US College SAT ACT Requirements 2026: Policy Changes
- Prestige Institute
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
As of 2026 | US College Admissions Policy Update
For fall 2026 admissions, some US universities are reinstating requirements to submit SAT or ACT scores. This shift is particularly concentrated among Ivy League and other top-tier schools, directly impacting students preparing for the upcoming admissions cycle.
As a result, students who assumed testing was optional may now be at a disadvantage—making it critical to understand how US college SAT ACT requirements 2026 are evolving across institutions.
US College SAT ACT Requirements 2026 Overview
Over 90% of four-year colleges still maintain test-optional policies
However, top-tier universities are increasingly requiring test submissions again
As a result, multiple testing policies now coexist across US college admissions
Overall Trend: Most Optional, Elites ChangingMost US four-year colleges continue test-optional policies. However, major top schools such as Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT are reintroducing or strengthening test submission requirements between 2024–2026. According to recent admissions announcements and institutional updates, public flagships like UT Austin, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and Ohio State are also moving toward requiring tests. The result: US college admissions no longer follow a single standard—policies now vary significantly by institution. |
Which Universities Require SAT/ACT in 2026
The following is based on publicly available information as of March 2026. Policies may change, so always confirm with official admissions pages before applying.
University | 2026 Fall SAT/ACT Policy | ACT Science | Status | Notes |
MIT | Required | Optional | Confirmed | Based on MIT’s official announcement, testing was reinstated early post-pandemic. |
Harvard | Effectively reinstating as required, guidance adjusting | Optional | Trend / Adjusting | Harvard Admissions has adjusted guidance in line with peer institutions. |
Stanford | Test-optional recently; check admissions office for 2026 | Treated as optional by many schools | Likely Change | High likelihood of required/strongly recommended direction. |
Yale | Test-Flexible: Choose 1+ from SAT, ACT, AP, IB required | Optional | Confirmed | According to Yale Admissions, students must submit at least one form of testing (SAT/ACT/AP/IB). |
UPenn | Announced switch to SAT/ACT required starting 2025–26 cycle | Optional | Confirmed | Officially announced requirement starting 2025–26 cycle. |
Brown | SAT/ACT required | Optional | Confirmed | Returned to required policy starting 2024–25 cycle. |
Dartmouth | SAT/ACT required | Optional | Confirmed | According to Dartmouth Admissions, testing improves evaluation accuracy based on internal research. |
Cornell | Varies by college (some required, some optional) | Optional | Conditional | Depends on specific college/major. |
Johns Hopkins | Considering reinstatement after review | Optional | Trend / Discussion | Considering reinstatement after test-optional extension. |
Caltech | Adjusting testing policy | Optional | Trend / Adjusting | Possible shift following STEM peer institutions. |
Georgetown | Effectively strongly required | No separate mention | Confirmed | Long-standing expectation to submit full testing history. |
Carnegie Mellon (CS) | Effectively required for some majors | Optional | Conditional | Highly competitive majors strongly favor high scores. |
Columbia | Permanent test-optional | - | Confirmed | Permanent test-optional policy. |
Princeton | Test-optional through fall 2026; required from 2027–28 | Optional | Confirmed (Future) | Required starting 2027–28 cycle. |
UT Austin / UF / GA Tech | Mostly required (major public flagships) | No separate mention | Confirmed | Public flagship trend toward required testing. |
Rice | Test-optional but "recommended submission" tone | Optional | Confirmed | Official messaging states submission is advantageous. |
Types of Testing Policies Explained
US college testing policies generally fall into five categories:
1) Test-Required Mandatory SAT or ACT submission (MIT, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn)
2) Test-Flexible Alternative tests allowed (AP/IB instead of SAT/ACT), as at Yale
3) Test-Optional Students choose whether to submit (Columbia, many mid-tier schools)
4) Test-Blind Scores not considered at all (e.g., University of California system)
5) Program-Specific / GPA-Conditional
Requirements vary by major or academic profile, especially in quantitative fields like Engineering and CS
Why SAT/ACT Policies Are Changing Again
During the pandemic, test center closures forced many universities to suspend testing requirements.
Post-pandemic, institutions reviewed internal data and reached different conclusions about the role of standardized testing.
According to Dartmouth Admissions, test scores can improve the accuracy of academic evaluation. Based on MIT’s official admissions communication, testing can also serve as a consistent benchmark across different educational environments.
Additionally, research from College Board suggests that standardized testing can help differentiate among highly competitive applicants.
Changes to the ACT Science Section
The ACT Science section is becoming optional within the test structure, but university expectations still vary.
Many universities—including Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Purdue, and UPenn—treat it as optional. However, some institutions such as Georgetown maintain stronger expectations.
Assuming “optional means unnecessary” can be risky.
Students should evaluate:
Whether their target schools consider Science scores
Whether the section strengthens their academic profile
FAQ
Q. Is SAT/ACT required for 2026 admissions?
Not universally. Most colleges remain test-optional.
Q. Which schools require testing?
MIT, UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, and several public flagships.
Q. Are there test-blind schools?
Yes. The University of California system does not consider test scores.
Q. Is ACT Science required?
Depends on the school. Optional at many, but more important at some.
Q. Can I skip testing if a school is test-optional?
Not necessarily. Competitive scores can strengthen applications, especially for STEM majors.
Final Thoughts
In short, while most colleges remain test-optional, top-tier admissions are moving in the opposite direction.
US college admissions now operate under a mixed system of required, optional, and test-blind policies—and this structure is unlikely to unify anytime soon.
Understanding how each school approaches testing is becoming an essential part of navigating the admissions process.
📌 As of 2026 | Always reconfirm policies on official admissions websites
Sources: Official admissions pages of each university
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