University of Pennsylvania Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement for Fall 2026 Applicants
Penn becomes the sixth Ivy League school to return to mandatory standardized testing, signaling a decisive shift in elite admissions policy.
August 14, 2026 · 1 min read
The University of Pennsylvania has officially reinstated standardized testing requirements for undergraduate admissions, becoming the sixth Ivy League institution to reverse its test-optional policy in recent years. The change, announced on February 14, 2025, applies to students applying for fall 2026 admission, according to the university's official announcement on Penn Today.
The decision places Penn alongside Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, and MIT—all highly-selective universities that have recently returned to requiring SAT or ACT scores. As noted by Applerouth, Penn is now "the 6th of the 8 universities in the Ivy League" to adopt a test-required policy for the current admissions cycle. This represents a significant reversal from the test-optional approach many elite institutions adopted during the pandemic.
The policy shift reflects a broader trend among top-tier universities that is reshaping the admissions landscape for competitive applicants. According to a Washington Post analysis of 2026 admissions trends, "More top schools are requiring ACT or SAT scores," marking a clear departure from the test-optional era. For families targeting Ivy League and similarly selective institutions, this development underscores the renewed importance of standardized testing in the evaluation process, requiring strategic preparation and planning for the upcoming application cycles.
This analysis may include estimates and projections compiled from public and primary sources. Figures can change — verify deadlines and policies with each school before acting on them.