The Pendulum Swings Back: Test Scores Are Mattering AgainSep 29, 2026 · 
If you are the parent of a high school senior in the Class of 2027, you have probably heard mixed messages about the SAT and ACT. For five years, "test-optional" felt like the new normal. That is changing, and it is changing fast at some of the most selective colleges in the country.
The short version: a growing list of colleges now require scores again, and many schools that are still officially test-optional are signaling that strong scores help. Here is what has shifted, why, and which colleges require testing for students applying this fall.

What's changedThe return to testing started with MIT in 2022 and picked up speed in 2024, when Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Stanford and others reinstated requirements. In 2026 the last holdouts among the most selective schools followed. With Columbia's June announcement, all eight Ivy League schools have now committed to requiring the SAT or ACT.
The 2026 announcements show the pace:
September 2026
Notre Dame
Required starting with the 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 entry)
July 2026
Vanderbilt
Required for the high school Class of 2029
June 2026
Columbia
Test-optional this year; required starting with the 2027-28 cycle
May 2026
Yale
Ended its "test-flexible" policy; SAT or ACT now required, AP/IB no longer substitute
Princeton made a similar move earlier: it stays test-optional for fall 2027 and requires scores beginning with the 2027-28 cycle. For today's seniors, that makes this the last year these schools are optional. For juniors and younger, plan on testing.

Why colleges are bringing tests backColleges point to their own data. Three findings come up again and again:

• Scores predict college success. Dartmouth's faculty research found test scores predicted college grades better than high school GPA. A Raj Chetty-led Opportunity Insights study of elite colleges reached the same conclusion.
• Grade inflation blurs the picture. At Dartmouth, students with a 4.0 in high school earned college grades only about 0.1 point higher than students with a 3.2.
• Some strong students were hiding helpful scores. Dartmouth found lower-income applicants withheld scores that would have made them stand out. Notre Dame said first-generation, Pell-eligible and rural students are most likely to be overlooked without them.

The key point for families: colleges say they read scores in context, against your student's school and opportunities, not against a fixed cutoff.

Colleges that require SAT or ACT scores for the Class of 2027These colleges require scores from students applying this fall (the 2026-27 cycle) for fall 2027 entry. Policies change often, so always confirm on each college's admissions site before applying.

Auburn University
New this year: required for all fall 2027 first-year applicants

Brown University
Required since the Class of 2029

Caltech
Required

Cornell University
Required across all undergraduate colleges

Dartmouth College
Required; published the research behind its decision

Georgetown University
Never went test-optional

Georgia Tech
Part of the University System of Georgia requirement

Harvard University
Required; AP/IB accepted only in rare cases

Johns Hopkins University
Required

MIT
First to reinstate, in 2022

Ohio State University (Columbus)
Required

Stanford University
Required

University of Florida (and Florida's public universities)
Required

University of Georgia
Part of the University System of Georgia requirement

University of Miami
Required, limited exceptions

University of Pennsylvania
Required; hardship waiver available

University of Tennessee (all campuses)
Self-reported scores required; tests through December 2026 count

University of Texas at Austin
Required

Yale University
Required; AP/IB no longer substitute for SAT/ACT

Required starting next year (still test-optional for the Class of 2027): Princeton, Columbia and Notre Dame begin with the 2027-28 cycle. Vanderbilt begins with the high school Class of 2029.
List compiled from Compass Education Group, Dewey Smart's test policy tracker and college announcements, as of September 2026.

"Optional" is not the same as "doesn't matter"Most colleges are still test-optional, but the label now covers a wide range of policies:

• Test-flexible: Carnegie Mellon's requirements vary by college within the university, and some programs expect scores.
• Test-recommended: The University of Michigan lists SAT/ACT as recommended, not required.
• Optional, but used: Purdue considers scores when submitted and encourages testing by spring of junior year for scholarship deadlines.
• Close to home: The University of Washington remains test-optional. Reviewers focus on coursework, though very high scores may help a small number of applicants.

At selective optional schools, many admitted students still submit. Among Columbia's fall 2024 enrollees, 44% submitted SAT scores, with a median of 1540. A strong score still sets an application apart.

​What this means for your studentSeniors (Class of 2027):

1. Check every school on your list. If even one requires scores, testing is not optional for you.
2. Know the cutoffs. Many schools accept fall test dates for early deadlines; the University of Tennessee, for example, counts tests taken through December 2026.
3. Submit to optional schools when your score is at or above the school's middle 50% range. Below that range, your grades, essays and activities may tell a stronger story on their own.

Juniors and younger (Class of 2028 and beyond):

1. Plan to test. Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt join the required list soon, and more schools are likely to follow.
2. Take a first test by spring of junior year. That leaves time to retake and to meet scholarship deadlines.
3. Treat test prep like any other important class: a steady plan beats a last-minute cram.

Every student's list and testing strategy is different. If you'd like help deciding whether to test, when to test, or where to send scores, Academic Pathways Consulting can build a plan around your student's goals. Reach out to schedule a consultation.
Sources

• Compass Education Group: Testing Policies in the Spotlight
• Dewey Smart: SAT & ACT Policy Tracker, 2026-27
• Princeton: Standardized Testing Policy
• Higher Ed Dive: Columbia reinstates SAT/ACT requirements
• WNDU: Notre Dame to require ACT, SAT scores again
• Applerouth: Vanderbilt reinstates SAT/ACT requirements
• Applerouth: Dartmouth reinstates SAT & ACT requirements
• The Plainsman: Auburn to require test scores starting fall 2027
• University of Tennessee: Test Score Policy
• University of Washington: Test Scores

Purdue: First-Year Criteria