Does Columbia Require SAT? Not for Fall 2027, Yes for 2028

No, not this year. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are test-optional for the 2026-27 admissions cycle, so if you are a senior applying now for fall 2027, you can apply without an SAT or ACT score and you will not be at a disadvantage. That changes next year: starting in August 2027 (the 2027-28 cycle, students entering fall 2028), Columbia will require the SAT or ACT, with a waiver for students who face real barriers to testing.

This page is about the rule. If you want to know how a specific number stacks up, that lives on SAT and ACT scores for Columbia. Policy source: Columbia Undergraduate Admissions testing policy (page updated June 8, 2026; we checked it September 24, 2026).

Columbia's SAT Policy for 2026-27, in Plain Words

Columbia's testing page puts it directly: the school will require standardized testing starting in August 2027 and will remain test-optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. It also states there are no minimum test score requirements for admission.

Here is what that means depending on which class you are in:

The requirement applies to both first-year and transfer applicants. Columbia's policy update, published June 12, 2026, explains the history: test-optional began in 2020 as a pandemic measure, was extended in 2023 with no end date, and a multi-year faculty review then concluded that test scores, among other factors, were a useful indicator of potential student success. So if you read somewhere that Columbia is "permanently" test-optional, that is out of date.

If You Submit: What Columbia Accepts

Test-optional does not mean scores are ignored. If you choose to send them, Columbia will use them in its holistic review. The rules for submitters this cycle:

• SAT or ACT, your choice. Columbia says you may take either test.
• ACT Writing and Science are optional. Columbia will accept them if you send them. On the enhanced ACT, the composite is English, Math, and Reading, with Science reported separately.
• Superscoring. Columbia evaluates you on your highest score in each section across sittings. That includes superscoring across the former ACT and the current ACT. If you submit ACT Science, Columbia calculates your superscore composite both with and without Science and uses the higher one.
• Paper and digital both count. Columbia superscores across paper and digital administrations of the same test, and across school-day and weekend administrations.
• Self-reporting is fine. Enter scores in the testing section of the Common App or Coalition Application, or update them in your applicant portal. You can also send an official report.
• Score Choice is allowed. You may use Score Choice for the SAT or pick specific ACT composites to send.
• Codes: SAT 2116, ACT 2717. Columbia asks you not to pay for rush reporting, because it does not speed up processing.

One catch with self-reporting: Columbia verifies scores for every enrolling student who self-reported, and it warns that any discrepancy between official and self-reported scores may jeopardize a student's place in the class. Report exactly what is on your score report. If superscoring is new to you, how SAT superscoring works walks through the math, and how to send SAT scores covers the official route.

The Yes/No Question You Cannot Take Back

Columbia handles test-optional with a single question in the Columbia Supplement: do you want your ACT or SAT scores considered? The mechanics matter more than most students realize.

• "Yes" is final. Once you submit with "yes," you cannot switch to "no" or withdraw the scores.
• "No" can change once. If you answered "no," you get one chance to switch to "yes" through your applicant portal.
• Answer "no" if you are still waiting on a test. Columbia says to select "no" if you are registered for a future exam and have no results to share yet.
• Deadlines to switch: Early Decision applicants must report by the fourth Wednesday in November (November 25, 2026 this cycle). Regular Decision applicants must report by January 15. February test-takers email ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu with their self-reported score as soon as results come out.

Columbia also says submitting scores does not by itself give you an advantage. The score becomes one more piece of information in the file. Whether yours helps is a judgment call, and should I submit my SAT scores lays out how to make it.

Test Dates and Deadlines for Early Decision and Regular Decision

Columbia has two rounds: binding Early Decision (application due November 1) and Regular Decision (due January 1), per its first-year dates and deadlines. For testing, Columbia says you may test as late as November 2026 for Early Decision and February 2027 for Regular Decision. Here is how that lines up with the actual national test calendar:

The November 7 SAT releases scores on November 20, which leaves a few days before the November 25 reporting cutoff. Registration for the October 3 SAT and the October 17 ACT has already closed. If you still want a score for Early Decision, November 7 is the date: regular registration closes October 23 and late registration October 27 on College Board. For the full picture across schools, see the last SAT and ACT dates for Early Decision.

What a Competitive Score Looks Like at Columbia

Columbia's Class of 2030 profile (current as of August 22, 2026) reports that the middle 50% of enrolling students who chose to submit scores had 1510 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT. Columbia received 61,031 applications and admitted 2,585, roughly 4.2%.

Keep in mind who is in that range: only students who decided their score was worth sending. That is why the band is so high. A useful rule of thumb in a test-optional year is that a score at or above the bottom of that band, around a 1500 or better, usually supports your file, while a score well below it is often better left off. The profile is a guide, not a cutoff: Columbia says it has no minimum score.

These numbers come from the admissions office's own Class of 2030 profile, which covers Columbia College and Columbia Engineering together. They describe enrolling students who chose to submit, not every admitted student.

International Students, AP Scores, and School-Leaving Exams

AP and other optional exams are not required, but Columbia accepts them in the testing section of your application and says it often finds them helpful. You will not be at a disadvantage without them.

One rule surprises international applicants: if your secondary school requires a proficiency exam to graduate, you must submit those results. Columbia lists examples such as A Levels, the International Baccalaureate, and the French Baccalaureate. Non-native English speakers also need to check Columbia's separate English proficiency requirements, which apply on top of the testing policy.

Current Juniors: Plan for a Required Test

If you are in the class entering fall 2028, Columbia's future rule is already posted. You will need the SAT or ACT (English, Math, and Reading plus the composite if you report the ACT; Science and Writing stay optional). The same superscoring, self-reporting, and November/February timing will apply. Students facing financial or personal hardship, no nearby test center, or a natural disaster or community disruption can request a waiver, and Columbia says those students will not be at a disadvantage.

That makes spring of junior year a sensible first attempt, with fall of senior year as the retake. Columbia is now in the same group as Princeton, which is also optional this cycle and required the next. For practice between now and then, Larry Learns has 25,000+ SAT and ACT questions on the web, iPhone, and Android. Free accounts get 3 quizzes and 3 AI explanations a day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia's SAT Policy

Does Columbia require the SAT for fall 2027?

No. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle, which is the cycle for fall 2027 entry. Applicants who do not submit scores are not disadvantaged.

When does Columbia start requiring the SAT again?

August 2027, for the 2027-28 admissions cycle. That covers first-year and transfer applicants who want to enroll in fall 2028. A waiver will be available for students who face challenges meeting the requirement.

Does Columbia superscore the SAT and ACT?

Yes. Columbia uses your highest score in each section across sittings, including across paper and digital formats and across the former and current ACT. With ACT Science, it calculates the composite with and without Science and uses the higher version.

Can I change my mind after answering yes or no to test scores?

Only in one direction. If you answered "no," you can switch to "yes" once, by the fourth Wednesday in November for Early Decision or January 15 for Regular Decision. If you answered "yes," you cannot withdraw your scores.

What is the last SAT date for Columbia Early Decision?

Columbia accepts tests taken as late as November 2026 for Early Decision, which means the November 7, 2026 SAT. For Regular Decision, the last SAT is December 5, 2026, and the last ACT is February 27, 2027.

Does Columbia require the ACT Writing or Science section?

No. Both are optional. If you take them, the scores appear on your report and cannot be hidden, but you are not at a disadvantage without them.

Whether you send a score to Columbia this year or need one for next year, steady practice is what moves it. Start a free practice quiz now, or create a free account to track your progress.