Most U.S. colleges no longer require the SAT or ACT, but a growing group of selective schools and public university systems do.
If you are applying for fall 2027 or later, knowing which schools require scores can save you months of planning.
This guide lists the colleges that require SAT or ACT scores, explains how the requirements are changing, and shows how to check any school's policy before you apply.
It also covers test prep choices so you can plan your timeline.
One honest note first: no list is truly complete, and policies change often. FairTest, a group that tracks testing policies, counted 161 U.S. institutions requiring scores for fall 2027 admission out of 2,182 confirmed institutions in its August 25, 2026 release.
This article covers the best-known requiring schools, and you should confirm each one on the college's own admissions page before you apply.
Facts below were checked on October 27, 2026.
FairTest's August 2026 release found that 2,021 of 2,182 confirmed institutions, or 92.6%, are test-optional or test-free for fall 2027, and 161 require scores.
The release's headline says about 90% of four-year colleges will not require scores, and its table gives 92.6%, so I used the table.
The number of required schools rose by one from 160 for fall 2026, and FairTest says there has been no national return to required testing.
What is changing is who requires scores. FairTest says eight of the 12 institutions in its "Ivy Plus" group require scores, and four do not.
State systems in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Washington are test-optional for current juniors and seniors, and the University of California and California State University systems are permanently test-blind, which means they do not consider scores at all.
FairTest is an advocacy group that favors test-optional policies, so keep that perspective in mind when you read its summaries.
How to Use This List and Start Your Prep
Treat this list as a starting point for your own research.
- Build a college list first. Include schools you like, then check each one's policy.
- Check the policy for your entry year. Some schools are test-optional now but will require scores later.
- Look for exceptions. Several schools require scores only for certain majors, GPA ranges or applicant types.
- Plan your test date backward. Count back from the earliest deadline, leave time to retake and send official scores early.
If you want a structured prep program, one option is PrepScholar. A deals-site post says PrepScholar offers a 5-day free trial for its SAT and ACT programs.
That page was published on September 2, 2026 on a third-party coupon site, not PrepScholar's own site.
It says payment details are required to start the trial, that charges begin automatically when the trial ends, and that you must cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.
It also mentions a 120-hour refund window that starts after you finish the diagnostic test.
Read the terms on PrepScholar's official site before you sign up. Disclosure: this article links to a third-party coupon site, and such sites often earn commissions.
Choosing a Test Prep Option
Your prep method matters less than how consistently you practice. The main options are free resources, self-paced online programs, live classes and private tutoring.
Free practice tests and study tools can take you far, and paid programs add structure, feedback and a schedule.
For price comparisons, this page on PrepScholar vs other test prep platforms lists PrepScholar SAT and ACT prep at $500 to $600 in a table, while its text says SAT prep is around $397 for 12 months.
Those numbers conflict, so verify current prices on PrepScholar's site. The page also compares PrepScholar with Khan Academy, Kaplan and Princeton Review, and it claims a score-improvement guarantee and a 25% figure for large gains.
It gives no source for those claims, and it comes from a promotional site, so treat them with caution.
When you compare any prep provider, ask:
- What does the full price include, and how long is access?
- Are payments split into installments, and what happens if you stop?
- What is the refund policy, and when does it start?
- Is there a free trial, and does it renew automatically?
- Do practice tests match the current test format?
Ivy League and Selective Private Colleges That Require Scores
Several elite private universities have brought back testing requirements.
Two college-admissions trackers I checked, last verified in July and August 2026, list these as requiring scores for the 2026-27 cycle.
Trackers can differ, so confirm each school's page.
| College | What the trackers report |
|---|---|
| Brown University | Reinstated for the Class of 2029 cycle; rare exceptions when tests are inaccessible |
| California Institute of Technology | Reinstated in 2024; no minimum score |
| Cornell University | Required for fall 2026 and beyond |
| Dartmouth College | Reactivated for the Class of 2029 cycle |
| Georgetown University | At least one full SAT or ACT; superscores not accepted |
| Harvard University | Required again; alternative tests allowed in rare cases when SAT and ACT are not accessible |
| Johns Hopkins University | Reported as a hard requirement |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Reinstated; waivers only for documented disruptions |
| Stanford University | SAT or ACT required; no minimum score |
| University of Pennsylvania | Required from the 2025-26 cycle; hardship waivers available |
| Yale University | One tracker reports Yale ended its test-flexible policy, so AP and IB scores no longer substitute |
Two of these have official statements I could read. Harvard announced on April 11, 2024 that it will again require standardized test scores, accepting the SAT or ACT and allowing alternative tests in exceptional cases.
MIT announced on March 28, 2022 that it would reinstate the requirement, saying its research found tests helped it predict success and helped identify well-prepared students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
MIT says applicants who cannot test safely can explain that in their application.
Other private colleges on the trackers include University of Miami (with exceptions for some performance and portfolio programs, international graduates and transfers).
Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science (most other colleges there are test-flexible), Cooper Union for engineering majors and Florida Institute of Technology.
Colleges That Will Require Scores Later
Some schools are test-optional now but have announced future requirements. Check these if you apply in 2027 or later.
| College | Requirement starts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University (Columbia College and Columbia Engineering) | 2027-28 admission cycle, for fall 2028 enrollment | Columbia's own page, published June 12, 2026, says both schools stay test-optional for 2026-27, offers waivers for applicants who face challenges meeting the requirement and sets no minimum score |
| Princeton University | 2027-28 cycle, according to the trackers | The Princeton page I opened described an older test-optional policy, so confirm on Princeton's admissions site |
| Claremont McKenna College | Fall 2028 admission cycle, according to one tracker | Test-optional extended through fall 2027 entry |
| Vanderbilt University | Fall 2029 entry, according to one tracker | Test-optional for fall 2027 and fall 2028 |
Public Universities and State Systems That Require Scores
Public requirements often follow state policy, so they affect many applicants at once. The trackers list these:
- Florida: All Florida public four-year universities, including the University of Florida, which accepts the SAT, ACT or Classical Learning Test (CLT).
- Tennessee: All Tennessee four-year public universities and colleges.
- Georgia: University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia College and State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University.
- Texas: University of Texas at Austin, which one tracker says needs at least one official score sent directly from the testing agency.
- Ohio: The Ohio State University, with an exception for applicants out of high school two or more years.
- Indiana: Purdue University, whose site says it expects standardized testing.
- Alabama and Louisiana: One tracker reports that the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University require scores only for applicants below certain GPAs for the Class of 2027, and for all applicants for the Class of 2028.
- North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, listed as required for applicants with a weighted GPA below 2.8, according to one tracker.
- Others: Auburn University, Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Fairmont State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Service Academies and Other Colleges
The trackers also list the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant.
Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy requires scores, and all accept the CLT as well.
Smaller colleges named include Gallaudet University, Harding University, Mercer University, Thomas Aquinas College, University of Dallas, William Carey University, College of the Ozarks.
Carroll College (required for some applicants by GPA or homeschool status) and Webb Institute, which recommends submitting all scores.
Well-Known Colleges That Remain Test-Optional
To avoid confusion, here are notable schools that FairTest says stay test-optional or test-free through fall 2027:
Emory University, the University of Chicago, the University of Southern California, Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Middlebury College, Swarthmore College, Wesleyan University and Williams College.
The University of California and California State University systems are test-blind.
Test-optional does not mean scores are ignored, since submitting a strong score can still help at many schools, but you will not be penalized for leaving it out.
What "Test-Optional," "Test-Flexible," "Test-Blind" and "Required" Mean
- Required: you must submit an SAT or ACT score.
- Test-optional: you choose whether to submit scores.
- Test-flexible: you may submit other tests such as AP or IB instead of the SAT or ACT. Some schools are ending this option.
- Test-blind or test-free: scores are not considered even if you send them.
- Considered if submitted: scores are reviewed only when you send them.
Also watch for conditional requirements, such as scores required for certain majors, GPA ranges, homeschooled students or transfer applicants.
Also Read: Complete List of SAT and ACT Required Colleges
How to Check Any College's Policy
- Search "[college name] standardized testing policy" and open the result on the college's own website.
- Look for the entry year you are applying to, not just the current year.
- Read exceptions for majors, international applicants, homeschoolers and transfers.
- Check how the school treats multiple test dates: superscoring, Score Choice or all scores.
- Confirm score-sending rules, such as whether self-reported scores are allowed.
- Write down the policy date and recheck before you submit your application.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Relying on a list from last year
- Assuming one tracker is complete
- Skipping the test because most schools are optional, when your target schools require it
- Missing the score-sending deadline
- Ignoring major-specific or GPA-based requirements
- Paying for test prep before testing free options
- Letting a free trial renew without reading the cancellation terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Which colleges require the SAT or ACT?
FairTest counted 161 institutions requiring scores for fall 2027. Well-known examples include Brown, Caltech, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Stanford, Penn and Yale, along with many public systems in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Confirm each school's policy.
Do all Ivy League schools require scores?
Not yet in every case. FairTest says eight of the 12 Ivy Plus institutions require scores, and Columbia and Princeton are reported to be moving to requirements starting with the 2027-28 cycle.
Can I apply without a score if a college requires one?
Usually not, except for narrow exceptions such as documented hardship or inaccessibility. Check the college's exception rules.
Does a high score help at test-optional schools?
It can. Many test-optional schools still consider scores that you submit, though policies differ.
Is the ACT or the SAT better?
Required schools generally accept either one. Choose the test where you score better after taking practice tests.
Final Thoughts
Most colleges do not require the SAT or ACT, but the schools that do include some of the most selective private universities and several large public systems.
Build your college list first, check each policy for your entry year, and plan your testing timeline around the earliest deadline. Recheck policies before you apply, because this list can change.
Sources
Facts were checked on October 27, 2026, and may change.
- FairTest, ACT/SAT optional and test-free policies for fall 2027 (press release, August 25, 2026)
- Columbia University, Testing Policy Update (published June 12, 2026)
- Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Return to Required Testing (April 11, 2024)
- MIT News, Q&A: Stuart Schmill on MIT's decision to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement (March 28, 2022)