Columbia University will require SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate applicants beginning for the 2027–28 admissions cycle, after updating application guidance in June. The university said a multi-year faculty review concluded the tests are a “useful indicator of potential student success,” while keeping the policy test-optional through the 2026–27 cycle. Columbia becomes the latest selective institution to revisit standardized testing as higher ed faces renewed scrutiny over admissions criteria and “merit” definitions. The change also includes exemptions for applicants who cannot take the tests due to personal hardship, lack of access, or disruptions such as natural disasters. During Columbia’s test-optional period, the university still received a significant number of scores—data for the fall 2024 cohort showed 44% submitted at least one SAT score and 17% submitted an ACT score. For campus enrollment leaders and admissions offices, the decision is likely to affect yield dynamics, application verification workflows, and outreach to students who previously relied on test-optional pathways.