Columbia University Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement for Fall 2027 Applicants

Columbia University will return to requiring SAT or ACT scores from undergraduate applicants beginning with those applying for admission in August 2027, according to an official announcement reported by Higher Ed Dive. This reinstatement marks a decisive reversal of the test-optional policy the Ivy League institution adopted during the pandemic and aligns Columbia with a growing cohort of highly-selective universities returning to mandatory standardized testing.

The policy change, set to take effect for the 2027-28 admissions cycle, means students targeting Columbia for fall 2028 enrollment must now plan to submit test scores. The university's decision follows similar moves by other elite institutions, including Yale University, which announced its own return to a testing requirement in May 2026, as reported by Yale News. Yale's policy, described as restoring the pre-2020 standard, will require the ACT or SAT from applicants.

This trend represents a significant shift in the admissions landscape for top-tier schools. While the University of California system remains steadfastly test-blind through at least 2025, as noted by Inside Higher Ed, many private, highly-selective universities are moving in the opposite direction. Admissions experts note that for families navigating this evolving terrain, the clear message for students applying to the most competitive schools is to prepare for and take standardized tests, even if a school's official policy for the current cycle remains test-optional or test-flexible.