The university announced on its website last week that the decision followed a "multi-year faculty review," which determined that "test scores, among other factors, were a useful indicator of potential student success."
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are returning to required standardized testing for all first-year and transfer applicants, effective August 2027 for the 2027-2028 admissions cycle. First-year and transfer applicants seeking to enroll for Fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores, the university stated.
Both institutions will remain test-optional for the upcoming 2026-2027 admissions cycle.
University officials emphasized that test scores will be considered alongside a range of other academic factors when evaluating applications. These factors include students' grades, coursework, and the rigor of their high school curriculum.
Columbia initially suspended its test score requirement in 2020.
