Updated October 2026
A few years ago, it looked like the SAT and ACT were on their way out. Now Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and most of the Ivy League require them again. So is test-optional dead? Not quite, but it’s not what it used to be, and that changes how families should plan.
Here’s what actually happened, which schools still don’t require scores, and what it all means for your student, especially if they’re a junior right now.
How test-optional took over (and why it’s fading)
When COVID shut down test centers in 2020, almost every college in the country went test-optional overnight. It was supposed to be temporary. But many schools kept the policy for years, and plenty of families started to assume the SAT and ACT just didn’t matter anymore.
Then the data came in. Several highly selective schools studied their own students and found that test scores helped them predict who would do well in college, especially at a time when high school grades have been climbing across the board. When Ohio State announced its return to testing, it said students who submitted scores earned higher GPAs and were more likely to stay on track toward graduation.
Starting in 2024, the reversals came fast. Dartmouth and Brown went first, then Yale and Harvard, then Penn, Cornell, Stanford, and others followed.
Which colleges require the SAT or ACT again
Here’s where some of the most talked-about schools stand. Policies change often, so always double check a school’s admissions page before applying.
| College | Testing policy |
|---|---|
| Harvard, Yale, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell | Required now |
| Princeton and Columbia | Optional this year, required starting with fall 2028 entry |
| Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown | Required now |
| Ohio State, Penn State, University of Miami | Required starting with fall 2026 entry |
| Auburn and LSU | Required starting with fall 2027 entry |
| Vanderbilt | Optional for now, required starting with fall 2029 entry |
| Public universities in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee | Required |
Heads up for juniors: today’s juniors will apply in fall 2027 for fall 2028 entry. That’s the year Princeton and Columbia bring testing back, which means every Ivy League school will require an SAT or ACT score for your student’s class.
But most test-optional colleges are still test-optional
Here’s the part the headlines miss. The schools going back to testing are mostly the most selective ones. Across the country, the majority of colleges still don’t require scores.
That’s based on a FairTest analysis of more than 2,200 college admissions policies for the 2026-2027 cycle. Closer to home, SUNY made its test-optional policy permanent across all of its campuses in 2023, and NYU remains test-optional for this cycle as well.
So does your student still need the SAT or ACT?
For most students, the honest answer is yes, it’s worth taking. Here’s why:
- It keeps the college list open. If even one dream school requires scores, skipping the test takes it off the table. Students don’t always know their final list until senior year.
- Test-optional doesn’t mean test-ignored. At test-optional schools, a strong score is still a plus. It’s one more piece of evidence that your student is ready for college-level work.
- Scores can help with money. Some colleges still use scores for merit scholarships and honors programs, even when they’re optional for admission.
- It helps students stand out. With grades rising everywhere, a good score helps an application rise above a pile of similar GPAs.
The smart move is to take the test, see how it goes, and then decide school by school whether to send the score. That way your student has options instead of being boxed in.
How to decide whether to send scores to a test-optional college
Once your student has a score, a quick rule of thumb helps. Look up each school’s middle 50% SAT or ACT range (you’ll find it on the admissions site or in its Common Data Set).
- At or above the middle of the range: send it. It strengthens the application.
- In the lower part of the range: it depends. If the rest of the application is strong, it can still help. This is a good one to talk through with a counselor.
- Below the range: consider holding it back, or plan a retake to bring it up first.
What families should do now
If your student is a junior, now is the time to get a plan in place:
- Take a practice test of each. Comparing an SAT and ACT practice score is the fastest way to know which test fits your student best.
- Pick a first test date in late winter or spring. That leaves room for a retake in May or June, and again in the fall if needed. See all the 2026-2027 SAT and ACT test dates.
- Start prep 8 to 12 weeks out. For a March test, that means starting in December.
- Build the college list with testing in mind. Check each school’s policy early, so there are no surprises in the fall.
At our Garden City office, we help Long Island families through this every year with group SAT and ACT classes, private tutoring, and Curvebreakers Online for students who want to prep on their own schedule.
Test-optional colleges FAQ
Is test-optional going away?
Not everywhere. Most colleges are still test-optional, but many of the most selective schools, including most of the Ivy League, Stanford, and MIT, now require the SAT or ACT again.
Are SUNY schools test-optional?
Yes. SUNY made test-optional admissions permanent across its campuses in 2023, so students can choose whether to submit scores.
Do test-optional colleges still look at SAT and ACT scores?
Yes, if you send them. A strong score can add to an application, and some schools use scores for merit scholarships and honors programs.
Should my student take the SAT or ACT if they’re applying test-optional?
In most cases, yes. Taking the test keeps more colleges on the table, and your student can always decide later whether to send the score to each school.
Get a plan for your student
Book a free consultation with Nick and we’ll help you decide which test to take, when to take it, and whether to submit.
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