Columbia University to Require SAT/ACT Starting August 2027, Completing Ivy League Return

Columbia University will reinstate standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants beginning in August 2027, completing the Ivy League's full return to test-required admissions policies that were widely suspended during the pandemic. The announcement, made in June 2026, positions Columbia as the final Ivy League institution to abandon its test-optional approach, according to Higher Ed Dive reporting.

Policy Details and Timeline

According to Columbia's official admissions website, the university "will require standardized testing starting in August 2027" while maintaining test-optional policies for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. This means current high school juniors (class of 2027) will be the first cohort required to submit SAT or ACT scores when they apply next year. The policy applies to both Columbia College and Columbia Engineering undergraduate programs.

Broader Context of Testing Policy Reversal

The move follows a broader trend among elite institutions returning to test-required admissions. Higher Ed Dive notes that "Columbia is the final Ivy League school to reinstate test score requirements, which most universities made optional in 2020." This development comes as more than 2,300 University of California faculty members have signed an open letter urging the system to reinstate the SAT/ACT mathematics requirement, indicating continued debate about standardized testing's role in admissions.

While Columbia's announcement provides clarity for future applicants, the university emphasizes that standardized testing remains just one component of a holistic review process. Families with students targeting elite institutions should note that testing policies continue to evolve, with some selective schools maintaining test-optional or test-flexible approaches even as the Ivy League completes its return to test-required admissions.