TL;DR:
Test-optional does not mean test scores do not matter. At highly selective colleges, the majority of admitted students still submit SAT or ACT scores. Take the test if your score strengthens your application; skip it if your score falls below a school’s middle 50% range.
Over 80% of four-year colleges in the United States now classify themselves as test optional colleges, yet SAT and ACT registration numbers remain close to pre-pandemic levels. If test optional colleges truly remove testing from admissions, why are millions of students still taking standardized exams every year?
The reality is that test optional colleges still evaluate academic readiness using multiple indicators. At many competitive test optional colleges, strong SAT or ACT scores continue to strengthen applications, even when submission is not required.
What Does Test-Optional Mean at Colleges?
At test optional colleges, students may choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. These test optional colleges will review your application with or without test scores and will not penalize students who choose not to submit.
If you submit strong scores to test optional colleges, they can:
- Strengthen your academic profile
- Reinforce your GPA
- Support scholarship eligibility
If you do not submit scores, test optional colleges evaluate you based on:
- GPA and coursework
- Essays
- Extracurricular activities
Unlike the test optional colleges, test-blind schools (such as the University of California system) will not consider your scores even if you submit them.
Test-Optional vs Test-Blind: What’s the Difference?
- At test-optional colleges, submitting strong SAT or ACT scores can strengthen your application.
- At test-blind colleges, scores are ignored completely, even if you submit them.
Why Did Colleges Go Test-Optional?
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated test-optional adoption when testing center closures forced colleges to waive requirements. Many discovered their applicant pools remained strong without mandatory scores.
Beyond logistics, equity concerns drove the shift. Critics argued that standardized tests favor students with access to expensive prep courses and multiple testing attempts.
Today, the landscape is shifting again. Several elite institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, and Stanford, have reinstated testing requirements after reviewing internal data. These schools cite research showing that test scores help identify high-potential students from under-resourced schools who might otherwise be overlooked.
What Percentage of Students Still Submit Scores?
Despite test-optional policies, most admitted students at selective colleges still submit scores.
At highly selective schools, the majority of admitted students submit test scores. At the University of Michigan, for example, more than 70% of admitted students reportedly submitted scores. Overall, about 47% of Common App applicants chose to apply test-optional in 2024-2025, but submission rates are significantly higher at the most competitive institutions.
What does this tell you? Students with strong scores are still submitting them, and those scores still influence admissions decisions. Test-optional has leveled the playing field for students with weaker scores, but it has not diminished the value of strong scores.
Do Test-Optional Colleges Prefer Students Who Submit Test Scores?
At most test optional colleges, admissions officers conduct holistic reviews. However, submitting strong test scores still provides an advantage at many selective test optional colleges.
Consider three common scenarios:
- A student with a 3.9 GPA and a 1550 SAT has two strong academic indicators that validate each other.
- A student with a 3.9 GPA and no SAT has one strong indicator, which is still compelling but less reinforced.
- A student with a 3.9 GPA and a 1250 SAT introduces a contradiction that admissions officers must interpret.
Submitting a strong score helps, a weak score can hurt, and no scores are usually neutral.
Should You Take the SAT or ACT for Test-Optional Colleges?
You should consider taking the SAT or ACT when applying to test optional colleges if
- Your GPA does not fully reflect your academic abilities. If you attend a school with grade deflation or have a weak semester you can explain, a strong test score provides independent validation.
- You are applying to highly selective schools. At colleges admitting fewer than 25% of applicants, most admitted students submit scores. If you need to improve your score, a structured SAT or ACT prep course can help you reach your target.
- You are seeking merit scholarships. Many scholarships, even at test-optional schools, still require SAT or ACT scores for eligibility.
- You are an international or homeschooled student. Without a traditional GPA from a recognized school system, test scores provide a familiar benchmark.
You may consider skipping testing at test optional colleges if
- Your practice scores fall below your target schools’ middle 50% range. Submitting a score in the bottom quartile may weaken your application.
- Testing anxiety limits your performance. Test-optional policies exist precisely for students in this situation.
- Your application is already exceptionally strong. If you have a near-perfect GPA, rigorous coursework, and compelling extracurriculars, you may not need scores to prove your qualifications.
How Do You Know If Your Score Is Good Enough to Submit?
Use this process when applying to test optional colleges:
- Find your target school’s middle 50% SAT or ACT range.
- Compare your score to that range.
- Submit your score if it is at or above the 25th percentile.
At most test optional colleges, submitting scores below the middle range weakens your application.
Do You Need SAT/ACT Scores for Scholarships?
Test-optional admissions policies do not always extend to scholarships.
Many merit scholarships still require SAT or ACT scores for consideration. National scholarships like National Merit are entirely test-dependent. Some state scholarship programs also tie eligibility to test performance.
Before deciding to skip testing, research the scholarship requirements at every school you are considering.
What Are the Top Test-Optional and Test-Required Colleges in 2026?
The testing landscape has shifted significantly. Understanding which colleges are test-optional and which now require the SAT or ACT is essential for planning your application strategy. Here is the current status for 2026 admissions:
Ivy League Testing Policy (2026)
| School | Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Harvard |
Required |
Reinstated 2025 |
|
Yale |
Test-Flexible |
Accepts SAT, ACT, AP, or IB scores |
|
Brown |
Required |
Reinstated 2025 |
|
Dartmouth |
Required |
First Ivy to reinstate |
|
Cornell |
Required |
Required for Fall 2026 |
|
Penn |
Required |
Reinstated 2025 |
|
Princeton |
Test-Optional |
Reinstating for 2027-28 cycle |
|
Columbia |
Test-Optional (Permanent) |
Only Ivy with permanent policy |
For students targeting Ivy League schools, the shift back to required testing means SAT or ACT preparation is no longer optional. Only Columbia and Princeton remain test-optional for 2026, making them attractive options for students who prefer not to submit scores.
Notable Test-Optional Colleges (2026)
Many highly ranked universities outside the Ivy League maintain test-optional admissions policies. These schools evaluate applications holistically, meaning strong academics and extracurriculars can compensate for missing test scores.
Highly Selective Test-Optional Colleges
- University of Chicago (permanent policy with “No Harm” approach, meaning scores only help, never hurt)
- Columbia University (permanent)
- Duke University
- Northwestern University
- Vanderbilt University
Selective Test-Optional Colleges
- NYU (test-optional through 2026-2027)
- Tufts University
- Emory University
- University of Southern California
- Wake Forest University
Test-Blind Colleges (2026)
Test-blind colleges take test-optional one step further. These schools will not consider your SAT or ACT scores even if you submit them. For students who struggle with standardized testing, test-blind schools offer a level playing field.
- University of California System (all campuses including UCLA and UC Berkeley)
- California State University System (all 23 campuses)
Schools That Reinstated SAT/ACT Requirements
Several prominent institutions reversed their test-optional policies between 2024 and 2025, signaling a broader trend among elite universities:
Ivy League
- Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn
Other Highly Selective Schools
- MIT, CalTech, Stanford, Georgetown
- University of Texas at Austin, University of Florida
- Georgia Tech, Purdue, Ohio State
This trend suggests that test-optional policies at other selective schools may also change. Students applying to competitive programs should prepare for the SAT or ACT even if their target schools are currently test-optional.
đź“ť Note: Testing policies change frequently and may be updated at any time. Always verify the current requirements on each school’s official admissions website before applying.
How to Decide Whether to Submit SAT or ACT Scores?
- Take a full-length practice test under real timed conditions
- Compare scores to target test optional colleges
- Assess whether your score strengthens your application
- Evaluate scholarship requirements
The Case for Taking the Test Anyway
Even if you are unsure, consider taking the SAT or ACT. Here’s why:
- Low risk, high reward:Â You can always choose not to submit your scores. Having the option is better than not having it.
- Scholarships may require it:Â Many merit awards still depend on test scores.
- Policies change:Â Schools can reinstate requirements at any time.
- Cost is not a barrier:Â Fee waivers are available for eligible students.
- Prep resources are accessible:Â Whether you prefer the SAT or ACT, affordable ACT test prep courses and SAT prep options can help you prepare efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, test-optional means you are not required to submit scores. However, at highly selective colleges, most admitted students still submit SAT or ACT scores.
No. Test-optional schools consider scores if you submit them. Test-blind schools ignore scores entirely.
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Yes. Only submit scores that strengthen your profile.
A strong test score reinforces a strong GPA. However, if your practice scores are weak, your GPA can stand on its own at test-optional schools. Not sure which test suits you better? Compare the ACT Reading vs SAT Reading sections to help you decide.
Check the college’s Common Data Set, admissions website, or tools like College Board’s BigFuture.
The trend among elite institutions is moving back toward requiring scores. However, many schools outside the top tier have made test-optional policies permanent.
No. Harvard is not test-optional for the 2026 admissions cycle. The university reinstated SAT and ACT requirements in Fall 2025 after reviewing internal data showing that test scores help identify academically prepared students, including those from under-resourced backgrounds.
Yes, in most cases. Taking the test gives you options. If your score is strong, submit it to test-optional colleges. If not, you can withhold it.
Your Next Step: Test or Skip?
Test-optional admissions means you have a choice. Use it wisely.
At most test-optional colleges, strong SAT or ACT scores still matter. But for the first time, a weak score does not have to define your application. That shift puts you in control of your narrative.
👉 Here’s what to do next:
- Take a full-length practice test under real conditions
- Compare your score to the middle 50% range at your target schools
- Submit if it helps. Skip if it doesn’t.
That’s it. No overthinking. No second-guessing. Just a clear decision based on where you actually stand.
The students succeed win in test-optional admissions are not the ones who avoid the question. They are the ones who answer it honestly and build their application around that reality.
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