July 2026 Update: Test-Policy Landscape Solidifies for Elite College Applicants

As rising high school seniors begin their applications for the 2026-27 cycle, the policy landscape for standardized testing at elite colleges has crystallized into two distinct camps: a significant group of highly-selective institutions requiring scores and a number of others recommitting to test-optional evaluation.

A major bloc of Ivy League and peer universities now mandates SAT or ACT scores for applicants. According to a recent policy roundup from Progress Learning, notable schools that have reinstated requirements include Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, MIT, and Caltech [6]. This follows earlier announcements, such as Stanford's reinstatement in June 2024, which is effective for students entering in Fall 2026 [4]. CollegeWise notes that several elite schools have reinstated test-required policies for 2026, and many others "strongly encourage scores even while remaining" test-optional [2].

Conversely, other prominent universities have affirmed their test-optional stance for the coming cycle. The University of Michigan states on its admissions website that it is "continuing for the 2026 application cycle" as test-optional, allowing prospective students the choice of whether to submit scores [3]. Meanwhile, the University of California system remains a notable holdout, with Ivy Coach confirming that UC schools "do not permit the consideration of SAT or ACT scores in admissions decision-making" due to a prior court settlement [9]. This creates a strategic decision point for applicants targeting top-tier schools, requiring careful research into each institution's current policy.

The practical aspects of testing are also set, with the College Board's SAT dates for 2026 published and the ACT confirming its scoring scale and format will remain unchanged for the 2025-2026 testing year [7, 8]. With policies now largely fixed for this application cycle, families can finalize testing plans with clarity.