Columbia University Announces Return to Required Testing for 2027-28 Cycle

Columbia University has announced it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants, becoming the final Ivy League institution to formally abandon its pandemic-era test-optional policy. According to Columbia's official admissions website, the university "will require standardized testing starting in August 2027" but "will remain test optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle" [source 5, source 6]. This policy, confirmed in a June 2026 announcement reported by Higher Ed Dive, means students applying for entry in Fall 2028 will need to submit SAT or ACT scores [source 5].

The move aligns Columbia with a broader trend among elite institutions. As noted by Compass Prep, "Johns Hopkins University will resume requiring ACT or SAT scores for undergraduate admissions to the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences" [source 1]. Similarly, Pathivy's analysis states that "as we look toward the 2026-2027 application season, the majority of top-tier universities are reinstating mandatory standardized testing" [source 8].

For families planning for elite admissions, this creates a clear timeline. Current high school juniors (Class of 2027) applying this fall will not be affected by Columbia's new mandate. However, current sophomores (Class of 2028) must plan to take the SAT or ACT, as their applications will be the first subject to the renewed requirement. This development underscores the accelerating reversal of test-optional policies at the most selective universities, making standardized test preparation once again a non-negotiable component of a competitive application to the Ivy League and peer institutions.