Test Optional Admissions Trends in 2026

Summer 2026 update:

As we head into fall, many rising juniors are taking the ACT or SAT– or wondering whether they should in this possibly test-optional but ever-changing testing world. Sophomores looking ahead wonder whether this test optional world will hold at all.

Which schools have returned to test required status?

We had major movement in this space from 2024-2026, and now ALL Ivy League colleges are test required except Columbia and Princeton (both will end test optional admissions after Class of 2027), Also test required: Stanford, Georgetown, MIT, CalTech, Purdue, Cooper Union (engineering), Johns Hopkins, University of Miami, Carnegie Mellon, BYU, military service academies, UT Austin, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Auburn, Louisiana State, University of Alabama, and public colleges in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee (note that Auburn, Alabama, and LSU are in a phase-in model, but students should plan to submit scores with very few exceptions). That said, the overwhelming majority of colleges remain test optional, including the vast majority of state and private liberal arts colleges. Fair Test is always your most up-to-date source for learning a school’s test-optional status.

What is Going on with the University of California- is it still test blind?

All public colleges in California (both the University of California and the California State systems) have been test blind since the pandemic. This may change soon: after more than 3000 UC professors signed an open letter requesting a return to mandatory test reporting, the UC Board of Regents has said it expects a recommendation from the faculty senate by June 2027 regarding whether to remain test blind. Watch this space.

Test optional, or test preferred?

If you are trying to understand whether you need to take college entrance exams, check the Common Data Set for the colleges on your list. A school like the University of Oregon had only 17% of last year’s enrolled first-year students submit test scores. Clemson, on the other hand, reported about 70% of that cohort submitting test scores. That differential is one indicator of how much or how little each school weighs test scores. 

Pro-tip: If you are applying to a competitive major, think business or engineering, remember that some schools require test scores for a direct admission into that major. These include popular programs like the Kelley business school at Indiana University.

Should I test?

I can’t say in the abstract whether any one student should prep and test. In the middle of the pack, many students will do perfectly well in admissions without submitting test scores, and I often advise students to stop prepping or to skip testing, depending on circumstances. But for students who want to compete at the 50 most selective schools in the US or as an out-of-state student to schools that are extremely popular and selective— like Michigan, Wisconsin, and the University of Virginia— I almost always recommend prepping and testing, because having a strong test score will help a student. 

How can Freshmen prepare for college?

I haven’t forgotten about you, Class of 2030! I know freshman year is a big step up academically– it has been in my household this year for my freshman– and I hope you have found your footing. If you need academic tutoring, we have a great team offering everything from coaching on conjugating verbs for Spanish class, writing a DBQ for World History, to tutoring in math subjects ranging from Algebra to BC Calculus. 

Schedule a free consultation to talk with Christina about finding the right tutor.

As you look ahead to sophomore year, you have the opportunity for more variety in your classes and to go deeper with your activities. Many freshman families seek me out for advice on course selection and summer plans. I am always happy to see you and help you plan ahead. My experience is that students who know more can do more in these early years, and that can make you more successful when it comes to applying to college a few years from now. My aim is never to make you into someone you aren’t; rather, I listen to your goals and interests and guide you on how to make the best use of your time and, I hope, feel a little less stressed all along the way. 

If you missed my presentation, How to Prepare for College Admissions, you can still see the recording here for all my top tips for younger high schoolers: