Cornell University Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirement for Fall 2026 Applicants

Cornell University has officially reinstated standardized testing requirements for all undergraduate applicants seeking admission for fall 2026, marking a significant policy reversal among elite institutions. The Ivy League university will now require SAT or ACT scores from applicants to all eight of its undergraduate colleges, according to university announcements and admissions policy updates.

The decision, effective for the current admissions cycle, comes after a multi-year study conducted by Cornell's Task Force on Standardized Testing in Admissions. The university's official admissions policy states that "Cornell has reinstituted standardized testing requirements for first-year students seeking undergraduate admission" and that this applies to "Fall 2026 and beyond" [Cornell Undergraduate Admissions].

This policy shift represents a notable departure from the test-optional trend that accelerated during the pandemic and positions Cornell among a small but growing number of selective institutions returning to required testing. The change affects all applicants in the current admissions cycle, requiring them to submit standardized test scores as part of their application materials [Compass Education Group].

The reinstatement follows extensive internal review and comes as many peer institutions continue to evaluate their own testing policies. While some elite universities have maintained test-optional policies, Cornell's decision based on institutional research may influence similar evaluations at other selective colleges and universities.

Prospective students targeting Cornell for fall 2026 admission should note that the testing requirement applies across all undergraduate colleges within the university, with no exceptions announced for the current application cycle.