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. Applicants who face challenges in meeting this requirement may request a waiver at the time of their application. Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will remain test optional for the upcoming 2026-2027 admissions cycle.
In 2020, Columbia announced a test-optional policy on a provisional basis due to limited testing opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. That policy was extended in 2023 with no stated end date, accompanied by a commitment to ongoing assessment to ensure that admitted students were successful within our academic environment. Through a multi-year faculty review, it was determined that test scores, among other factors, were a useful indicator of potential student success.
Additional details about the testing policies are available on the Testing Policy web page.
