Columbia Becomes Final Ivy to Reinstate SAT/ACT Requirement for 2027-28

Columbia University announced in June 2026 that it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants, becoming the last Ivy League institution to end its test-optional policy adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The change will take effect in August 2027 for students applying for entry in the 2027-2028 academic year, according to the university's official admissions website and reporting from Higher Ed Dive.

End of an Era for Test-Optional Ivies

The policy shift means that for the first time since the pandemic began, all eight Ivy League universities will require SAT or ACT scores from applicants. Columbia had been the only remaining test-optional Ivy League school for the 2026-2027 cycle before this announcement. The university stated that the 2026-2027 admissions cycle will remain test-optional as a transitional period, giving current high school juniors notice of the impending change. The Columbia Spectator reported that the decision aligns Columbia with peer institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth, which have already reinstated testing requirements.

Implications for Elite Admissions

This development completes a significant reversal in elite college admissions, with standardized testing regaining its mandatory status across the most selective universities. The return to required testing comes amid ongoing debates about equity in admissions and follows research from some institutions suggesting that test scores, when considered in context, can help identify talented applicants from under-resourced backgrounds. Families of students targeting Ivy League and other highly selective institutions should note that standardized test preparation will once again be a mandatory component of competitive applications starting with the class entering in fall 2028.