Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League, officially announced on June 12th that starting from August 2027 (the 2027-2028 application season), undergraduate applicants must submit their SAT or ACT standardized test scores.
This decision marks a significant turnaround for one of the most prestigious Ivy League institutions in the United States and signifies the end of the “Test-Optional” era that has been in place since the pandemic began.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with testing centers across the U.S. closed, many colleges and universities implemented temporary policies that did not require standardized test scores. However, in 2023, Columbia University took the lead among the Ivy League schools by becoming the first institution to permanently change its policy to be test-optional. At the time, the admissions office at Columbia claimed that this shift was aimed at breaking down social and economic barriers, believing that students’ academic potential should not be solely defined by a single test score.
However, this progressive policy, hailed as a benchmark by advocates for equality, was revoked by the university after less than three years. Many high school students and their parents who were preparing for college applications criticized Columbia University for its sudden change in policy on platforms such as Reddit, a mainstream study abroad forum.
In their statement, Columbia University acknowledged that the decision to reinstate standardized testing requirements was based on a multi-year internal faculty review process. The review concluded that SAT and ACT scores still serve as the “most effective and compelling” data points for predicting a student’s ability to achieve academic success in college.
According to the latest guidelines released by the admissions office at Columbia, the implementation of this new policy will be carried out in phases.
For the upcoming 2026-2027 application cycle, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will continue to maintain their test-optional policy.
Starting from August 2027, all incoming freshmen and transfer students seeking admission in the fall of 2028 must submit their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Columbia University stated that despite the reinstatement of testing requirements, they will continue to evaluate applicants through a holistic review process.