Johns Hopkins, Rice Formalize Test Requirements for Fall 2026 Applicants

Two more highly selective universities have solidified the return of standardized testing requirements for the upcoming admissions cycle, with Johns Hopkins University and Rice University both mandating SAT or ACT scores for students applying for fall 2026 entry. This development, noted in a recent policy roundup from Oriel Admissions, confirms that the test-optional era is receding at the top of the admissions landscape.

According to the policy summary, "Two former members of this list have moved: Johns Hopkins now requires the SAT or ACT starting with fall 2026 entry, and Rice formally requires it for fall 2026 entry" (Oriel Admissions). This aligns with a broader trend among elite institutions. A separate analysis from Collegewise notes that "several elite schools have reinstated test-required policies in 2026, and many others strongly encourage scores even while remaining test-optional" (Collegewise).

While the exact announcement dates for these policies are not detailed in the provided search results, the confirmation for the fall 2026 cycle is a critical update for current high school juniors preparing their application strategies. The move places Johns Hopkins and Rice alongside other Ivies and top research universities like Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, MIT, and Caltech, which have already reinstated testing mandates. The policy shift underscores a decisive return to using standardized test scores as a baseline data point in holistic review at these competitive institutions, making strategic test preparation a renewed priority for applicants targeting the most selective schools.