Columbia has not required test scores since 2020.
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More than three years after making the decision to remain test-optional on a permanent basis, Columbia University will once again mandate that applicants submit standardized test scores, beginning with the fall 2027 admissions cycle.
In a statement released Friday, the university explained that the shift follows a multiyear faculty review, which concluded that "test scores, among other factors, were a useful indicator of potential student success." Columbia was the final Ivy League institution to keep a test-optional policy; the majority of higher education establishments do not require test scores.
Proponents of test-optional policies contend that standardized scores do not accurately reflect a student’s academic capability, especially for those who cannot afford tutoring and other test-preparation resources. However, supporters assert that such scores can help low-income and underrepresented minority candidates stand out to admissions officers. The Trump administration has encouraged colleges to mandate test scores as part of its campaign against what it views as illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and its emphasis on merit.
Columbia initially adopted a test-optional approach in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, first-year and transfer applicants will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores to be eligible for admission. University officials added on a web page dedicated to testing policies that "standardized testing is one of many elements that can demonstrate a foundation of academic excellence; others include your performance in your secondary school coursework and the rigor of your curriculum."
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