Registration and policies
Is the SAT required for college in 2026?
There is no single US college testing rule. Some colleges require SAT or ACT scores, some make them optional, and others do not consider them for admission. Check the institution’s policy for your entry year and applicant category.
What each policy means
A testing requirement often accepts either SAT or ACT; “required” does not necessarily mean SAT specifically. Test-optional allows a choice about reporting. Test-free or test-blind means the institution does not consider those scores for the stated purpose.
| Policy | Verified example | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| SAT or ACT required | MIT first-year and transfer applicants | Last accepted test date and self-report instructions |
| SAT or ACT required in the current application cycle | Yale | Use the current policy, not the older AP/IB test-flexible policy |
| SAT/ACT not used for admission or scholarships | University of California | Separate eligibility or placement uses |
Do not use a historical range as a cutoff
A middle-50% range describes an admitted or enrolled group in a specified year; it is not a required minimum. At a test-optional school, the reported range may reflect only students who chose to submit.
If you are deciding whether to report, compare your section scores and total, read the school’s explanation of how it uses testing, and check scholarship or program-specific requirements. Being above the 75th percentile does not guarantee admission.
Make a policy checklist for your own list
Record entry year, applicant type, whether testing is required, the last accepted test date, whether self-reporting is allowed, and whether the college superscores. If you have an exception or lack access to testing, read that college’s instructions before assuming another school’s exception applies.