Test Optional and Test Blind for Admission Cycles

Many Universities in the US are remaining Test-Optional for the upcoming application season. Columbia University made headlines by becoming the first Ivy League school to adopt a permanent test-optional policy starting in the 2023–24 cycle — a policy that remains in place. However, other Ivy League universities such as Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale have returned to mandatory SAT or ACT testing for applicants.

Would you benefit from submitting a score to a test-optional university?

It depends on your score and the university’s admissions data. You should consider submitting your SAT or ACT score if it falls at or above the 75th percentile of admitted students from the previous year. A strong score can enhance your application and demonstrate academic readiness, especially at competitive schools.

However, if your score is below the middle 50% range, it may be better to withhold it and instead focus on strengthening other parts of your application. Test-optional universities use a holistic admissions process, evaluating applicants based on academic performance (GPA and course rigor), extracurricular involvement, recommendation letters, and personal essays.

Students who choose not to submit test scores will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process. Many test-optional schools have emphasized that they seek to build diverse and well-rounded incoming classes, and they recognize excellence in many forms, and standardized testing is just one piece of the puzzle.

Prioritize Academic Fit When Choosing a College or University

Ivy League Updates

Here are the top 15 test‑optional universities based on recent rankings for the 2025–26 application cycle—these are highly ranked institutions where submitting SAT/ACT scores is optional.

• Princeton University

• Duke University

• Northwestern University

• University of Chicago

• Columbia University

• UCLA

• UC Berkeley

• Rice University

• Vanderbilt University

• University of Notre Dame

• University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

• Emory University

• UNC Chapel Hill

• University of Southern California (USC)

Some Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Mandate SAT/ACT Testing

There are some top universities and liberal arts colleges that require you to submit your SAT/ACT scores. Some of the schools that still require testing include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown University (DC),  Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Florida, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, New College of Florida, Fisk University (TN), and New College of Florida.

Read More: Public versus Private Universities

Were you aware that some universities have adopted a “test-blind” approach?

Test-blind means that a college or university will not consider your SAT/ACT score as part of their evaluation process, even if you submit it. The University of California, for example, would only use your scores for course placements after you enroll.

Here is a list from FairTest of some universities and colleges that are test-blind:

• California Institute of Technology

• California State University system (permanently at all 23 campuses)

• Cornell University (through fall 2024 at the schools of Agriculture, Architecture, and Business)

• City University of New York system (11 campuses, extended through Spring 2023 admissions)

• University of California system (9 campuses)

• Washington State University (4 campuses)

• University of San Diego

Finding the right college and applying can be a major challenge for high school students, and standardized testing adds another layer to the process.

The upside is that many top schools now have test-optional policies. Still, strong test scores can give applicants an edge, particularly when applying to highly competitive, in-demand institutions.

Is your high school profile competent enough, or do you need to submit your score to the test-optional universities? If you need further guidance, contact the Ivy Central team.

• Source: Google
• Important Note: Testing policies change frequently. Always double-check the most up-to-date information on each college’s official website before applying.