissions offices believe their holistic review process — examining grades, course rigor, essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations — provides a more complete picture than a single test score.

For strategies on building a strong application regardless of testing policy, see our SAT vs ACT comparison and our college application timeline for full planning guidance.

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What This Means for Students

If Your Target School Requires Tests

• Prepare early. Start SAT/ACT prep in the spring of junior year, if not sooner.
• Take the test more than once. Most students improve on their second attempt.
• Consider both the SAT and ACT. Take a practice test for each to see which format suits you better. Our SAT vs ACT guide covers the differences in detail.

If Your Target School Is Test-Optional

• Strong scores still help. At most test-optional schools, submitting strong scores (above the school’s 50th percentile) strengthens your application. Submitting weak scores hurts it.
• Check the school’s data. Many schools publish the percentage of admitted students who submitted scores. If 70 percent of admitted students submitted, there may be an implicit expectation.
• Focus on what you can control. Without test scores, your GPA, course rigor, essays, and extracurriculars carry even more weight. Our how to write a college essay guide can help you strengthen the most important piece.

A Word of Caution on AI in Essays

As noted in our college interview prep guide, the rise of AI-generated content has led many schools to increase scrutiny of essays. According to SparkAdmissions, approximately 40 percent of four-year colleges now employ AI detection technology. Write your essays yourself — admissions officers can tell the difference.

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The Bottom Line

The test-optional landscape in 2026 is a split decision. Elite schools are trending back toward testing requirements, citing research on predictive validity and equity. But the vast majority of colleges — including many excellent and highly ranked institutions — remain test-optional.

Your strategy should depend on where you are applying. If any of your target schools require testing, prepare accordingly. If you are applying exclusively to test-optional schools and your scores are below the 50th percentile, you may benefit from not submitting them.

Sources

1. Fall 2026 Test-Optional Press Release — FairTest — accessed March 26, 2026
2. College Admissions Update: The Shift Back to SAT/ACT Requirements — Carnegie Prep — accessed March 26, 2026
3. Which Colleges Are Test-Optional in 2026? — Fortuna Admissions — accessed March 26, 2026
4. Test-Optional Colleges 2026/27: Full List — Crimson Education — accessed March 26, 2026