The Koppelman Group

AUGUST 5, 2025

This was decided after an extensive data-based review in which they found that standardized test scores are useful in indicating college readiness. At the same time, they do account for inequities of access to things like advanced coursework and test prep services.

Ivy League

The Koppelman Group

AUGUST 8, 2025

Rice believes in standardized tests, but they don’t require them. To use their own words , “Rice recommends first-year and transfer student applicants to undergraduate degree-seeking programs to submit SAT or ACT test scores, if available.”

Standardized Testing

The Koppelman Group

MAY 22, 2025

The bar is extremely high for standardized test scores. Luckily, strong SAT or ACT test prep can be accomplished is a much shorter timeframe than it takes to develop an impressive transcript. Scores All first-year applicants to Georgetown are required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application.

Standardized Testing

AdmissionSight

JUNE 7, 2025

2026 61,220 3.2% The pool of applicants has exploded, especially during the pandemic when Harvard went test-optional. For the Class of 2026, applications hit a high of over 61,000, partly driven by students hoping that ditching SAT/ACT scores would boost their chances. 2026 51,814 2.3% 2026 9,406 7.9% The takeaway?

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

JUNE 7, 2025

2026 38,019 5.7% This shift was especially noticeable for the Class of 2026, when applications spiked to 38,019, and the acceptance rate hit 5.7%. To get there, take plenty of practice tests and zero in on your weak spots. 2027 39,644 4.5% 2025 37,601 4.4% 2024 32,836 5.6% 2023 32,804 5.8% 2022 35,370 5.5% Another factor?

Acceptance

Top Tier Admissions

AUGUST 1, 2025

Effective for students applying for Fall 2026 and beyond, first-year applicants are required to submit standardized test scores. Top Tier Admissions is tracking the 2025-2026 supplemental essay prompts for all top schools here — we look forward to supporting you ! Know someone else navigating the college process?

Ivy League

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Standardized test scores. Depending on your program, you’ll also need to take standardized tests like the GRE, SAT, ACT, or GMAT. Harvard’s admissions process takes a close look at several key factors in a holistic review. Here’s what they expect: Academic records. Strong grades and GPA are essential. Extracurriculars.

Financial Aid

Discovery College Consulting

MARCH 4, 2025

It would, for instance, be unlawful for an educational institution to eliminate standardized testing to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity. Therefore, it seems likely that many institutions may feel the safest practice is to reinstate mandatory test score policies.

Policies

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 1, 2025

2026 37,522 5.4% Target test scores UChicago is test-optional , so you dont have to submit SAT or ACT scores. Its getting tougher to get in every year. Below is the admissions data over the past decade: UChicago Class Total Applications Overall Acceptance Rate 2028 43,612 4.5% 2027 38,631 4.8% 2025 37,977 6.5% 2024 34,372 7.3%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

MAY 8, 2025

Ivy League schools testing policies If youre applying to Ivy League schools , youve probably noticed things are getting a little more complicated regarding standardized tests. Some schools are bringing back SAT/ACT requirements, while others are sticking with test-optional or test-flexible approaches.

SAT

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 29, 2024

2026 16,626 448 2.7% Target test scores Caltech is back to requiring standardized tests for first-year applicants, and high scores can set you apart. For instance, 15 waitlisted students were admitted for the Class of 2026 out of 195, and 10 made it in for the Class of 2024 out of 312. 2027 13,136 412 3.1%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

2026 51,558 7.2% 2026 47,013 5.6% 2026 4545 24.3% Target test scores Northwestern remains test-optional for the Class of 2029, meaning you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application. 2027 52,233 7.2% 2025 47,636 7% 2024 39,263 9.3% 2023 40,585 9.1% 2022 37,259 9.2% 2021 35,100 9.2%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

APRIL 1, 2025

Considered These factors dont hold the same weight as the more important ones, but they still play a role in rounding out your application: Standardized test scores. Starting with students applying for Fall 2026, Cornell will now require SAT or ACT scores for all applicants , so its time to focus on these tests if you havent already.

Applications

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 14, 2025

And for the Class of 2026, Princeton’s legacy acceptance rate stood at 10%. With no legacy, MITs admissions process takes a holistic approach and evaluates applicants beyond just their test scores and academic achievements. Standardized test scores. Does MIT require standardized test scores?

Admissions

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 20, 2025

2026 56,378 3.7% Standardized test scores (optional). They accept both, but standardized test scores are optional. Even though its hard to get into Stanford with or without test scores, submitting your best results can only help. 2025 55,471 3.9% 2024 45,227 5.2% 2023 47,498 4.3% 2022 47,451 4.4%

Admissions

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 24, 2024

You can self-report test scores through the Common Application or Coalition on Scoir, and if admitted, you’ll need to send official reports. Keep in mind that this test-optional policy is temporary—standardized testing will be required again starting with the 2025–2026 cycle.

Early Decision

AdmissionSight

MARCH 14, 2025

Class of 2026 17.7% The largest drop happened between the Class of 2024 and Class of 2026, where the rate went from 26.1% Standardized test scores (optional). The University of Michigan is test-optional. Can I get into the University of Michigan with low test scores? Class of 2025 20.2% Class of 2027 17.9%

Admissions

AdmissionSight

APRIL 14, 2025

2026 15,054 6,612 43.9% The year before that, the Class of 2026 had a slightly higher rate at 43.9%, with 15,054 accepted and 6,612 enrolling. Class Total Applications Total Accepted Acceptance Rate 2028 TBA TBA TBA 2027 65,375 15,707 24% 2026 64,473 15,054 23.3% for the Class of 2026 and 24.0% 2026 5,326 2,364 44.4%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 11, 2025

2026 110,189 42% 2025 105,850 49.4% That means you can skip stressing over standardized test prep and tracking down teachers for letters. While its not as selective as schools like UC Berkeley or UCLA , its still a tough school to get into, especially since more students are applying every year. 2027 109,350 41.9%

Acceptance

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

2026 31,443 8.7% 2027 28,106 7% 2026 28,718 7.7% 2026 2,725 18.8% While Rice is test-optional, strong scores can help your application stand out and show that youre ready for the schools challenging academics. And for the Class of 2026, it was even toughernot a single student was admitted off the waitlist.

Acceptance

The Koppelman Group

MAY 3, 2025

To be competitive at Duke, you need to have 1550+ or 35+ on your standardized tests. Submitting strong scores can give your application an extra boost, and in a pool as competitive as Dukes, every advantage counts. Not really, and not to Duke.

Early Decision

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 24, 2025

They say the policy is test flexible, which means AP and IB scores are accepted, but we dont think thats a successful strategy. Yale reinstated standardized testing (along with a few other Ivies) because the data is clear: strong test scores are one of the best predictors of college success.

Early Decision

The Koppelman Group

JULY 25, 2025

That doesn’t mean that you should simply write off the importance of standardized testing, though. Strong test scores can underline an impressive application, so students applying to Richmond should aim for an SAT that is 1460 or higher, or an ACT of 33+.

University

Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 16, 2025

AP Cyber: Networking and AP Cyber: Security Pilot 2025-2026 / National Launch 2026-2027 This first Career Kickstart two-course sequence in cybersecurity seeks to give students practical skills in safeguarding digital systems.

Transition

Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 9, 2025

TOP TIERS STANDARDIZED TESTING RESOURCE TIMELINE STEP 1: If youre unsure whether the ACT or the SAT is your stronger test, jump into our free SAT vs. ACT Diagnostic tool to see your results! STEP 2: If youve taken a full-length practice ACT and SAT, use our score converter to help determine your stronger test.

ACT

The Koppelman Group

JULY 31, 2025

Given how Amherst does things differently, it doesn’t surprise us that they have also thought about standardized testing differently for a while. When deciding, remember that schools with optional testing policies tend to have higher score averages simply because students with low scores don’t submit them.

Standardized Testing

AdmissionSight

JUNE 3, 2025

This composite is higher than either individual test score, strengthening your overall application. Other standardized testing policies at Stanford Beginning with the 20252026 application cycle, Stanford will reinstate its standardized testing requirement. Is Stanford test-optional?

SAT

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

However, historically, the university admitted 3,843 students for the Class of 2027, 3,873 for the Class of 2026, and 4,453 for the Class of 2025. 2026 34,261 11.3% 2026 29,733 11.1% 2026 4,528 12.5% Carnegie Mellon has only released estimates for the Class of 2028. For the Class of 2028, it has dropped to just 11.5%.

Acceptance

Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The landscape of college admissions continues to shift as universities re-evaluate the role of standardized testing in the application process. In a major policy change, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has announced that it will reinstate its standardized testing requirement for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.

Testing

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Class of 2025 10% Class of 2026 13.4% Standardized test scores (optional). Harvey Mudd is test-optional for students applying through Fall 2026. Harvey Mudd is test-optional through Fall 2026, meaning you dont have to submit SAT scores if you dont want to. Class of 2027 13.1% Class of 2028 12.7%

Admissions

The Koppelman Group

MAY 2, 2025

Scores Princeton has not announced whether it is keeping its test-optional policy for the 2025-2026 application cycle. Last year, 77% of admitted students submitted standardized test scores, even though they were optional. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that you meet Princetons standards.

Ivy League

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Class of 2025 31% Class of 2026 31.4% Standardized test scores (optional). UT Austin remains test-optional for Spring 2025 applicants. For the Class of 2028, UT Austin received 68,931 applications and admitted 19,417 students , resulting in an acceptance rate of 28%. Class of 2027 29.1%

Admissions

AdmissionSight

MARCH 1, 2025

Class of 2026 11.4% Standardized test scores. UC Berkeley is test-free, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not considered in the application review process. Even if you submit your test scores, they will not be factored into the admissions decision. Class of 2027 11.7% for 2025, then took a sharper dive to 11.4%

Admissions

The Koppelman Group

MAY 15, 2025

Even if you do super impressive things and have strong standardized test scores, you need the grades. Scores In 2024, Mich formally adopted a test-optional policy when it comes to submitting standardized test scores. And, if you an in-state applicant, all of these things still apply just as strongly.

University

The Koppelman Group

APRIL 5, 2025

For the Class of 2026, 10% of the admitted and enrolled students are legacies. Class Rank of the Class of 2028 Scores: Like most colleges and universities, Dartmouth suspended mandatory submission of standardized test scores as a part of the application process during the Covid pandemic.

Policies

The Koppelman Group

MAY 7, 2025

Ideally, everything should be in balance and both outcomes can be exceptional, but if you are struggling in a course, it is more important to improve your grade than it is to improve your standardized test scores. That said, while scores may be optional, they do matter.

Early Decision

AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

2026 26,509 12.9% The number of applicants has skyrocketed, especially since Notre Dame went test-optional during the pandemic. 2026 16,826 10.4% 2026 9,683 17.3% Target standardized test scores Take note that Notre Dame has a test-optional policy i n place through at least the 2025-26 admissions cycle.

Acceptance