Stanford Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirement
Stanford University announced it will resume requiring standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) for undergraduate admission, starting with students applying in Fall 2025 for the Class of 2030.
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Real-time aggregated admissions news, policy changes, and testing updates for all Top 20 US universities. Built for ambitious students and families.
Harvard Returns to Standardized Testing for Class of 2029
Harvard University will require standardized test scores for admission starting next cycle, reversing a previous commitment to remain test-optional through the Class of 2030.
Ivy League and Top T20 Colleges Report Historic Low Acceptance Rates
T20 institutions reported record-low acceptance rates for the Class of 2028, with Harvard at 3.59%, Yale at 3.73%, and Columbia at 3.85%, driven by a massive surge in applications.
University of Chicago Releases New Quirky Essay Prompts
UChicago has unveiled its legendary supplemental essay prompts for the upcoming cycle, including prompts about "misplaced commas" and "designing a new element."
Common App Retains Essay Prompts: Strategies for T20 Applicants
The Common Application has confirmed it will keep the same personal statement prompts for the upcoming cycle, prompting counselors to refine strategic approaches for elite schools.
Caltech Reaffirms Commitment to Test-Free Admissions
Bucking the trend set by other top institutions, Caltech announced it will remain strictly test-free, choosing not to consider SAT or ACT scores in its admissions process.
Cornell to Reinsate Testing Requirements Starting Fall 2026
Cornell University will return to requiring standardized test scores for all undergraduate applicants starting with the Fall 2026 application cycle (Class of 2031).
FAFSA Delays Force T20 Universities to Adjust Reply Deadlines
Ongoing issues with the federal FAFSA rollout have led several top-tier universities, including public flagships like UCLA and UC Berkeley, to push back enrollment deposit deadlines.
Yale University Implements "Test-Flexible" Admissions Policy
Yale will require standardized test scores for the upcoming admissions cycle but will expand acceptable options to include AP and IB exam scores alongside the traditional SAT and ACT.
Top Colleges Directory
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#1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ Acceptance 5.6%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-35
#2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Acceptance 4.5%
SAT Range 1530-1580
ACT Range 35-36
#3
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA Acceptance 3.4%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-36
#4
Stanford University
Stanford, CA Acceptance 3.7%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#4
Yale University
New Haven, CT Acceptance 4.3%
SAT Range 1500-1580
ACT Range 34-36
#6
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Acceptance 4.8%
SAT Range 1510-1580
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Duke University
Durham, NC Acceptance 5.9%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD Acceptance 6.2%
SAT Range 1520-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#7
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL Acceptance 7.0%
SAT Range 1490-1560
ACT Range 34-35
#7
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA Acceptance 5.8%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#11
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA Acceptance 2.7%
SAT Range Test-Blind
ACT Range Test-Blind
#12
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Acceptance 7.3%
SAT Range 1480-1560
ACT Range 33-35
#13
Brown University
Providence, RI Acceptance 5.1%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-36
#13
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH Acceptance 6.0%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#15
Columbia University
New York, NY Acceptance 3.9%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#15
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Acceptance 11.2%
SAT Range Test-Free
ACT Range Test-Free
#17
Rice University
Houston, TX Acceptance 7.7%
SAT Range 1490-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#17
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Acceptance 8.8%
SAT Range Test-Free
ACT Range Test-Free
#17
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN Acceptance 5.6%
SAT Range 1490-1570
ACT Range 34-35
#20
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA Acceptance 11.0%
SAT Range 1490-1560
ACT Range 34-35
#20
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN Acceptance 11.1%
SAT Range 1470-1550
ACT Range 33-35
#20
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI Acceptance 17.7%
SAT Range 1460-1540
ACT Range 33-35
#20
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO Acceptance 11.3%
SAT Range 1500-1570
ACT Range 33-35