Colleges & Universities Now Requiring SAT/ACT Scores
The following list summarizes the prominent college sand universities in the United States that require the submission of an SAT or ACT score as part of the application for first year/freshman undergraduate admission.
Use this as a guide to confirm specific requirements for the colleges on your list.
This list was last updated on August 28, 2024.
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Taking the ACT instead? Check out our ACT test prep classes here.
Brown University: Requiring standardized test scores (either SAT or ACT scores) for first-year applicants beginning with the 2024-25 admission cycle. As they have done in prior years, Brown will superscore either the SAT or ACT, or both. Click HERE for more information.
California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech): The decision to reinstate standardized testing at Cal Tech follows a recommendation from a faculty Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions Policy reflecting the judgement that standardized testing provides admissions officers and faculty reviewers useful information about academic preparedness as part of a holistic consideration of all prospective students. Click HERE for more information.
Dartmouth College: Students who attend(ed) high school within the United States must submit results of either the SAT or ACT. Dartmouth has no institutional preference for either test. Scores from multiple administrations of the SAT or the ACT will automatically be superscored, meaning Dartmouth will consider the highest result on individual sections of either exam regardless of the test date or testing format. Click HERE for more information.
Florida State University (FSU): When evaluating students for admission, we use the highest earned ACT, CLT, and SAT sub scores to calculate the highest ACT, CLT and/or SAT total score (a process known as “super scoring”). Click HERE for more information.
Georgetown University: All applicants are required to take the SAT or the ACT. Both tests are acceptable, and on neither test will a Writing component be utilized in admissions decisions. All tests should be taken by January of the senior year in order to allow time for the results to reach Georgetown by early February. We continue to recommend that students who have A.P. (Advanced Placement) scores submit them to supplement their admissions file. Click HERE for more information.
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech): All first-year applicants must submit results of the SAT and/or the ACT in order to be considered for admission, per University System of Georgia requirements. Keep in mind that in our holistic review process, tests are only one of many factors used to make admission decisions.
*While we try our best to keep this list complete and updated, please note that this list is not exhaustive.
FAQ About Test-Optional Policies as They Relate College Admissions
1. Test-Optional vs. Test-Blind
Test-optional means that you can still submit your scores, and you should if possible, as universities will consider them. Conversely, test-blind colleges won’t review test scores at all. However, in both scenarios, test scores might be used for placement purposes, potentially allowing you to bypass a placement exam before course selection. At some test-optional colleges, test scores are required for specific programs, majors, or merit-based scholarships. Additionally, you may need to submit test scores if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirements. Please refer to the ‘Notes from Insight Education’ section for specific college admissions requirements.
Have questions regarding test-optional test policies? We can help! Talk to our team by clicking HERE.
2. Should Freshmen and Sophomores Prepare for the SAT/ACT or Wait to Confirm if Their Preferred Colleges Are Test-Optional?
Currently, some schools have extended their test-optional policies for Fall 2025 applicants (high school seniors graduating in 2025 and applying in Fall 2024). Other colleges have also adopted test-optional policies. Your college list can evolve over time, even up until the moment you submit your applications. To keep your options open and your stress levels low, it’s a good idea to take a diagnostic test and strategize whether your scores might give you an advantage. Additionally, remember that certain majors, athletic admissions, honors programs, and scholarships may require ACT/SAT scores, and you can use your test scores in place of placement exams.
3. Will Submitting my ACT/SAT Scores Provide me with an Advantage?
This will depend on the particular colleges on your list and the high school you attend. In some cases, the college/university you apply to may ask you to submit test scores as they are reviewing your applications. Certain colleges require additional essays and/or admissions interviews when you apply without a test score. To learn more, check out our blog on “Top 3 Tips to Prepare You for College Admissions” or “How to Approach Standardized Testing“.
