Complete List: Colleges Requiring SAT/ACT by State 2026-2027

With SAT and ACT requirements returning to dozens of top universities, knowing exactly which schools require scores — and what scores they expect — is essential for planning your college application strategy. This comprehensive guide breaks down testing policies by region and state for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.

📖 New to this topic? Start with Part 1: SAT/ACT Is Back — What Every Student Must Know for 2026-2027

🔑 How to Read This List: REQUIRED = Must submit SAT or ACT   TEST-OPTIONAL = Score submission is your choice   CONDITIONAL = Required only under certain conditions

🏛️ Elite Private Universities (National)

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
MIT	Massachusetts	REQUIRED	1520–1580	Never went test-optional
Stanford	California	REQUIRED	1510–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Caltech	California	REQUIRED	1530–1590	Never went test-optional
Johns Hopkins	Maryland	REQUIRED	1500–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Georgetown	D.C.	REQUIRED	1400–1550	Joined Common App Fall 2026
Notre Dame	Indiana	REQUIRED	1450–1560	Always required scores
Carnegie Mellon	Pennsylvania	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Wash. Univ. St. Louis	Missouri	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Rice University	Texas	REQUIRED	1490–1570	Reinstated testing requirement

🏙️ Northeast

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
Harvard University	Massachusetts	REQUIRED	1500–1580	Reinstated April 2024
MIT	Massachusetts	REQUIRED	1520–1580	Never went test-optional
Tufts University	Massachusetts	TEST-OPTIONAL	1430–1540	Test-optional continues
Boston University	Massachusetts	CONDITIONAL	1340–1510	ACT requires Science section
Yale University	Connecticut	REQUIRED	1500–1580	Test-flexible: SAT/ACT/AP/IB
Brown University	Rhode Island	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated Fall 2025
Dartmouth College	New Hampshire	REQUIRED	1500–1570	Reinstated Fall 2025
Cornell University	New York	REQUIRED	1430–1560	Reinstated Fall 2025
Columbia University	New York	TEST-OPTIONAL	1490–1560	Permanent test-optional policy
NYU	New York	TEST-OPTIONAL	1350–1530	Test-optional continues
Fordham University	New York	TEST-OPTIONAL	1200–1390	Test-optional continues
University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	REQUIRED	1490–1570	Reinstated early 2025
Carnegie Mellon	Pennsylvania	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Princeton University	New Jersey	TEST-OPTIONAL	1480–1570	Final test-optional year; required 2027-28
Rutgers University	New Jersey	TEST-OPTIONAL	1170–1380	Test-optional continues
Johns Hopkins	Maryland	REQUIRED	1500–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
University of Maryland	Maryland	TEST-OPTIONAL	1280–1480	Extended temporary test-optional
Georgetown	D.C.	REQUIRED	1400–1550	Joined Common App Fall 2026

🌴 West Coast

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
Stanford University	California	REQUIRED	1510–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
Caltech	California	REQUIRED	1530–1590	Never went test-optional
UC Berkeley	California	TEST-OPTIONAL	1340–1540	UC system remains test-optional
UCLA	California	TEST-OPTIONAL	1290–1510	UC system remains test-optional
UC San Diego	California	TEST-OPTIONAL	1270–1500	UC system remains test-optional
UC Davis	California	TEST-OPTIONAL	1190–1430	UC system remains test-optional
USC	California	TEST-OPTIONAL	1380–1540	Test-optional continues
University of Washington	Washington	TEST-OPTIONAL	1230–1460	Scores recommended but not required
Oregon State University	Oregon	TEST-OPTIONAL	1080–1310	Test-optional continues
University of Oregon	Oregon	TEST-OPTIONAL	1080–1300	Test-optional continues

🤠 South & Southwest

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
Rice University	Texas	REQUIRED	1490–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
UT Austin	Texas	REQUIRED	1230–1480	Reinstated in 2024
Texas A&M	Texas	REQUIRED	1170–1390	Always required scores
Texas Tech	Texas	REQUIRED	1060–1280	Always required scores
Baylor University	Texas	REQUIRED	1180–1390	Reinstated testing requirement
University of Florida	Florida	REQUIRED	1310–1490	Entire FL state system requires scores
Florida State University	Florida	REQUIRED	1200–1380	FL state system requirement
University of Miami	Florida	REQUIRED	1330–1500	Reinstated testing requirement
Florida International	Florida	REQUIRED	1080–1270	FL state system requirement
University of Georgia	Georgia	REQUIRED	1230–1420	GA state system requires scores
Georgia Tech	Georgia	REQUIRED	1390–1540	Always required; STEM focused
Emory University	Georgia	TEST-OPTIONAL	1430–1540	Test-optional continues
Vanderbilt University	Tennessee	TEST-OPTIONAL	1510–1560	Extended temporary test-optional
University of Tennessee	Tennessee	REQUIRED	1150–1340	TN state system requires scores
University of Alabama	Alabama	CONDITIONAL	1070–1290	Required for GPA below 3.0
Auburn University	Alabama	CONDITIONAL	1130–1330	Optional for GPA 3.6+; required 2027
Tulane University	Louisiana	TEST-OPTIONAL	1380–1530	Test-optional continues
Arizona State	Arizona	TEST-OPTIONAL	1080–1310	Test-optional continues
University of Arizona	Arizona	TEST-OPTIONAL	1080–1300	Test-optional continues

🌲 Southeast

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
Duke University	North Carolina	REQUIRED	1490–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
UNC Chapel Hill	North Carolina	CONDITIONAL	1270–1480	Optional for weighted GPA 2.8+; CLT accepted
NC State University	North Carolina	CONDITIONAL	1190–1390	Optional for weighted GPA 2.8+
Wake Forest	North Carolina	TEST-OPTIONAL	1320–1490	Permanent test-optional policy
University of Virginia	Virginia	REQUIRED	1340–1520	Reinstated testing requirement
Virginia Tech	Virginia	REQUIRED	1230–1420	Reinstated testing requirement
William & Mary	Virginia	TEST-OPTIONAL	1310–1490	Test-optional continues
Univ. of South Carolina	South Carolina	REQUIRED	1160–1360	Always required scores
Clemson University	South Carolina	REQUIRED	1230–1410	Reinstated testing requirement

🌽 Midwest

School	State	Policy	Mid-50% SAT	Notes
Northwestern University	Illinois	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
University of Chicago	Illinois	TEST-OPTIONAL	1500–1580	Permanent test-optional pioneer
Univ. of Illinois (UIUC)	Illinois	REQUIRED	1280–1490	Reinstated testing requirement
Purdue University	Indiana	REQUIRED	1200–1430	Always required scores
Notre Dame	Indiana	REQUIRED	1450–1560	Always required scores
University of Michigan	Michigan	REQUIRED	1360–1530	Reinstated testing requirement
Michigan State	Michigan	TEST-OPTIONAL	1100–1310	Test-optional continues
Ohio State University	Ohio	REQUIRED	1290–1480	Reinstated testing requirement
Case Western Reserve	Ohio	TEST-OPTIONAL	1400–1540	Test-optional continues
Wash. Univ. St. Louis	Missouri	REQUIRED	1480–1570	Reinstated testing requirement
University of Wisconsin	Wisconsin	TEST-OPTIONAL	1280–1470	Extended temporary test-optional
University of Minnesota	Minnesota	TEST-OPTIONAL	1230–1450	Test-optional continues

📅 Action Plan by Grade Year

Grade	Action Steps	Target Score
9th Grade	Take PSAT 8/9; identify strengths and weaknesses early	Baseline only
10th Grade	Take PSAT 10 in spring; begin light SAT/ACT prep over summer	Baseline + improvement
11th Grade	Take PSAT/NMSQT in October; SAT/ACT in March or May; retest if needed in June	1200–1400+
12th Grade	Final SAT/ACT attempt in August or October if needed; submit best score	Target school range

💰 Free and Paid Test Prep Resources

Resource	Cost	Best For
Khan Academy SAT Prep	FREE	Self-paced, personalized practice linked to College Board
College Board Official Practice	FREE	Official full-length practice tests
ACT Academy	FREE	Official ACT practice and prep
PrepScholar Online	$397–$497	Structured online course with score guarantee
Princeton Review	$299–$1,499	Classroom and online courses
Private Tutor (online)	$45–$150/hr	Flexible, personalized coaching
Private Tutor (in-person)	$100–$300/hr	Maximum personalization, LA average $150–$235/hr

What Families Are Saying

"The state-by-state breakdown was exactly what we needed. We didn't realize Georgia Tech required scores — my son was planning to apply without taking the SAT."

— Parent of a high school junior, Georgia

"We're in California and thought the UC system being test-optional meant we didn't need scores. But Stanford and Caltech still require them. We started prep immediately after learning this."

— Parent of a high school sophomore, California

"Knowing that Princeton is test-optional for one more year helped us plan our application strategy. We're submitting scores anyway since my daughter scored a 1510."

— Parent of a high school senior, New Jersey

Expert Consensus: College counselors recommend that every student planning to apply to a four-year university should prepare for the SAT or ACT — regardless of whether their target school requires it. A strong score never hurts, and at test-optional schools, submitting a competitive score can significantly boost your chances of admission and merit scholarships.

Final Thoughts

Testing policies continue to evolve rapidly. The list above reflects verified policies as of June 2026, but schools may update their requirements at any time. Always check directly with each school's admissions office for the most current policy before submitting your application.

For more college prep resources and guides, visit CramBookNotes.

📚 Official Resources

College Board — SAT Registration & Dates
ACT — Registration & Test Dates
Khan Academy — Free Official SAT Prep
College Board BigFuture — Look Up School Testing Policies
Common App — College Application Portal

School testing policies and SAT score ranges are based on verified admissions data and official university announcements as of June 2026. Score ranges represent approximate mid-50% ranges for recently admitted students. Policies may change — always verify with each institution's official admissions page before applying.