Testing Policy

Columbia will require standardized testing starting in August 2027.

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will reinstate a standardized testing requirement, effective August 2027 for the 2027-2028 admission cycle. This change will be for all first-year and transfer students applying for undergraduate admission. 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. Please refer to full guidelines below.

 

All parts of the application help inform our evaluation as we consider the unique combination of circumstances that shape each student’s journey. Standardized testing is one of many elements that can demonstrate a foundation of academic excellence; others include your performance in your secondary school coursework and the rigor of your curriculum. Through our highly individualized review, we also seek to learn about your intellectual curiosity and openness to new ideas, the ways you participate in a community, how you express your sense of self and the many tangible and intangible qualities that you embody. Our goal is to admit students who represent the strongest possible fit for Columbia. There are no minimum test score requirements for admission.

We will continue to be fully test-optional for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.

2026-2027 Test-Optional Guidelines

In 2026-2027, Columbia is test-optional for applicants to Columbia College and Columbia Engineering.

Testing policies for students who choose to submit testing

  • You may choose to take either the ACT or the SAT.

    • The ACT Writing and Science sections are optional, but Columbia will accept your results if you choose to submit them.

  • You may take standardized tests as late as November 2026 for Early Decision and February 2027 for Regular Decision.

  • You may self-report your scores on your application by inputting your scores in the testing section of the Common App or Coalition Application or updating your scores on your application status portal. You may also submit an official score report through the testing agency.

    • If you submit results from multiple test sittings, you will be evaluated on the highest score you received in any individual section of that test (known as superscoring). This includes scores across the former ACT and the current ACT. When the ACT Science section is submitted, a superscore composite will be calculated with and without the Science section, and the highest version of the superscore composite will be considered.

    • Columbia accepts results from both paper and digital administrations, and tests will be superscored across paper and digital administrations if you have taken a single test in both formats.

 

Additional instructions for applicants

  • Answer “yes” or “no” to submitting your ACT or SAT scores in the Columbia Supplement section of your application to indicate whether or not you would like your test scores to be considered in our holistic admissions review process.

  • Please note that our office will verify scores for all enrolling students who opted to self-report their testing, and any discrepancies between official and self-reported scores may jeopardize a student's place in the class.

  • If you plan to submit an official score report to our office, please be sure to use the correct registration code for Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science to ensure proper delivery of your scores. The appropriate ACT code is 2717, and the appropriate SAT code is 2116. If you sent your score using an incorrect code, you must contact the testing agency to resend your scores. 

  • Please do not use the "rush" service in sending your test scores to Columbia; doing so does not speed up the processing of your test scores. Applicants may select the Score Choice option for the SAT or choose to submit specific ACT composite scores.

 

Additional standardized testing

Advanced Placement (AP) and other optional standardized exam scores are not required by Columbia, but we will accept your results if you choose to submit them in the testing section of your Common App or Coalition Application. We do often find them helpful in our review. You will not be at a disadvantage in our admissions process should you choose not to take these optional tests or submit the scores to Columbia.

Please note that any proficiency exam scores that are required for the completion of, and graduation from, your secondary school must be submitted. This may include internal and external exam results, such as A Level, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, and other final national exam results.

International applicants and non-native speakers of English should refer to our English proficiency requirements and international applicant requirements, which are also applicable.

Starting August 2027, Testing Required

Starting in August 2027, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will require first-year and transfer students to submit standardized test results from the ACT or SAT as part of their application for admission. 

Testing policies

  • You may choose to take either the ACT or the SAT.
    • If reporting the ACT, you wil need to include your scores from English, Math, and Reading sections, as well as the Composite Score. The Science and Writing sections are optional.
    • If reporting the SAT, you will need to include Evidenced-Based Reading, Writing and Math sections.

  • You may take standardized tests as late as November for Early Decision and February for Regular Decision.

  • You may self-report your scores on your application by inputting your scores in the testing section of the Common App or Coalition Application or updating your scores on your application status portal. You may also submit an official score report through the testing agency.

    • If you submit results from multiple test sittings, you will be evaluated on the highest score you received in any individual section of that test (known as superscoring). This includes scores across the former ACT and the current ACT. When the ACT Science section is submitted, a superscore composite will be calculated with and without the Science section, and the highest version of the superscore composite will be considered.

    • Columbia accepts results from both paper and digital administrations, and tests will be superscored across paper and digital administrations if you have taken a single test in both formats.

 

Additional instructions for applicants

  • Please note that our office will verify scores for all enrolling students who opted to self-report their testing, and any discrepancies between official and self-reported scores may jeopardize a student's place in the class.

  • If you plan to submit an official score report to our office, please be sure to use the correct registration code for Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science to ensure proper delivery of your scores. The appropriate ACT code is 2717, and the appropriate SAT code is 2116. If you sent your score using an incorrect code, you must contact the testing agency to resend your scores. 

  • Please do not use the "rush" service in sending your test scores to Columbia; doing so does not speed up the processing of your test scores. Applicants may select the Score Choice option for the SAT or choose to submit specific ACT composite scores.

 

Testing Requirement Exceptions

Students who have not taken the ACT or the SAT may request a testing requirement exception if they face challenges in meeting the testing policy outlined above.   

A testing waiver may be requested at the time of your application if personal circumstances such as financial or personal hardship, lack of access to testing locations, or natural disaster or community disruption inhibit your ability to take the ACT or the SAT. Students who request the waiver will not be at a disadvantage in our process.

 

Additional standardized testing

Advanced Placement (AP) and other optional standardized exam scores are not required by Columbia, but we will accept your results if you choose to submit them in the testing section of your Common App or Coalition Application. We do often find them helpful in our review. You will not be at a disadvantage in our admissions process should you choose not to take these optional tests or submit the scores to Columbia.

Please note that any proficiency exam scores that are required for the completion of, and graduation from, your secondary school must be submitted. This may include internal and external exam results, such as A Level, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, and other final national exam results.

International applicants and non-native speakers of English should refer to our English proficiency requirements and international applicant requirements, which are also applicable.

 

Frequently asked questions about standardized tests

What does answering “yes” to submitting ACT or SAT scores on the application mean (Test Optional)?

Applicants who answer “yes” to submitting ACT or SAT scores will have their scores considered in our holistic review process. At the time of application submission, applicants should be certain that they would like for their scores to be reviewed; they may not change their answer to “no” at any point after application submission. There is no advantage to submitting your application early, so it is not necessary to submit your application ahead of the application deadline. 

What does answering “no” to submitting ACT or SAT scores on the application mean (Test Optional)?

Applicants who answer “no” to submitting ACT or SAT scores will not have their scores considered in our holistic review process. Applicants who are unable or choose not to submit test scores will not be disadvantaged in the application review process. Therefore, if you have not yet taken the ACT or SAT or are choosing not to submit test scores at the time of application submission, you should indicate “no” to submitting test results.

“No” should also be selected if you are registered to take an exam in the future and/or do not have results to share at the time of application submission. Early Decision applicants have until the fourth Wednesday in November to submit their scores via their applicant status portal; Regular Decision applicants have until January 15. Instead of updating their applicant status portal, February test-takers should email ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu to verify their decision to submit testing and provide their self-reported score as soon as results are released.

If I answered “no” to submitting scores, can I change my mind and report scores after I have submitted my application (Test Optional)?

Applicants who answer “no” to submitting ACT or SAT scores at the time of application submission, and were able to sit for an exam or receive results after submitting an application, will have a deadline by which they can change their answer from “no” to “yes" via a form on their applicant status portal.

Early Decision applicants who choose to report their scores must do so by the fourth Wednesday in November; Regular Decision applicants must do so no later than January 15. February test-takers should email ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu to verify their decision to submit testing and provide their self-reported score as soon as results are released.

​Submitting test results is optional, and applicants who are unable or who choose not to submit test scores will not be disadvantaged in the application review process. 

If I answered “yes” to submitting scores, can I change my mind and withdraw my scores after I have submitted my application (Test Optional)?

No, you may not change your mind or withdraw your scores, so please carefully consider your answer to this question.

Will I have an advantage in the admissions process if I submit ACT or SAT results (Test Optional)?

No, applicants will not have an advantage in the admissions process simply by submitting ACT or SAT results. The submission of test results will be viewed only as one additional piece of information among the many factors that we will consider in our continued practice of a holistic and contextual review process.

If my initial answer was “no” to submitting scores, how many times can I change my answer to this question (Test Optional)?

Only applicants who initially answered “no” to submitting scores may change their answer to this question, and they may only do so one time. Once an applicant submits “yes” to this question, this information will appear on the application and cannot be changed.

How do I provide my scores? 

There are a few ways to provide your ACT and/or SAT test scores. The most common are:

  • Input your scores in the testing section of either the Common Application or the Coalition Application.
  • Update your scores on your Columbia applicant status page. This page will only be available after you have submitted your application. We are also able to accept score reports directly from your school via email or mail, if your school's policy allows.
  • Submit an official score report through the testing agency. If you plan to submit an official score report to our office, please be sure to use the correct registration code for Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science to ensure proper delivery of your scores. The appropriate SAT code is 2116, and the appropriate ACT code is 2717. If you sent your score using an incorrect code, you must contact the testing agency to resend your scores.

    Please do not use the "rush" service in sending your test scores to Columbia; doing so does not speed up the processing of your test scores. Applicants may select the Score Choice option for the SAT or choose to submit specific ACT composite scores.
Does Columbia require the optional Writing or Science sections of the ACT?

No, Columbia Undergraduate Admissions does not require the optional Writing and Science sections of the ACT. Students can decide whether to take the optional sections during their test sitting. Please note that if you opt to take an optional section, the score will be included on your score report and cannot be selectively suppressed. You will not be at a disadvantage should you choose not to take these optional tests or submit test scores to Columbia.

Does Columbia superscore test results across multiple sittings?

Yes, Columbia will superscore your test scores. This means if you submit results from multiple test sittings, you will be evaluated on the highest score you received in any individual section of that test (known as superscoring).  This includes scores across the current ACT and the former ACT, as well as across paper/digital and school day/weekend administrations of a test.

Updated on Monday, June 8, 2026.