Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to college in 2026–27? The answer depends on where you are applying. Currently, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and several others require these scores, but they are optional for Princeton and Columbia, while UCLA and UC Berkeley do not consider them at all.
Look at the policies for your intended year of entry. If SAT/ACT scores are optional, consider whether your results add positive evidence of academic ability. You can submit scores to one university without making them part of every application.
This guide compares 25 selected U.S. universities. It explains how to interpret score ranges, check requirements for international applicants, and report results. It covers applications submitted during the 2026–27 admissions cycle for fall 2027 enrollment. The university names link to the official policies, which were checked on September 22, 2026, with selected reporting details rechecked on September 23.
Fall 2027 SAT/ACT Policies at 25 Selected Universities
“Required” means SAT or ACT results are normally needed; alternatives or exceptions may be allowed under certain conditions. “Optional” means that scores may be submitted, but are not necessary. “Recommended” means that applicants are encouraged to submit scores, but they are not mandatory. “Not considered” means SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions. Be sure to check the details in the column on the right.
| University (Official Source in Link) | SAT/ACT Policy | Conditions and Announced Changes |
| Boston University | Optional | Current policy extends through fall 2028 and spring 2029 and includes all BU undergraduate schools and scholarship programs. |
| Brown University | Required | SAT or ACT required for first-year applicants. ACT Science and Writing optional. |
| Caltech | Required | SAT or ACT required. Applicants facing accessibility or technical barriers may explain them in their application. ACT Science and Writing optional for fall 2027. |
| Columbia University | Optional | Includes Columbia College and Columbia Engineering. SAT or ACT to be required for fall 2028 entry, with waiver option for applicants facing challenges. |
| Cornell University | Required | SAT or ACT required for first-year applicants at all undergraduate colleges. Recruited athletes must provide official report with application. |
| Dartmouth College | Required or approved alternative | SAT or ACT required for students attending U.S. high schools. Alternative exams approved for students who attended schools outside the U.S. |
| Duke University | Optional | Optional for 2026–27 application cycle, including international applicants and those being considered for Duke merit scholarships. Separate testing rules for ROTC scholarship programs. |
| Emory University | Optional | First-year applicants for fall 2027 may apply without SAT or ACT, but scores are reviewed if submitted. |
| Georgetown University | Required | Official report required for at least one complete SAT or ACT sitting. Superscores not accepted under current guidelines. |
| Georgia Tech | Required | SAT or ACT required. CLT results can supplement, but replace, this requirement. |
| Harvard University | Required | SAT or ACT required, but approved alternatives accepted in exceptional, approved cases, such as restricted access to testing. |
| Johns Hopkins University | Required | SAT or ACT required for first-year applicants. ACT Science and Writing optional. |
| MIT | Required | SAT or ACT required. Report all test sittings as directed, and MIT will calculate the superscore. |
| Northwestern University | Optional | First-year applicants may apply without SAT or ACT scores and still submit AP or IB results. |
| Princeton University | Optional | SAT or ACT optional for fall 2027 entry, but will be required for fall 2028 entry, with exception for active military personnel. |
| Rice University | Recommended | SAT or ACT scores recommended if available. Applicants who cannot or prefer not to submit receive full consideration. |
| Stanford University | Required | SAT or ACT required, and cannot be substituted with English proficiency exams. |
| UC Berkeley | Not considered | SAT and ACT excluded from admissions review, but submitted results may be used after admission (for placement, etc.). |
| UCLA | Not considered | SAT and ACT not considered for admissions or scholarships; other permitted uses described in UCLA guidance. |
| University of Michigan | Optional | SAT and ACT optional for 2026–27. ED/EA applicants who did not submit scores cannot add them for early review; postponed and RD applicants have later update window. |
| University of Pennsylvania | Required or hardship waiver | Applicants who face hardship taking SAT or ACT may apply for waiver; anyone who has taken either test must submit scores. |
| University of Southern California | Optional | SAT or ACT optional for first-year entry in 2027–28. Test scores submitted to demonstrate English proficiency are also considered in admissions review. |
| University of Texas at Austin | Required or CLT alternative | Official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores satisfy testing requirements. |
| Vanderbilt University | Optional | SAT or ACT optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry, including for international and homeschooled applicants. Testing to be required for fall 2029 entry. |
| Yale University | Required | SAT or ACT required. AP or IB results may supplement application but can no longer replace SAT or ACT. |
Before applying: Click the link for each university on your list to see the official source. Check the entry term, applicant category, intended program, and any scholarship requirements. Remember, a first-year policy doesn’t necessarily cover transfer admissions or every school within the university.
Test-Required, Test-Optional, and Test-Blind: What’s the Difference?
Test-Required and Test-Flexible
Required normally means that SAT or ACT results must be submitted with an application, even if they fall below the published range. An exception or waiver process may exist for those who do not have access to these tests.
Some policies are flexible, meaning that specified alternative exams exist. These depend on the institution and sometimes on where you attended school. At Dartmouth, for example, testing is optional for students educated outside the U.S., but applicants must still fulfill one of its approved routes.
Test-Optional
Test-optional means that you choose whether to include SAT or ACT results in your application. If you do submit them, they will be evaluated alongside your grades, courses, essays, and recommendations. If you do not, the college will review other materials in accordance with its stated policy.
Even if you have a score, you can choose not to submit it if the policy permits. Northwestern allows this, and explicitly states that applying without SAT or ACT scores will not affect your chances of admission. You shouldn’t assume that test scores are secretly required, even though the policy states that they are optional. The submission guidelines below will help you assess your test results and decide whether or not to submit them.
Test-Blind or Test-Free
Test-blind or test-free means that the college does not review SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions. In these cases, high scores will not improve your application. UC Berkeley is test-free, while UCLA does not consider test scores in scholarship decisions. Read the linked campus policies for any separate placement or eligibility uses.
Testing Requirements and Upcoming Changes at Key Universities
Is Stanford Test-Optional for Fall 2027?
No. Stanford requires SAT or ACT scores for first-year admission. These may be self-reported in admissions applications, but official score reports must be submitted for enrollment. English proficiency exams are not accepted as alternatives.
Stanford previously had an optional policy, and its published SAT range of 1520–1570 is based on Class of 2029 students who submitted their scores by choice, so it shouldn’t be considered a minimum for current applicants. Be sure to check the current testing requirements when planning your application.
Is Cornell Test-Optional for Fall 2027?
No. Cornell requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants to all its undergraduate colleges. General applicants can self-report in their application or through the Cornell portal, but official reports are required for enrollment. However, recruited athletes must submit official reports with their initial application.
Is Harvard Test-Optional for Fall 2027?
No. Harvard requires SAT or ACT scores. In exceptional circumstances, such as lack of test access or financial constraints, specified alternatives such as AP, IB, A-Level, or externally assessed national examination results may be okay. However, these results may not be accepted if you have reasonable access to the SAT or ACT. If access is a barrier, follow the university’s instructions to explain your circumstances and provide an accepted alternative.
Yale Requires SAT or ACT Scores
Some older guides may describe Yale as test-flexible and list AP or IB exams as substitutes, but SAT or ACT results are required under Yale’s current policy. If Yale is on your list, don’t make the mistake of thinking that AP or IB scores alone are enough.
Recent Changes at Princeton, Columbia, and Vanderbilt
For Princeton, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, SAT or ACT scores were optional for students entering in fall 2027, but are now required for fall 2028 enrollment. Headlines about “2027 testing requirements” can be misleading if they refer to the application year rather than the enrollment year, so be sure to check the official policy.
Vanderbilt has also announced a return to required testing, but not until fall 2029 entry. If you are applying for fall 2027 or 2028, you can still choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Should You Submit SAT or ACT Scores to a Test-Optional College?
Once you confirm that submission is optional for you, you have to decide whether your scores will be a positive addition to your application. The following guideline will help you make your decision, but it is not based on the rules of any college and should not be taken as an accurate predictor of admission.
Find the Right Data to Compare Your Score With
First, find the most recent SAT/ACT range for the university you are applying to by checking the latest class profile or Common Data Set. Confirm the year and whether the statistics are for admitted students or enrolled students. The middle 50 percent range runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. However, these endpoints are not admission cutoffs, so averaging them will not give you the median score.
Next, check whether submission was optional or required. When scores are optional, students with higher scores tend to submit them, while students with lower scores tend to withhold them. This skews the range upward.
Consider Your Transcript and Scores for Individual Sections
If your score is near the upper end of the relevant range, submitting it will likely improve your application. However, if your score is below the range, it does not mean you should automatically withhold it. Take a closer look at your coursework, school context, and section scores first.
Your total score might conceal areas that you are stronger or weaker in. Do your results show strengths in specific academic areas? Consider whether they show academic achievement relevant to the courses or program you are applying for. For example, if you are applying to a substantially quantitative program of study, strong math scores will be especially useful.
You can discuss your application with the admissions office of the school, but do not assume they will advise you on whether to submit a particular score. Rice, for example, states that its admission officers cannot provide that advice. However, admissions offices can clarify reporting rules if you have any doubts.
Three Hypothetical Examples and Your Next Steps
The colleges and situations below are hypothetical. The numbers illustrate the reasoning process, not admission cutoffs or likely outcomes.
Example 1 — Your SAT score is above the published range. Suppose the college is test-optional and has a middle 50 percent range of 1400–1500 for enrolled students who submitted SAT scores, and you scored 1530. First, confirm the year, population, and any program-specific conditions. If your scores in specific sections also support your overall application, submitting is a good idea. Your next step is to check the college’s reporting method and deadline.
Example 2 — Your score is below the range but strong in your school context. Suppose you scored 1380 for the same range, but performed strongly for your school. Look at the individual sections and your transcript. Do these scores add anything that overall grades alone do not? If so, talk to a counselor who knows your academic record. If you decide your scores aren’t helpful, and the college permits omission for your category and program, applying without submitting is a reasonable choice. However, just because your score is below the 25th percentile doesn’t mean you won’t be accepted.
Example 3 — The college does not consider SAT or ACT scores. No matter how high your score is, it will not affect that college’s admissions review. If your score is low, it doesn’t matter; you do not need to retake the test for this for this school.
Make a Separate Decision for Each College
Mark each university on your list as required, optional, or not considered. Hardship waivers are also available at some schools, provided you meet the conditions. For example, Penn has a waiver for applicants who have not taken the SAT or ACT and face hardships. Be aware that waivers often do not apply if you have already taken the test.
Published submission percentages can’t tell you what will happen to your application if you do or don’t submit a score. Students who submit may differ from those who do not in many ways. Make a separate decision on whether to submit for each application.
If you are considering retaking a test, identify the skills you want to work on, confirm that the results will arrive in time, and weigh the time required against your current coursework and unfinished applications.
International Applicants: English Proficiency and Alternative Exams
Consider SAT/ACT Requirements Separately from English Proficiency
An optional SAT/ACT policy does not mean that English proficiency requirements are waived. These will depend on your native language, language of instruction, or years of schooling in English. Even if the general testing page says “optional,” be sure to check the international applicant page.
USC is a case in point. Applicants who use SAT or ACT results to demonstrate English proficiency also make those results part of the overall admissions review. In addition to SAT or ACT scores, Yale requires an English proficiency test for non-native speakers without at least two years of enrollment in an English-language school. Treat these requirements as separate unless the university explicitly connects them.
Check Whether Your School Location Affects Your Options
Dartmouth’s testing rules distinguish between applicants who attended high schools inside and outside the U.S. Students educated outside the U.S. may use their SAT or ACT scores, three AP exams, specified IB or A-Level results, or an eligible national examination.
The method of reporting test scores also matters. Dartmouth, for example, requires school officials to submit predicted IB or A-Level results. For national exams, final results are required. If the final results will not arrive until after February, applicants are directed to select another testing option.
In addition, while nationality affects testing options, it is not the only determiner.
Before You Submit: Scholarships, Score Reports, and Deadlines
Scholarships and Special Programs
Policies for admissions and scholarships may differ. Optional testing for general admissions does not necessarily apply to external scholarships, honors opportunities, or special programs.
In some cases, optional testing explicitly extends to merit-based awards. The policy at Boston University, for example, also covers scholarship programs. At Duke, applicants who do not submit scores are still considered for merit scholarships, but separate testing requirements apply for national ROTC scholarships. At Vanderbilt, SAT or ACT scores are not required for merit scholarship consideration for fall 2027 and 2028 entry.
If you need a scholarship to attend a school, make sure to note the deadline and testing requirements. Do not assume that your admissions application functions as a scholarship application or satisfies the requirements of outside sponsors.
Self-Reported and Official Scores
Self-reporting means including your results in the application or inputting them in the applicant portal. Many universities permit self-reporting for the initial application, but require an official report for enrollment. Official reports must be submitted through the accepted verification channel, and are often sent directly by the testing agency.
USC requires official SAT or ACT reports from applicants who choose to have their scores considered. Rice’s international applicant guidance allows self-reporting for students who graduated from a U.S. high school, but applicants who graduated outside the U.S. must submit official SAT/ACT reports. School location is important, not just citizenship.
Superscoring and Test Sections
Superscoring is when specific section results for multiple sittings are combined. Different schools do this in different ways. MIT asks applicants to report all sittings and handles superscoring itself. UT Austin uses the highest result from a single test date. Check each university’s instructions before calculating the superscore yourself, and do not make the mistake of submitting a superscore as the test result from a single sitting.
Check whether the Science and Writing sections of the ACT are required. For fall 2027, both are optional at Caltech, while Georgetown highly recommends Science, particularly for applicants planning to major in the sciences. However, the university’s preferences may not align with the options available at the testing agency.
Deadlines and Changes After Submission
Carefully note the application deadline, the last accepted test date, and the date when you will receive your scores. If you are waiting for a result, check whether the university will allow you to update it later, and how.
Institutions differ on whether or not you can change your test submission choice. At Vanderbilt, the decision to submit scores is final, while Northwestern allows applicants to submit additional scores up until the stated deadline. At Michigan, ED/EA applicants can choose not to have their scores considered in the early review, even if they are submitted. Postponed ED/EA and RD applicants may self-report scores before the February 1, 2027 RD deadline for consideration. So decide which materials you want reviewed in the early round before submitting.
Final Testing Checklist
· Confirm the entry year and applicant category for each university.
· Read the official policy and check the program, scholarships, and exceptions.
· For test-optional applications, decide whether your score will add any useful academic evidence.
· Check the English proficiency requirements.
· Follow the rules for sittings, superscores, and optional ACT sections.
· Confirm whether to submit self-reported or official results for the admissions review.
· Record testing and score deadlines alongside application deadlines.
· Keep track of your submission choices and regularly check the applicant portals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Explain Why I Am Not Submitting Scores?
A test-optional policy does not necessarily require an explanation or a substitute essay. Northwestern, for example, does not require additional materials to replace SAT or ACT results. Hardship waivers at test-required universities, however, generally require an explanation.
Can I Still Report AP or IB Results if I Omit SAT or ACT Scores?
You can at some universities, such as Northwestern and Michigan. Follow each school’s instructions for those exams; there may be separate academic or documentation requirements.
Does Every University Accept the Same Alternative Test?
No. UT Austin accepts official CLT results as an alternative to the SAT or ACT, while Georgia Tech does not. Colleges that require testing may specify a particular exam or a limited number of alternatives. Plan your testing schedule based on each institution’s requirements.
Prepare the Rest of Your Application
Once you’ve finalized your testing plan, review how clearly your essays communicate your experiences, motivations, and contributions. Our guide to the 2026–27 Common App essay prompts can help you choose a focused topic and develop an effective structure for bringing your experiences to life.
For feedback on completed essays, Wordvice’s admissions essay editing service can help you improve clarity, organization, and language while preserving your unique voice.