Columbia University Ends Test-Optional Era, Will Require SAT/ACT Starting 2027-28
Columbia becomes the final Ivy League institution to return to a test-required admissions policy, completing a sweeping reversal across elite universities.
July 27, 2026 · 1 min read
Columbia University has announced it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants, becoming the last Ivy League institution to abandon test-optional admissions. According to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions, the university will require SAT or ACT scores starting in August 2027 for the 2027-28 admission cycle, while remaining test-optional for the upcoming 2026-27 cycle [Testing Policy - Columbia Undergraduate Admissions](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process/testing).
This decision completes a sweeping reversal across elite higher education institutions that began in 2023-24. As reported by Higher Ed Dive, Columbia's announcement means that by the 2027-28 admissions cycle, all eight Ivy League schools will once again require standardized test scores [Columbia reinstates SAT, ACT requirements for 2027-28](https://www.highereddive.com/news/columbia-reinstates-sat-requirements-for-2027-28/822957/). The Columbia Spectator noted that Columbia will be "the only test-optional Ivy League in the 2027-28 admissions cycle" after Princeton announced its own return to testing requirements in October 2025 [Columbia is the last Ivy League university to remain indefinitely test-optional](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/10/23/columbia-is-the-last-ivy-league-university-to-remain-indefinitely-test-optional/).
The policy shift reflects a broader trend among highly-selective institutions. As noted in admissions guidance from July 2026, "the majority of top-tier universities are reinstating mandatory standardized testing" [Bringing Back the SAT: What It Means for Students in 2026](https://pathivy.com/blog/bringing-back-the-sat-what-it-means-for-students-in-2026). This includes not only Ivy League schools but also Stanford, MIT, Georgetown, Notre Dame, and major public university systems like Florida and Texas. The complete reversal means that students targeting elite universities for fall 2028 admission must now prepare for and submit standardized test scores as a mandatory component of their applications.
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.