Columbia Completes Ivy League Return to Testing, Sets August 2027 Requirement
The university announces it will require SAT or ACT scores for applicants beginning in August 2027, marking the final Ivy League institution to reinstate mandatory testing.
August 14, 2026 · 1 min read
Columbia University has announced it will reinstate a standardized testing requirement for undergraduate applicants, becoming the last Ivy League institution to do so and signaling a definitive shift away from pandemic-era test-optional policies at the most selective universities. The change will take effect in August 2027 for applicants to the Class of 2028, according to the university's official admissions website.
Columbia's Undergraduate Admissions office states on its testing policy page that "Columbia will require standardized testing starting in August 2027" while noting it "will remain test optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle." This announcement, made in June 2026 according to Higher Ed Dive, means that for students currently in their junior year of high school who will apply in fall 2027, standardized test scores will be mandatory for Columbia College and Columbia Engineering applications.
The decision completes a remarkable reversal across the Ivy League. Following Columbia's announcement, all eight Ivy League schools will have returned to requiring standardized test scores after adopting test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This development reflects what The Washington Post describes as part of broader "shifting testing policies" in selective college admissions. The trend represents a significant recalibration in elite admissions criteria, with institutions citing the predictive value of test scores for academic success and their utility in evaluating applicants from diverse educational backgrounds.
While current high school juniors applying in fall 2026 still have the test-optional option at Columbia, the announcement provides crucial advance notice for younger students. Families should note that this policy applies specifically to Columbia's undergraduate colleges; other divisions within the university may maintain different requirements. The two-year lead time gives rising sophomores and freshmen ample opportunity to prepare for and take standardized tests as part of their college planning process.
This analysis may include estimates and projections compiled from public and primary sources. Figures can change — verify deadlines and policies with each school before acting on them.