University System of Georgia Mandates SAT/ACT for Fall 2026, Joining National Reinstatement Trend

The University System of Georgia (USG) has officially ended its test-optional policy for its most competitive campuses, mandating that applicants for Fall 2026 admission submit SAT or ACT scores. This move aligns with a national shift among selective public and private institutions reinstating standardized testing requirements after several years of test-optional admissions.

According to the USG's official announcement, SAT or ACT scores will be required for admission to the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and Augusta University for the Fall 2026 term and beyond. The system stated that for the 2025-26 academic year, the test-optional waiver would remain in place at 23 of its 26 institutions, but that policy will not extend to the next cycle for its flagship schools. This reinstatement represents a significant policy reversal for a major public university system and directly impacts planning for high school students targeting these competitive Southern institutions.

The Georgia decision is part of a broader, accelerating trend among highly-selective universities. As reported by multiple admissions advisors, six of the eight Ivy League schools now require test scores for the 2026-27 cycle, with Cornell joining the list for Fall 2026 entry. Furthermore, entire public systems and elite private universities like MIT, Caltech, Georgetown, and Duke have also reinstated requirements. This consolidates a clear expectation for standardized testing at the nation's most competitive colleges, effectively ending the widespread test-optional experiment for top-tier applicants. Families with students aiming for Fall 2026 admission must now factor mandatory test preparation and submission into their application strategy, particularly for Southern public flagships and Ivies.