UC System Considers Reinstating SAT/ACT for 2028 Admissions

The University of California system, a bellwether for national admissions policy, is taking formal steps toward potentially reinstating SAT and ACT requirements for undergraduate admissions, reversing its landmark 2020 decision to go test-free. The move, driven by mounting faculty concern over student readiness in math and science, could affect applicants for the Fall 2028 entering class.

Committee Launches Formal Review The UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools approved a roadmap on June 5 to research changes to standardized testing policy, as reported by the Daily Californian and other outlets. This action follows an open letter signed by more than 1,400 UC faculty members, primarily in STEM fields, urging the reinstatement of test requirements. They argue that the current test-optional landscape has led to an increase in students entering the university system underprepared for rigorous coursework, particularly in mathematics. The Los Angeles Times confirmed that the university "will consider bringing back SAT and ACT requirements for first-year admissions," noting any change would not take effect until the fall of 2028 at the earliest.

Context and National Trend This development places the massive UC system at the center of a national re-evaluation of test-optional policies. It comes after several Ivy League institutions, including Dartmouth, Brown, Yale, and Harvard, reinstated testing requirements for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. The UC's potential reversal is particularly significant given its size and influence; its 2020 decision to eliminate the tests was a major catalyst for the test-optional movement nationwide. The current review is a procedural step, not a final decision. The committee's research will inform a future recommendation to the broader UC administration, meaning no immediate policy change is in place for applicants in the 2026-2027 cycle.