Six Ivies Now Require Standardized Tests for 2026-2027 Admissions

The test-optional era is officially receding for applicants to the nation's most selective universities. For the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, a critical mass of elite institutions has reinstated mandatory standardized test score submissions, fundamentally altering the strategic landscape for high school students targeting top schools.

According to recent policy roundups, six of the eight Ivy League schools—including Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Yale—along with MIT, Caltech, and Georgetown University, will require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores (ProgressLearning, Empowerly). This represents a decisive pivot from the widespread test-optional policies adopted during the pandemic. Notably, Yale has implemented a "test-flexible" policy, still requiring scores but allowing some choice in which scores are submitted (Principia Education).

The shift extends beyond private institutions. The entire public University System of Georgia, encompassing flagship campuses like the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, now requires SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2026 admission (CollegeHelpGuide). This move by a major state system signals a broader normalization of testing requirements.

Admissions experts note the policy changes create a new urgency for the high school class of 2026. As one summary states, "Starting in Fall 2026, a growing list of high-profile universities will once again require standardized test scores for admission" (TTPrep). With early decision deadlines typically in November, current high school juniors must now factor mandatory testing into their preparation timelines, with recommendations to take a first SAT or ACT by June 2026.