Columbia Announces SAT/ACT Requirement Return for August 2027 Admissions

Columbia University has announced it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants, with the new policy taking effect in August 2027 for the 2027-2028 admissions cycle. According to the university's official admissions website, "Columbia will require standardized testing starting in August 2027" while remaining test-optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle [Testing Policy - Columbia Undergraduate Admissions](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process/testing).

This decision makes Columbia the last Ivy League institution to return to requiring SAT or ACT scores following the widespread test-optional policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement, reported by Higher Ed Dive, confirms that "Columbia University will return to requiring SAT or ACT scores from undergraduate applicants beginning August 2027" [Columbia reinstates SAT, ACT requirements for 2027-28](https://www.highereddive.com/news/columbia-reinstates-sat-act-requirements-for-2027-28/822957/).

The timing gives current high school sophomores (class of 2027) clear notice that they will need to prepare for and take standardized tests for their Columbia applications. Columbia's move follows similar reinstatements by other elite institutions including Johns Hopkins University, which began requiring test scores for fall 2026 entry [Which Top Colleges Require SAT/ACT? Full List & Policies](https://orieladmissions.com/colleges-require-sat-act/).

While Columbia maintains its test-optional policy for the current admissions cycle, the announced shift signals a continued trend toward test-required admissions at highly selective universities, reversing the temporary flexibility offered during the pandemic years.