Ohio State Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement for Columbus Campus Applicants in 2026

Ohio State University has announced it will reinstate the ACT/SAT test requirement for new first-year undergraduate applicants to its flagship Columbus campus, effective for the 2026 admissions cycle. This move places the large public research university among a cohort of selective institutions reversing course on test-optional policies adopted during the pandemic, as reported by Compass Prep's analysis of testing policies [1](https://www.compassprep.com/testing-spotlight/).

The policy change is specific to the Columbus campus, which is the university's primary undergraduate entry point. While details on potential exceptions or specific score expectations have not been widely released in the initial announcement, the reinstatement itself represents a concrete and consequential shift. It signals that the trend of test-requirement reinstatements, previously concentrated among Ivy League and other elite private institutions, is now influencing major public flagships. Collegewise notes that several elite schools have reinstated test-required policies in 2026, and many others strongly encourage scores [2](https://collegewise.com/blog/do-you-need-to-take-the-sat-in-2026).

This development is particularly newsworthy for families targeting highly-selective public universities. Ohio State's decision may influence other large public research universities currently evaluating their own testing policies. The move comes amid broader national debate, as highlighted by Higher Ed Dive, including an open letter from over 2,300 University of California faculty urging the system to reinstate the SAT/ACT for mathematics assessment [5](https://www.highereddive.com/news/elite-colleges-are-returning-to-the-sat-and-act-will-others-follow/827299/). For the 2026-2027 cycle, applicants to Ohio State's Columbus campus must now plan to submit standardized test scores, a key strategic change from recent years.