An Update on Test-Optional Colleges in 2026

Students applying to college have gotten used to test-optional policies, which began around the pandemic — but what has changed since then? We break it all down.

Introduction 

If you’re a student about to apply to college or a parent looking more into the college admissions process, you’ve probably come across the term “test-optional.” As the name suggests, it just means that the school in question doesn’t require students to submit the traditional standardized tests (namely, the ACT and SAT) that have long been a standard and mandatory part of the college admissions process.  

This change mostly came about during the pandemic due to an increased lack of access to standardized test-taking facilities and ensuing debates about the academic disparities they have created since their inception. Top schools and Ivy Leagues especially followed suit, which led to an even larger increase in applications than usual. 

Now, in 2025, the standardized testing landscape is different than a few years ago. Both the SAT and ACT have been revised and include online options, and a handful of notable schools have reinstated their standardized testing policies. However, this doesn’t mean that test-optional policies are going anywhere – in fact, only a little more than a dozen colleges and universities dropped their test-optional policies in 2024, according to FairTest.

So, what does this mean for the future role of standardized testing in college admissions? We’ll break it all down.

What Does “Test-Optional” Really Mean?

As the name suggests, a “test optional” school doesn’t require students to submit standardized test scores, such as the ACT or SAT, as part of their application — it’s an optional addition to a student’s application. At schools that practice holistic admissions, that means that test scores are just one piece of the college application process, along with the list of extracurricular activities, essays, academic record, letters of recommendation, and essays.  

These testing policies mean that students who don’t submit standardized test scores won’t be penalized during their application review. Many students whose scores fall below the school’s mid-50 opt not to submit scores, but students who do submit scores will have them reviewed by admissions officers. This is not the same as test blind policies, however, which indicate that the school in question won’t review test scores at all, even if a student submits them.

The State of Test-Optional Colleges in 2026

Even though some schools eliminated test requirements before 2020, the switch to test-optional policies largely came about as a result of the pandemic and limited opportunities for in-person testing and, just generally, the increased difficulty students encountered during 2020 and onwards. 

These policies were immediately popular among students and have persisted since then, especially in the wake of national discussion about inherent inequity in the testing process.

Why Some Colleges Are Returning to Standardized Testing

As the 2025-2026 college application season unfolds, some colleges are re-evaluating their admissions criteria and deciding to reinstate standardized testing requirements. Some schools that have already reinstated testing include Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Caltech, and UT Austin. Other schools have announced they’ll be phasing out test-optional admissions over the next few years, including Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UPenn, Cornell, and the University of Miami. In fact, the only Ivy that will remain indefinitely test optional is Columbia as of now.

Some schools are returning to standardized testing due to concerns about academic standards and holistic admissions. Standardized test scores have long served as a benchmark against which schools can measure and compare students, especially since so many schools’ grading systems vary so widely. 

There is some evidence to suggest that students who are admitted without test scores struggle more in classes and that there is a correlation between high standardized test scores and higher college GPAs, according to The College Investor. Many schools are receiving pressure from trustees and alumni to maintain high academic standards, which they argue isn’t possible with test optional policies.

Why Many Colleges Are Keeping Test-Optional Policies

While some test-optional colleges are receiving significant pressure to reverse those policies for future college applicants, many are staying firm and committed to test-free admissions policies, with some even adopting test blind policies. For some schools, it’s about increasing application volume, which puts them higher on college ranking lists, but for others, it’s an ethical issue that centers around access and educational equity. 

According to research conducted by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights team: “One-third of the children of the very richest families scored a 1300 or higher on the SAT, while less than 5% of middle-class students did.” This could be the result of a multitude of factors, including disparities in the ability to take expensive test prep courses, to issues simply getting to testing centers (the latter of which, obviously, peaked during the pandemic). It’s a common refrain among educators that, when it comes to standardized tests, you have to “learn the test” to succeed — so it makes sense that those with resources to learn the structure of the test and take multiple practice exams would fare better than those who don’t.

With that in mind, is it fair to use scores at all to compare applicants? An admissions committee will already consider an applicant with the context of their school and its resources, but maybe it’s impossible to do so with ACT/SAT results.  

Pros and Cons of Applying to a Test-Optional College

Not sure if you want to test-optional colleges and universities? Consider some pros and cons.

Pros 

• There’s less pressure if you aren’t the best test-taker. Studying for the SAT takes time and effort, and if you’re not well-suited to test-taking, that is time you’ll need to put in to do well, especially if you’re applying to a top school with high mid-50 ranges. But with test-optional schools, you can put that time towards extracurriculars and essays that will really help you stand out. 
• This could strategically increase your chances of acceptance. If your score is below a college’s middle 50% range, applying test-optional can actually improve your odds. Instead, admissions officers can focus on the other elements of your application and take a more holistic approach to getting to know you. 
• It could help you build a more strategic college list. Test-optional policies help students apply to more reach schools, tailor their list, and take calculated risks without worrying that a low score will take them out of the running immediately.

Cons

• If other parts of your application aren’t as strong, without a strong score, you might not fare as well. Highly selective schools can be extremely competitive, even if they are technically test-optional — those applying without scores are likely to have near-perfect GPAs, impressive activities, and top-tier essays. 
• Merit aid may depend on test scores. Some test-optional schools still offer scholarships that are distributed based on test scores, so if you don’t submit scores, you might take yourself out of the running for consideration. 
• Certain programs still have standardized test requirements. Even if admission to the general school and/or College of Arts & Sciences may be test-optional, specialized programs like nursing or engineering still have standardized test requirements.

How Colleges Evaluate Applications Without Test Scores

In the absence of standardized test scores, colleges have adapted by placing a greater emphasis on other aspects of a student’s application. These schools have long been practicing holistic admissions, but without test scores, the approach becomes even more important. 

To quote our H&C blog post on holistic admissions: “The holistic approach in college admissions refers to a variety of reading practices and context framing that allows admissions officers to admit a diverse pool of students. Since they cannot compare one student to another in order to fairly assess the competitiveness of their candidates, admissions officers think about how the applicant stands relative to the pool of applicants.”

This means that academic performance (which includes the rigor of a student’s course load across their four years of high school), extracurricular activities, personal statements, supplemental essays, and recommendation letters become crucial in the application process.

Should You Submit Test Scores to a Test-Optional College?

Here’s the simple, reliable rule college counselors use to decide whether you should submit scores to a test-optional school: only submit your scores if they help you, not hurt you.

This depends on the middle 50% range of the school(s) in question — for instance, the ACT score range of the middle half of Brown University’s admitted students is 34-35 out of a possible 36. If your score is above the 7th percentile (i.e., a perfect 36), you should submit. If it’s in the middle 50%, you should likely still submit; that’s less of a clear sign to submit. If it’s below the 25th percentile, it’s probably best to leave it out of the application and focus on the other aspects of your application. 

Also, if your GPA and/or course rigor is on the lighter side, it might be a good idea to do enough test prep to get a good score — especially if you’re aiming for very competitive schools, a good score can balance a lower GPA, offset fewer honors/AP/IB classes, and show academic readiness.

Impact on Scholarships, Honors Programs, and Special Admissions

Test-optional admissions can influence scholarships, honors programs, and special admissions pathways in meaningful but different ways. For scholarships (especially merit-based awards), many colleges still prefer or even require test scores, even if the general admissions process is still test-optional. Strong scores help scholarship committees distinguish top students, so submitting them can improve your chances of receiving merit aid. It’s important to note that need-based financial aid, however, is never affected by test-optional policies. 

For honors programs, being test-optional for admission to the general college does not always mean being test-optional for honors. Some honors colleges require test scores for automatic admission or use them as a factor in a holistic review of applications. For more selective or STEM-heavy honors tracks, students could improve their chances by submitting a strong test score, although it’s not guaranteed. 

Special admissions programs such as BS/MD programs, business or engineering direct-admit programs, or accelerated dual-degree options tend to be more selective than the general applicant pool, which means they often favor applicants who submit strong scores even when they are officially test-optional. Programs like these sometimes quietly treat test scores as a valuable data point for assessing readiness, especially in quantitative fields. So, when deciding whether or not to submit your score, take into consideration which kinds of programs and scholarships you may actually be eligible for!

Strategic Application Planning in a Test-Optional Era

As discussed above, submitting test scores and even applying to test-optional schools is a more subjective topic of discussion than many might think. There is not always a “right” answer to the question of whether or not to submit test scores; it just varies depending on a student’s profile and aspirations and the school in question.

When figuring out how to make the most of your application in a test-optional landscape, focus on figuring out your own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, if you’re not a great test-taker but you excel in writing, focus on your essays, and only submit test scores if they exceed a school’s 50%. If you’re a strong test taker but your grades may have slipped one year, try your best to get a high standardized test score. Applications are like a puzzle for you to figure out, so make sure you leverage your strengths and minimize your weaknesses as much as possible.

Plus, make sure you have a college list that actually fits you and your interests. You should be doing this regardless of test-optional policies, but make sure you have a good balance of reach, target, and likely schools that offer programs that actually excite you. And make sure you have a plan for when you’ll apply and plan your tests (if applicable) accordingly — remember, early applications are usually beneficial for your top choice!

Conclusion

Test-optional policies have changed since they gained popularity during the pandemic, so students should not take the decision of whether or not to submit scores lightly. While the general consensus is that test scores are holding less weight in the college admissions process as the years continue, they’re by no means completely out of the picture. So, build a great list, excel in your classes, and take tests if they’re a good option for you — you’ve got this!

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