Columbia University will require standardized test scores again for first-year and transfer applicants starting fall 2027, reversing its permanent test-optional policy that began in 2020. The decision follows a multiyear faculty review that concluded test scores “were a useful indicator of potential student success,” alongside performance in secondary coursework and curriculum rigor. The move places pressure on other selective schools that have maintained test-optional or test-blind frameworks, particularly as federal scrutiny of DEI-linked admissions practices remains a policy backdrop. Columbia said the change will be implemented through an SAT/ACT submission requirement as part of its testing policies update. Columbia’s return to test requirements also renews the debate over socioeconomic access to test preparation and tutoring. Supporters argue standardized scores can help low-income and underrepresented students stand out, while critics say results don’t reflect academic potential for students without paid resources.