SAT & ACT Policy Tracker: Top 50 Colleges (2026-27)

Caltech reinstated required SAT/ACT testing in 2024 (effective for the Class of 2029 cycle) and it remains required for 2026-27 (Class of 2031). Caltech uses a 'bucket' system that masks exact scores above certain thresholds (Bucket A: SAT 780-800/ACT 35-36; Bucket B: SAT 750-770/ACT 33-34 — exact number hidden); only scores below SAT 750/ACT 33 are shown exactly to reviewers. No minimum score and no preferred test.

Harvard requires SAT or ACT scores, reinstated for the Class of 2029 cycle and already in effect for 2026-27. In exceptional cases where SAT/ACT is inaccessible, applicants may submit AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level, or national leaving-exam results instead.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering remain test-optional for the CURRENT 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry). Columbia announced June 15, 2026 that it will require SAT/ACT scores beginning with the 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 entry), making it the last Ivy to reinstate testing; a waiver option is expected once the requirement takes effect.

Princeton remains test-optional for the CURRENT 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry): 'Students who opt to apply to Princeton in the 2026-27 cycle without an ACT or SAT score will not be at a disadvantage.' Princeton will require SAT/ACT scores beginning with the 2027-28 admission cycle (fall 2028 entry).

Penn requires SAT or ACT scores (or an approved hardship waiver) starting with the 2025-26 admissions cycle, continuing for 2026-27. Scores may be self-reported at application time (recruited athletes must submit official scores); there is no minimum score.

Duke is officially test-optional for both first-year and transfer applicants for the 2026-27 cycle. Applicants without SAT/ACT scores are not disadvantaged; those who submit scores can choose to have them suppressed during review. No future required-testing change has been announced.

JHU's official page states first-year applicants are required to submit SAT (Math + EBRW) or ACT (Math, Reading, English) scores for consideration. This is a hard requirement, not optional, for the 2026-27 cycle.

Bowdoin has been test-optional since 1969 (it pioneered the policy) and its official test-optional-policy page confirms this remains current, with no submission requirement and no disadvantage for non-submitters. No future required-testing change found.

Northwestern's official FAQ states it 'is test-optional and does not require ACT or SAT scores from first-year or transfer candidates' — confirmed current for the 2026-27 cycle. No future required-testing change found.

Secondary sources report Williams' test-optional policy 'will remain in place for the 2025-26 admissions cycle'; no announcement of a reinstatement was found, so test-optional is the best current assessment for 2026-27, but this could NOT be verified directly against Williams' own site (see flags) and should be re-checked before publishing.

All UC campuses, including UCLA, have been permanently test-blind since fall 2021 entry per UC Board of Regents/Academic Senate action. SAT/ACT scores are not considered for admission or scholarships even if voluntarily submitted.

CMC extended its test-optional policy through the Fall 2027 entry cycle (the current 2026-27 application cycle). CMC's own FAQ states it 'will return to a test-required policy for the Fall 2028 admission cycle.'

Emory extended its test-optional policy through Fall 2027 entry (the current 2026-27 cycle) for both first-year and transfer applicants; students do not need to disclose or justify why they are not submitting scores.

All UC campuses, including Berkeley, have been permanently test-blind since fall 2021 entry per UC Board of Regents/Academic Senate action. SAT/ACT scores are not considered for admission or scholarships even if voluntarily submitted.

Notre Dame is reported as test-optional through at least the 2026-27 cycle per a third-party testing-policy tracker; the exact current policy wording could not be re-confirmed on a live admissions.nd.edu testing page in this session (attempted URLs 404'd), so this should be spot-checked before publishing.

Policy varies by college, not a single blanket rule: School of Computer Science REQUIRES an SAT/ACT score; College of Engineering, Dietrich College, Heinz College (Info Systems), Mellon College of Science, and Tepper are 'test flexible' — applicants must submit some standardized evidence (SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-Level, or French Bac); College of Fine Arts is test-optional (portfolio/audition instead). No future change announced.

"Georgetown University requires submission of SAT and/or ACT scores as part of our holistic application review process" — at least one full SAT or ACT; superscoring not accepted.

"Wellesley College will continue to be test optional for those applying for entry in fall 2027." ~45% of enrolled students submit no scores. College states it will "communicate updates for future application cycles as they become available" — no reinstatement announced.

UNC's own CDS 2025-26 (Section C8A, 'policies for use in admission for students applying for Fall 2027') checks SAT/ACT under 'Required to be considered for admission' — NOT 'Recommended' or 'Not required but considered.' The GPA-conditional nuance is real and is itself confirmed verbatim in the CDS's own C8F clarification: 'Beginning with the Fall 2025-26 academic year, students with a weighted GPA below 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) are required to submit either an ACT or SAT score. If applicants have scores that they choose to share with us, they will be considered as one fact among many in our holistic application review.' So: not a blanket requirement for every applicant, but UNC's own official CDS classification is 'required,' not 'optional' — publish it as such, with the GPA threshold as the caveat, not the headline.

"Boston College has a test-optional admission policy. Students who opt not to submit test scores will receive full consideration." No end date or reinstatement announced on BC's site.

Carleton adopted a permanent test-optional policy in 2025 after a 5-year pilot and external study; SAT/ACT are not required of any applicant but may still be submitted.

SAT, ACT, or CLT scores are required of all first-time first-year applicants for Fall 2027 admission (narrow hardship exceptions), per UF's own Common Data Set 2025-26 (Section C8A). This reinstates a requirement after a prior test-optional period. ACT Science is no longer required/factored per Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.008.

UC San Diego (and all UC campuses systemwide) will not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions even if submitted. This is a permanent UC systemwide policy.

'Illinois is test-optional. You can choose whether to include ACT or SAT scores.' Applicants who omit test scores may need to submit an English-language proficiency test instead (international applicants).

NYU confirms on its official site: 'NYU will continue to remain test-optional through the 2027-2028 application cycle.' If scores are submitted, only one testing format is used; SAT, ACT, APs, IB, A-Levels, and other exams are all accepted flexibly.