Colleges Reinstating Standardized Testing Requirements
This year, several more colleges are reinstating SAT and ACT requirements. As the admissions landscape shifts again, students should make sure to keep up to date on individual school policies and consider preparing for standardized testing.
While the vast majority of institutions in our coverage universe still offer some form of test-optional admissions, a number of institutions have reinstated standardized testing requirements after going test-optional during the pandemic.
Click on Continue Reading to see our select list of schools who have reinstated requirements for recent and upcoming cycles. For your convenience, we’ve included admit rates and links to each school’s standardized test policy details to help you find suitable candidates for your college list.
For College Kickstart subscribers, this information is automatically updated and visible as part of the requirements view.
Colleges Reinstating Standardized Testing Requirements
College Kickstart LLC
| Institution | State | Admit Rate (%) | Mid 50 SAT/ACT | Cycle Reinstated | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | NJ | 4 | 1500-1560 34-35 | 2027-28 | ↗ | |
| Claremont McKenna | CA | 9 | 1480-1540 33-35 | 2027-28 | ↗ | |
| Auburn | AL | 46 | 1260-1380 26-31 | 2026-27 | Test submission was already strongly encouraged | ↗ |
| Alabama | AL | 77 | 1110-1360 22-30 | 2026-27 | Phased return: GPA <3.0 required first, universal requirement for Fall 2028 | ↗ |
| LSU | LA | 73 | 1180-1320 24-30 | 2026-27 | Phased return: GPA <3.5 required first, universal requirement for Fall 2028 | ↗ |
| Carnegie Mellon | PA | 11 | 1500-1560 34-36 | 2025-26 | Flexible; Required for CS; Optional for Fine Arts | ↗ |
| Cornell | NY | 8 | 1510-1560 33-35 | 2025-26 | ↗ | |
| Georgia Southern | GA | 88 | 970-1140 18-23 | 2025-26 | Part of University System of Georgia’s shift | ↗ |
| Georgia State | GA | 55 | 980-1200 19-26 | 2025-26 | Part of University System of Georgia’s shift | ↗ |
| Johns Hopkins | MD | 6 | 1530-1560 34-36 | 2025-26 | ↗ | |
| Kennesaw State | GA | 69 | 1010-1210 19-26 | 2025-26 | Part of University System of Georgia’s shift | ↗ |
| Ohio State | OH | 61 | 1280-1430 26-32 | 2025-26 | ↗ | |
| Stanford | CA | 4 | 1510-1570 34-35 | 2025-26 | ↗ | |
| University of Miami | FL | 18 | 1350-1450 30-33 | 2025-26 | ↗ | |
| UPenn | PA | 5 | 1510-1570 34-36 | 2025-26 | ↗ |