Top U.S. Universities Bring Back Standardized Tests: Columbia, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt Reinstate SAT/ACT Requirements

2026-10-04 · Guides

In 2026, Yale, Columbia, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt successively announced the reinstatement or tightening of their SAT/ACT requirements. Based on official university websites, this article outlines the first application class for which each school requires these tests. It also provides SAT/ACT planning strategies for current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors based on their expected enrollment year.

Let's get straight to the point: top U.S. universities are gradually returning to requiring the SAT or ACT. As of October 4, 2026, Columbia University has announced the reinstatement of this requirement, with media reporting it as the last Ivy League school to do so; the University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University followed suit in the summer and fall of this year. For students currently in 10th or 11th grade, standardized tests can no longer be treated as an optional submission; it is best to schedule them into your study plan as early as possible.

Below, we will first look at the specific requirements of each school, and then discuss how to prepare by grade level.

Schools Newly Announced in 2026

Yale University (Announced on May 27, 2026): Starting from the 2026-27 application cycle, for applicants enrolling in Fall 2027, all first-year and transfer applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. Previously, Yale implemented a "test-flexible" policy starting in 2024, where AP and IB scores could also meet the requirement; under the new policy, AP and IB scores can no longer replace the SAT/ACT, but can still be reported separately on the application. Data released by Yale shows that 90% of the incoming class for Fall 2025 submitted scores, and this proportion is 92% for the incoming class for Fall 2026.

Columbia University (Released on June 12, 2026): Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University will reinstate the requirement starting from the 2027-28 application cycle in August 2027. First-year and transfer applicants planning to enroll in Fall 2028 will need to submit SAT or ACT scores. Applicants with genuine hardships may request a waiver during the application process. The 2026-27 application cycle will remain test-optional. Columbia notes that there is no minimum score requirement for admission.

University of Notre Dame (Announced on September 9, 2026): Starting from the 2027-28 application cycle, for Fall 2028 enrollment, both first-year and transfer applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores, which also applies to international students. The university stated that it will evaluate scores in the context of each applicant's specific background and will not set a fixed score threshold.

Vanderbilt University (Announced on July 23, 2026): The requirement will be reinstated starting with applicants enrolling in Fall 2029. Applicants enrolling in Fall 2027 and Fall 2028 will still be treated under the test-optional policy.

In addition, Princeton University previously announced that it will require the SAT or ACT starting from the 2027-28 application cycle (for Fall 2028 enrollment); the 2026-27 application cycle will remain test-optional. Princeton also does not have a minimum score requirement.

Schools Already Requiring Scores

Some schools reinstated the requirement earlier, and submitting scores is now mandatory for applications:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Reinstated in March 2022, effective from the 2022-23 application cycle. Both first-year and transfer applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores, which also applies to international students. For those who take the same test multiple times, MIT primarily considers the highest section scores across all test dates.
Harvard University: Announced on April 11, 2024, that it will require the SAT or ACT starting with the Class of 2029 (applying in Fall 2024, enrolling in Fall 2025). Only in exceptional circumstances where taking the SAT/ACT is truly impossible (e.g., inability to afford the test fee or lack of available test seats) can AP, IB, A-Level, or other scores be used as a substitute. The requirements are the same for international and domestic students. Harvard also specifically noted that English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo cannot be used to fulfill the standardized testing requirement.

Overview of Requirements by School

The table below only includes schools verified on their official websites, based on the enrollment year.

School	Requirement	Starting Class
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	SAT or ACT, also applies to international students	From 2022-23 application cycle
Harvard University	SAT or ACT; AP/IB/A-Level etc. accepted in exceptional cases	From Fall 2025 enrollment
Yale University	SAT or ACT only, AP/IB no longer accepted as substitutes	From Fall 2027 enrollment
Princeton University	SAT or ACT, no minimum score	From Fall 2028 enrollment
Columbia University	SAT or ACT, waivers available, no minimum score	From Fall 2028 enrollment
University of Notre Dame	SAT or ACT, also applies to international students	From Fall 2028 enrollment
Vanderbilt University	SAT or ACT	From Fall 2029 enrollment

Policies at other schools are also changing. Please check the admissions website of each target school individually before applying.

Why the Return to Testing

The reasons given by the schools are largely the same:

Scores are predictive. Columbia states that years of faculty evaluation have found that test scores are one of the useful indicators in determining whether a student will succeed academically. Princeton reviewed five years of data and found that students who submitted scores performed better academically on campus.
Helps identify students from diverse backgrounds. Both MIT and Harvard mentioned that standardized tests help the university identify students with strong academic abilities who come from schools with limited resources.
Most applicants are already submitting scores. Yale's data is a prime example.

At the same time, almost all schools emphasize: test scores are just one component of a holistic review, and there is no such thing as "a certain score guarantees admission."

How to Plan by Grade Level

The grade levels in China do not perfectly align with those in the U.S. The safest approach is to refer to the table above based on your expected enrollment year. Below are examples of common scenarios:

Currently in 12th grade (Grade 12), planning to enroll in Fall 2027

Yale, Harvard, and MIT already require scores for this cycle.
Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt remain test-optional for this cycle.
Time is running short. Harvard mentioned that students applying for Early Action (EA) should ideally have their scores by the end of October. If you haven't finished testing yet, make the most of the remaining test dates.

Currently in 11th grade (Grade 11), planning to enroll in Fall 2028

Princeton, Columbia, and Notre Dame will all require scores. Combined with schools that already require them, the list is noticeably longer.
It is recommended to complete your first official test within this academic year, leaving yourself at least one or two opportunities to retake it.
The application season begins right after the summer of 2027. It is best to achieve a satisfactory score before then, so you can focus on essays and coursework during the first semester of 12th grade.

Currently in 10th grade (Grade 10), planning to enroll in Fall 2029

Vanderbilt will also require scores. By the time you apply, submitting test scores will likely be the norm.
There is no rush to start drilling practice questions immediately, but you can take a diagnostic test first to see whether the SAT or ACT is a better fit for you.
Building a strong foundation in school math, English reading, and writing will directly help with standardized tests.

General Recommendations

Just choose one: SAT or ACT. All the schools mentioned above accept either one. Yale has explicitly stated that it has no preference between the two tests. It is recommended to take a practice test for each and choose the one that feels more comfortable.
Understand "superscoring". Both MIT and Yale have stated that they will consider the highest section scores across all test dates for the same exam. This means retaking the test is not necessarily a bad thing, but avoid taking it repeatedly without a plan.
AP is not a substitute. Yale no longer accepts AP/IB scores as a substitute for the SAT/ACT; Harvard only accepts them in exceptional circumstances. AP scores are still valuable, but they should be planned separately from the SAT/ACT.
English proficiency tests are separate. TOEFL and IELTS are used to prove English proficiency and cannot replace the SAT/ACT. Time for both types of tests must be scheduled into your plan.
Check test dates and registration deadlines in advance. The SAT has fixed weekend test dates each year, such as November 7 and December 5, 2026, and March 6, May 1, and June 5, 2027. Registration deadlines are usually about two weeks before the test date. Specific test centers and dates are subject to the College Board's official website.
"No minimum score" does not mean scores don't matter. Both Columbia and Princeton have stated that there is no cutoff score, but at schools that require test scores, scores will be compared alongside transcripts and course rigor. In its 2026-27 application guidelines, Yale mentioned that the vast majority of its students score in the top 5% nationally.

Policies may continue to change. The information above is current as of October 4, 2026. Please refer to the latest announcements on each school's official website.

Need Help?

If you want to determine whether your child should take the SAT or ACT and when is the best time to take it, you can learn more about our SAT prep and ACT prep, or book a one-on-one consultation. We will help you create a timeline based on your target schools and grade level.