Princeton Returns to Requiring Standardized Testing Scores (SAT/ACT) for the 2027-2028 Admission Cycle

Princeton University recently announced that they are returning to requiring the SAT or ACT for students applying in the 2027-2028 admission cycle. This change from test optional to test required will not impact our current juniors as they can still apply to Princeton test optional in the Fall of 2026. This change to test required, however, will impact our current sophomores and the subsequent younger class years. Starting in the Fall of 2027, this leaves Columbia as the only Ivy League School that is remaining test optional.

Princeton's shift in policy was not completely unexpected. Even though they have been test optional for the last few years, it did appear that they were leaning into standardized testing when reviewing applications based on the data that they released through their annual common data sets. In their most recent common data set report, close to 80% of their incoming class submitted an SAT or ACT score as part of their application. While a certain percentage of students were admitted to Princeton without standardized testing scores, the vast majority of the incoming class had scores.

In announcing their policy change, Princeton also cited its internal research from the last five years where they compared the academic performance of their students who submitted scores versus those who did not and were accepted test optional. “The decision to resume testing requirements follows a review of five years of data from the test-optional period, which found that academic performance at Princeton was stronger for students who chose to submit test scores than for students who did not.” (Source)

Princeton also clarified that they would continue to superscore the SAT, and will consider the highest composite score for the ACT from a single sitting. In addition, Princeton will not require the Science section of the ACT and will accept the old ACT with all four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) or the new ACT with three sections (English, Math, Reading) equally.

While Princeton moved back to test required, we are anticipating that most schools that are test optional will remain test optional. It would not be surprising, however, if a few more of the most selective test optional schools (Duke University and University of Chicago for example) where a significant percentage of their accepted class submitted scores, might move to a test-required policy. We will of course keep you updated as schools update their standardized testing policies.