SAT Makes a Comeback: U.S. Universities Reinstate Test Requirements

Beginning in 2025, several leading U.S. universities — including Harvard, Yale, Brown, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — will reintroduce the requirement for applicants to submit SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores as part of their undergraduate admissions process.

This marks a shift away from the test-optional policy adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many institutions made SAT submissions optional in response to global disruptions in education.

What is the SAT and why does it matter?

The SAT is a standardized test used by American colleges to assess applicants’ academic skills in areas such as critical thinking, reading, writing, and mathematics. It helps institutions:

• Evaluate students’ knowledge independently of their high school curriculum;
• Identify strong candidates from various educational backgrounds;
• Make more informed admissions decisions.

The decision to reinstate the SAT requirement reflects universities’ desire to evaluate academic readiness more objectively. According to five years of research, students who submitted SAT scores have shown significantly stronger academic performance once enrolled.

List of universities requiring SAT scores (starting in 2025):

• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Brown University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Dartmouth College
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• University of Georgia
• University of Florida
• Georgetown University

Meanwhile, over 1,900 U.S. institutions continue to uphold test-optional policies, allowing applicants to decide whether or not to include their SAT scores.

The return of mandatory SAT testing has sparked debate in the academic world — which is, perhaps, no surprise, given academia’s fondness for debate.

Supporters argue that standardized tests offer a common metric to assess students, particularly in a landscape of diverse school systems. MIT, for example, has emphasized that SAT scores help identify talented students regardless of their social or economic background — a notable advantage.

On the other hand, critics point to potential socioeconomic barriers that could make preparing for and taking the test more difficult for certain student groups.

Was this decision justified? As always, time will tell. In the meantime, we’ll keep an eye on the latest developments in higher education. Stay tuned for more updates!