Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Most US colleges remain test-optional for students applying for fall 2027 entry, and test-optional colleges still far outnumber schools that require scores. A growing list of selective universities requires the SAT or ACT, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins. Princeton, Notre Dame, and Columbia will require scores for fall 2028 entry.
In recent years, many colleges and universities have re-examined their standardized testing policies. [1] Some highly selective institutions have reinstated test requirements, while hundreds of test-optional colleges and test-free schools continue to let applicants apply without scores, giving students flexibility in how they present their academic record.
If you have already taken the SAT or ACT and feel confident in your score, submitting it can improve your application. If you have not taken a test, or believe your score does not reflect your academic potential, there are still many excellent schools that do not require scores.
Below, you will find three lists for students applying for fall 2027 entry: schools that require testing, schools that have announced they will require testing soon, and schools that remain test-optional or test-free.
Schools That Require Standardized Testing for 2026–27
The following colleges require SAT or ACT scores from most first-year applicants entering in fall 2027:
- Brown University
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Cornell University (Required since fall 2026 entry)
- Dartmouth College
- Florida State University
- Georgetown University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Harvard University (Required since the Class of 2029)
- Johns Hopkins University (Required since fall 2026 entry)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Ohio State University
- Purdue University (Scores expected, with limited exceptions)
- Stanford University
- University of Florida (SAT, ACT, or CLT)
- University of Georgia
- University of Miami (Required since fall 2026 entry, with some program exceptions)
- University of Pennsylvania (Hardship waivers available)
- University of Texas at Austin (CLT also accepted)
- Yale University (Test-flexible option ended; SAT or ACT required)
Carnegie Mellon uses a college-by-college policy: its School of Computer Science requires the SAT or ACT, and most of its other colleges require some form of testing. Rice remains test-optional but recommends submitting scores.
Schools Moving to Required Testing
Several colleges are test-optional for fall 2027 entry but have announced that scores will be required soon. If you are a high school junior or younger, plan your testing with these dates in mind:
- Princeton University (required starting with fall 2028 entry)
- University of Notre Dame (required starting with fall 2028 entry)
- Claremont McKenna College (required starting with fall 2028 entry)
- Vanderbilt University (required starting with fall 2029 entry)
Columbia University has also announced that first-year applicants seeking to enroll in fall 2028 will need to submit SAT or ACT scores, with waivers available on request.
Test-Optional Colleges and Test-Free Schools for 2026–27
Most US colleges still do not require scores. FairTest, which tracks testing policies, lists more than 2,000 test-optional or test-free four-year schools for fall 2027. [2] The table below covers many of the most popular options. Policies change often, so confirm each school’s current rules on its admissions website before you apply.
Note: “Test-optional” means you may choose whether to submit scores. “Test-free” (sometimes called test-blind) means scores are not considered at all.
| School | Testing Policy for Fall 2027 Entry | Notes (as posted, September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | Test-optional | SAT or ACT results optional (self-reported or official) |
| Boston College | Test-optional | Superscores submitted SAT and ACT results |
| Boston University | Test-optional | Through fall 2028 and spring 2029 entry |
| Claremont McKenna College | Test-optional | Required starting with fall 2028 entry |
| Columbia University | Test-optional | Columbia College and Columbia Engineering |
| Davidson College | Test-optional | Test-optional since 2020 |
| Duke University | Test-optional | First-year and transfer applicants |
| Emory University | Test-optional | Confirmed for fall 2027 entry |
| Lehigh University | Test-optional | Extended indefinitely |
| Pomona College | Test-optional | Self-reporting scores is voluntary |
| Princeton University | Test-optional | Required starting with fall 2028 entry |
| Reed College | Test-free | Scores are not used in evaluation |
| University of Michigan | Test-optional | No penalty for applying without scores |
| University of Notre Dame | Test-optional | Required starting with fall 2028 entry |
| University of Southern California | Test-optional | Highest scores recorded when submitted |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | Test-optional | Through spring 2028 entry |
| Vanderbilt University | Test-optional | Through fall 2028 entry; required starting with fall 2029 entry |
| Wake Forest University | Test-optional | Test-optional since fall 2009 entry |
What This Means for Applicants
As testing policies continue to shift, it pays to check each school’s current policy, especially the dates. Many test-optional policies are now set for a specific entry year or a set number of years, and a few schools have announced returns to required testing. As you plan, consider these questions:
- Does your score add to the academic picture your transcript already shows?
- Are your grades, course rigor, and activities compelling enough to apply without scores?
- Do any of your target schools require scores now, or will they by the time you apply?
If you are applying to schools that require testing, plan to take the SAT or ACT at least once in the spring of junior year so you have time to retake it in the summer or early fall. At test-optional schools, a useful rule of thumb is to submit a score that falls at or above the middle of the school’s reported range for admitted students.
The most successful applicants take a strategic approach. [3] Understanding each institution’s expectations helps you tailor your application accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not you submit test scores, colleges continue to value a holistic approach to admissions. [4] Thoughtful essays, recommendation letters, and meaningful extracurricular involvement remain central to a competitive application.
Because policies keep changing, check the admissions pages of your target schools directly; Notre Dame [5], Columbia [6], and Vanderbilt [7], for example, each post their upcoming testing requirements there. If you are unsure whether to apply test-optional, or need help building a college list that fits your goals, consider speaking with an admissions expert who can help you weigh your options.
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