Last Updated on June 10, 2025 by Charlotte DuJardin
2025–2026 Test Optional Colleges: What You Need to Know
Over the last several admissions cycles, many colleges and universities have reexamined their standardized testing policies. While some institutions have chosen to reinstate test requirements, others continue to maintain test optional or test blind policies, offering students more flexibility in how they present themselves during the admissions process.
If you’ve already taken the SAT or ACT and feel confident in your score, submitting it can strengthen your application. However, if you haven’t taken the test or believe your score doesn’t reflect your academic potential, there are still plenty of schools that do not require test scores for admission.
Below, you’ll find two updated lists: one highlighting schools that now require standardized testing, and another listing institutions that are continuing test optional or test blind policies for the 2025–2026 application cycle and beyond.
Schools That Now Require Testing
- Brown University
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Cornell University (recommended now, required next cycle)
- Dartmouth College
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgetown University
- Johns Hopkins University (recommended now, required next cycle)
- Harvard University
- Florida State University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Ohio State University (required beginning 2025–26)
- Purdue University
- University of Pennsylvania (required beginning 2025–26)
- Rice University (recommended)
- Stanford University (required beginning 2025–26)
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Texas at Austin
- Yale University (test flexible)
Test Optional Colleges for 2025–2026 (and Beyond)
Many schools have extended or made permanent their test optional or test blind policies. Whether you’re applying to a large public university or a small liberal arts college, this list highlights the many institutions that do not require test scores for the 2025–2026 cycle.
Note: “Test optional” means students may choose whether to submit scores. “Test blind” means test scores will not be considered at all. Here is the full list:
School | Application Years Impacted |
American University | Permanently Test Optional |
Amherst College | 2023-24 |
Babson College | 2024-2025 |
Bard College | Permanently Test Optional |
Barnard College | 2023-24 |
Bates College | Permanently Test Optional |
Baylor University | 2023-24 |
Bentley University | 2024-2025 |
Berea College | 2023-24 |
Boston College | 2024-2025 |
Boston University | 2024-2025 |
Bowdoin College | Permanently Test Optional |
Brandeis University | Permanently Test Optional |
Bryn Mawr College | Test Optional for US Citz/Perm Res – Required for Intl |
Bucknell University | 2023-24 |
California State University (all schools) | Permanently Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT |
Carleton College | 2024-2025 |
Carnegie Mellon University | 2024-25 (strongly recommends for CS applicants) |
Case Western Reserve University | 2023-24 |
Catholic University | Permanently Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT |
Chapman University | Permanently Test Optional |
City University of New York (all schools) | 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027 |
Claremont McKenna College | 2023-24 |
Clarkson University | 2023-24 |
Clemson University | 2023-24 |
Colby College | Permanently Test Optional |
Colgate University | 2023-24, 2024-2025 |
College of Charleston | Permanently Test Optional |
Colorado College | Permanently Test Optional |
Columbia University | Permanently Test Optional |
Cooper Union | 2023-24 |
Davidson College | Permanently Test Optional |
Drexel University | 2023-24 |
Duke University | 2023-24 |
Elon University | 2023-24 |
Emory University | 2025-26 |
Fordham University | 2023-24 |
Franklin and Marshall College | Permanently Test Optional |
George Washington University | Permanently Test Optional |
Grinnell College | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Hamilton College | 2023-24 |
Harvey Mudd College | 2023-24 |
Holy Cross | Permanently Test Optional |
Haverford College | Permanently Test Optional |
Indiana University — Bloomington | Permanently Test Optional |
Kenyon College | 2023-24 |
Lafayette University | 2023-24 |
Lehigh University | Permanently Test Optional |
Loyola Marymount University | 2023-24 |
Macalester College | Permanently Test Optional |
Michigan State | 2023-24 |
Middlebury College | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Mt. Holyoke College | Permanently Test Optional |
New York University | 2023-24 |
Northeastern University | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Northwestern University | 2024-25 |
Oberlin College | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Occidental College | Permanently Test Optional |
Olin College of Engineering | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Oregon State University | Permanently Test Optional |
Pennsylvania St University | 2023-24 |
Pepperdine University | 2023-24 |
Pitzer | 2024-25 (Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT) |
Pomona College | Permanently Test Optional |
Princeton University | 2024-25, 2025-26 |
Reed College | 2023-2024 (Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT) |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 2023-24 |
Rhodes College | Permanently Test Optional |
Rochester Institute of Technology | Permanently Test Optional |
Rutgers University | 2023-24 |
Santa Clara University | 2023-24 |
Scripps College | Permanently Test Optional |
Skidmore College | 2023-24 |
Smith College | 2023-2024 |
SOKA | 2023-2024 |
State University of New York (all schools) | Permanently Test Optional |
Stevens Institute of Technology | 2024-2025, 2025-2026 |
Swarthmore College | 2024-25 |
Syracuse University | 2024-25 |
Texas A&M | 2023-2024 |
Texas Christian University | 2023-24 |
Trinity College | Permanently Test Optional |
Tufts University | 2024-2025, 2025-2026 |
Tulane University | 2023-2024 |
University of California (all schools) | Permanently Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT |
University of Chicago | Permanently Test Optional |
University of Colorado – Boulder | 2023-24 |
University of Connecticut | 2025-2026 |
University of Illinois (all schools) | 2023-2024 |
University of Maryland, College Park | 2024-2025 |
University of Massachusetts—Amherst | 2023-2024 |
University of Miami | 2023-24 |
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | 2023-24 |
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities | 2024-2025 |
University of North Carolina (all schools) | 2023-24 |
University of Notre Dame | 2024-2025 |
University of Oregon | Permanently Test Optional |
University of Pittsburgh | 2024-2025 |
University of Richmond | 2023-2024 |
University of Rochester | Permanently Test Optional |
University of San Diego | Permanently Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT |
University of South Carolina | 2023-2024 |
University of Southern California | 2023-2024 |
University of Toronto | 2023-2024 |
University of Virginia | 2024-2025 |
University of Washington — Seattle | Permanently Test Optional |
University of Wisconsin — Madison | 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027 |
Vanderbilt University | 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027 |
Vassar College | 2023-2024 |
Villanova University | 2024-2025, 2025-2026 |
Virginia Tech | 2023-24, 2023-24 |
Wake Forest University | Permanently Test Optional |
Washington and Lee University | 2023-24 |
Washington University in St. Louis | 2023-24 |
Wellesley College | 2023-24 |
Wesleyan University | Permanently Test Optional |
William and Mary | Permanently Test Optional |
Williams College | 2024-25 |
Worcester Polytechnic University | Permanently Test Blind – not accepting SAT/ACT |
What This Means for Applicants
As testing requirements continue to evolve, students need to stay informed about each school’s current policy. While some colleges now expect scores, others are experimenting with long-term test optional approaches or have decided to eliminate test scores entirely from consideration.
When planning your applications, consider the following:
- Does your test score add strength to your overall academic profile?
- Are your GPA, course rigor, and extracurricular activities strong enough to apply test optional?
- Are any of your target schools now requiring scores?
The most successful applicants take a strategic approach. Understanding each institution’s expectations helps you tailor your application accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not you choose to submit test scores, colleges continue to value a holistic approach to admissions. Strong essays, recommendation letters, and thoughtful extracurricular involvement remain critical components of a competitive application.
If you’re unsure whether to go test optional or need help building a college list that fits your goals, consider speaking with an admissions expert who can help you navigate your options with confidence.
Ready to get started? Schedule a free strategy call today and take the first step toward your future success.
