Columbia University will require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores

Columbia University has announced that it will once again require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores for admissions starting next year. This decision comes after a faculty review determined that these standardized test scores are “useful indicators of potential student success.” The leafy Morningside Heights campus is the final Ivy League school to reverse its course on this issue, as many schools had dropped the requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement released by the university, both first-year students and transfer applicants will be required to include their SAT or ACT scores for the 2027-28 admissions cycle with the aim of enrolling in fall 2028. However, applicants who face challenges in meeting this requirement may request a waiver at the time of their application.

The SAT policy was initially suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic and was later extended in 2023 with no specified end date. During this time, the school emphasized the belief that students are dynamic individuals who cannot be defined by any single factor. However, the recent decision to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement reflects a shift back towards using these standardized tests as part of the admissions process.

Columbia’s policy change follows similar moves by other Ivy League schools like Harvard University, which also made SAT scores a requirement again due to concerns about the preparedness of students for college coursework. Additionally, Yale recently stopped offering test flexibility, where students could choose between submitting SAT or ACT scores along with other academic achievements like Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate grades.

While Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will remain test-optional for the upcoming 2026-2027 admissions cycle, the university’s decision to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement underscores the importance of these standardized tests in evaluating potential student success. As the landscape of college admissions continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this policy change impacts the applicant pool and the overall admissions process at Columbia University.