Columbia Announces SAT/ACT Requirement Return for 2027-28 Admissions

Columbia University will return to requiring SAT or ACT scores from undergraduate applicants beginning August 2027, according to the institution's undergraduate admissions website. The private New York institution will remain test-optional for the upcoming 2026-2027 admissions cycle before implementing the new requirement for the 2027-2028 application period [Testing Policy - Columbia Undergraduate Admissions](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process/testing).

This announcement follows Yale University's recent policy shift, which ended its test-flexible approach and now requires SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle [Testing Policies in the Spotlight](https://www.compassprep.com/testing-spotlight/). Yale briefly accepted SAT, ACT, AP, or IB scores before reinstating the traditional testing requirement in May 2026 [Which Top Colleges Require SAT/ACT? Full List & Policies](https://orieladmissions.com/colleges-require-sat-act/).

The Columbia decision represents a significant reversal for an institution that had embraced test-optional policies during the pandemic era. According to Higher Ed Dive's coverage of the announcement, Columbia's move "marks another elite institution's return to test-required admissions" [Columbia reinstates SAT, ACT requirements for 2027-28](https://www.highereddive.com/news/columbia-reinstates-sat-act-requirements-for-2027-28/822957/). The policy applies to both Columbia College and Columbia Engineering programs for first-year and transfer applicants.

These developments signal a broader trend among selective institutions reevaluating their testing policies. As College Kickstart notes, "Several elite schools have reinstated test-required policies in 2026" [Do You Need to Take the SAT? A 2026 Update Amid Policy Changes](https://collegewise.com/blog/do-you-need-to-take-the-sat-in-2026?hs_amp=true), with Columbia's announcement extending this pattern into the 2027-2028 cycle.

Students targeting Columbia for fall 2028 entry should plan to take standardized tests well before the August 2027 implementation date, while those applying for fall 2027 entry can still benefit from the final test-optional cycle.