Columbia University to Require SAT/ACT Scores Starting August 2027

Columbia University has announced it will require standardized testing for undergraduate admissions starting in August 2027, making it the final Ivy League institution to reinstate testing requirements after the pandemic-era test-optional period. According to the university's admissions website, "Columbia will require standardized testing starting in August 2027" while remaining test-optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.

The policy change, confirmed in June 2026 reporting, means students applying to Columbia College or the School of Engineering and Applied Science for fall 2028 entry will need to submit SAT or ACT scores. This announcement follows similar reinstatements by other Ivy League institutions, with Columbia being the last to make the shift back to required testing.

As reported by the Columbia Spectator, "With the change, Columbia is the final Ivy League school to reinstate test score requirements, which most universities made optional in 2020." The university's decision aligns with a broader trend among highly selective institutions, including Johns Hopkins University, which reinstated testing requirements for fall 2026 entry according to admissions consulting sources.

For current high school juniors planning to apply in fall 2027, this means standardized test preparation should be part of their college planning strategy. Columbia's phased approach provides one final test-optional cycle for students applying in the 2026-2027 academic year before the requirement takes effect.