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Test-Optional vs Test-Required Colleges 2026-2027

Standardized testing policies for 115 top colleges in the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, verified by AlphaApply.ai, with published SAT/ACT middle-50% ranges where scores are considered.

Test scores required (23 schools)

These schools require an SAT or ACT score from every applicant.

CollegeSAT middle 50%ACT middle 50%
MIT1520–158034–36
Harvard1510–158034–36
Stanford1510–158034–35
Yale1470–157033–35
Johns Hopkins1520–157034–36
UPenn1510–157034–36
Caltech——
Cornell1500–157033–35
Brown1510–158034–35
Dartmouth1500–157033–35
Carnegie Mellon1500–157034–35
Georgetown1390–155031–35
University of Florida1320–148029–33
UT Austin1250–151027–33
Georgia Tech1370–154030–34
Ohio State1310–148028–32
Purdue1200–148027–34
UGA1270–148029–34
FSU1270–141029–32
University of Miami1320–148030–33
UCF1200–135025–29
Auburn1260–139026–31
Tennessee1200–137025–31

Test-optional (81 schools)

You choose whether to submit scores. A score at or above the middle-50% range usually helps; below it, consider withholding.

CollegeSAT middle 50%ACT middle 50%
Princeton1510–158034–35
Williams1490–157034–35
Amherst1490–158033–35
Swarthmore1490–156033–35
Bowdoin1470–155033–35
UChicago1510–158034–35
Northwestern1510–157033–35
Duke1500–157034–35
Harvey Mudd1500–157034–36
Hamilton College1450–155033–35
Columbia1510–158034–35
Vanderbilt1500–157034–35
Rice1510–157034–35
Notre Dame1455–156033–35
University of Michigan1360–153031–34
WashU1500–157033–35
Emory1470–155032–35
UNC Chapel Hill1390–153028–34
UVA1410–154032–35
USC1450–155032–35
NYU1480–156034–35
Tufts1470–156033–35
UW Madison1380–152029–33
UIUC1310–152030–34
Boston College1440–154033–35
Rutgers1310–150028–33
University of Washington——
University of Maryland1400–153032–35
Boston University1420–153032–34
Lehigh1370–150031–34
Northeastern1440–154033–35
University of Rochester1410–154031–34
William & Mary1400–153032–34
Wake Forest1410–152032–34
Texas A&M1150–140025–31
Case Western1430–154032–34
Virginia Tech1280–145028–32
Villanova1395–151032–34
Penn State1240–142027–32
GWU1350–150031–34
University of Minnesota1300–150026–31
UMass Amherst1310–150030–33
RPI1375–151030–34
NC State1300–147028–32
Michigan State1180–136025–31
Brandeis1390–152031–34
Tulane1400–152031–34
UConn1210–144028–33
Indiana University1170–140027–33
Clemson1240–141028–32
Stevens1380–150531–34
WPI——
SMU1340–149030–34
RIT1300–146029–33
CU Boulder1240–143029–33
Fordham1320–148030–33
ASU——
UNH1090–133026–30
George Mason1160–136025–30
UMBC1240–142025–31
UVM1290–144030–32
VCU1010–127022–30
UNC Charlotte1140–133021–28
Ole Miss1000–120021–29
Alabama1170–140024–31
Pitt1280–146029–33
Texas Tech1090–128023–28
University of Iowa1130–133021–28
Temple——
Kentucky1070–129021–28
University of Arizona1150–142021–29
LSU1180–134024–30
TCU1140–135026–31
University of Oregon1130–136023–30
University of Houston1160–134023–29
Baylor1200–140027–32
South Carolina1180–136026–32
UCCS1010–122020–26
College of Charleston1140–131025–30
Colorado State——
Babson1390–153031–34

Test-blind (11 schools)

Scores are not considered at all, even if submitted.

CollegeSAT middle 50%ACT middle 50%
UC Berkeley——
UCLA——
UC San Diego——
UC Davis——
UC Irvine——
UC Santa Barbara——
UC Merced——
UC Riverside——
UC Santa Cruz——
SDSU——
Cal State LA——

Not sure whether to submit? Jim weighs your scores against each school on your list and gives you a straight answer. Free to start.

Ask Jim about your scores

Policies are for the 2026-2027 cycle as verified by the AlphaApply.ai team and can change; always confirm on the school's admissions site.

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