Test-Permanent Colleges 2026-2027

A major shift in the landscape of standardized testing has unfolded over the last few years. Most US colleges made standardized test scores an optional part of their applications during the pandemic, and most have extended their test-optional policies—some indefinitely.

There have been a few notable reversals as some schools now require testing again. Colleges such as Georgetown and MIT have been requiring SAT and ACT scores for the last couple of cycles; more recently, Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale have continued being test-permanent for the 2026-2027 application season. Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, MIT and other top colleges have continued to require tests. New additions include Johns Hopkins and Cornell University. As you’ll see in the table below, there are also colleges that don’t require test scores, but prefer that you submit them, as well as schools that require test scores for placement in courses such as math.

We’re still waiting on other colleges and universities to announce their policies for fall 2027 admissions, and we’ll keep the table updated as new announcements are made.