Columbia to Require SAT or ACT Scores From August 2027 for UG Admissions

Columbia University will require SAT or ACT scores from all undergraduate applicants starting August 2027. The change hits Indian students applying to Columbia College and Columbia Engineering for Fall 2028 entry. Columbia confirmed the move in a June 12, 2026 official statement. It ends a test-optional policy that had run with no end date since 2023.

• Both schools stay test-optional for the 2026-2027 cycle, giving applicants one more year to prepare.
• The requirement covers first-year and transfer applicants alike, with a waiver option for those who cannot test.
• Columbia is the last Ivy League school to bring back mandatory testing after the COVID-era pause.

The decision matters for thousands of Indian school-leavers eyeing the Ivy League each year. Columbia first dropped the tests in 2020 when exam centres shut during the pandemic. A multi-year faculty review has now reversed that call. The university says scores predict student success well.

Also Read: Columbia University Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

Columbia Confirms SAT or ACT Required From August 2027

Columbia announced the change through its Office of Public Affairs. The new rule takes effect for the 2027-2028 admissions cycle. Applicants must submit either the SAT or the ACT. There is no minimum score set for admission.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are the two affected undergraduate schools. Both will accept either test equally. Columbia does not favour one test over the other.

Test-Optional Stays for the 2026-2027 Cycle

Indian students applying this coming cycle are not affected yet. Columbia stays test-optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. Scores remain a choice for applicants seeking Fall 2027 entry.

The requirement starts only one cycle later. This gives current Class 11 and Class 12 students a clear runway. Those targeting Fall 2028 must plan their SAT or ACT now.

Columbia Becomes Last Ivy to Reverse Test-Optional

Columbia was the first Ivy League school to drop testing permanently in 2023. Now it is the last to bring it back. Every Ivy League university has reversed its pandemic-era policy.

The shift reflects a wider change across elite US universities. Yale, Harvard, Brown, and others reinstated testing before Columbia. Faculty reviews at these schools reached similar conclusions on score value.

How Should Indian Fall 2028 Applicants Prepare?

Indian applicants targeting Columbia for Fall 2028 should start early. The SAT is fully digital and scored out of 1600. Most admitted Columbia students post very high score ranges.

Practical steps for Indian aspirants planning their Columbia application:

• Book an SAT or ACT date well before your application deadline.
• Aim for a competitive score in line with Ivy League admits.
• Keep the waiver route in mind only if testing access is a genuine barrier.
• Track the official deadline on the Columbia admissions page each cycle.

The application fee for Columbia undergraduate admission is USD 85. That is roughly ₹8,084 at ₹95.10 per USD as of June 2026. International applicants also need an F-1 visa to study in the US.

Columbia's return to testing closes a six-year experiment with optional scores. Indian students now have one clear cycle to adjust their plans. The SAT or ACT is once again the gateway to one of New York's most selective universities. For Fall 2028 hopefuls, score preparation should begin without delay.