Ivy League Completes Return to SAT/ACT Requirements for 2026-2027 Cycle

The test-optional era has officially ended at the Ivy League level, with all eight institutions now requiring standardized test scores for undergraduate applicants beginning with the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. Columbia University's recent announcement completed the reversal, joining Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania in reinstating testing mandates, according to multiple admissions tracking sources.

This represents a seismic shift in elite admissions policy that began in 2024 when Dartmouth announced its return to testing, followed by Yale and Brown. The movement gained momentum throughout 2025 and early 2026, culminating in Columbia's decision. The reinstatements apply to students entering in Fall 2027 and beyond, meaning current high school juniors (class of 2027) must prepare for and submit SAT or ACT scores.

Beyond the Ivy League, other top-tier institutions including MIT, Caltech, Georgetown, Stanford, and the University of Notre Dame have also reinstated testing requirements, as noted by Oriel Admissions and Progress Learning. Notably, the University of California system remains an exception, continuing its policy of not considering SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions. The collective shift marks a decisive return to pre-pandemic testing norms at the nation's most selective universities, fundamentally altering preparation strategies for aspiring applicants.