Accepting an exam and requiring it are different
Many U.S. colleges accept either the SAT or ACT when they consider admissions test scores. Some require a result, while others let eligible students choose whether to submit one. Other universities do not use SAT or ACT scores in their admissions decisions.
This guide provides selected first-year admissions examples checked on September 20, 2026. It does not cover every college or program. Check the official policy for your entry year and applicant category, especially if you are applying outside the United States.
| Policy question | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Does the college accept SAT or ACT? | Which exam results can be considered if you submit scores. |
| Are scores required or optional? | Whether you need a score to complete your application under that policy. |
| Are scores excluded from admissions review? | Whether SAT and ACT results have a role in that admissions decision at all. |
Examples of colleges that accept either SAT or ACT
These institutions accept either exam, but their submission requirements differ. ‘Either’ means you have a choice of exam; it does not mean you are required to take both.
- MIT: tests and scores
- Yale: standardized testing
- Stanford: testing requirements
- Georgetown: testing requirements
- Illinois: first-year test-score options
- Wake Forest: optional SAT and ACT scores
| College | SAT accepted? | ACT accepted? | General first-year policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIT | Yes | Yes | SAT or ACT required. |
| Yale | Yes | Yes | SAT or ACT required. |
| Stanford | Yes | Yes | SAT or ACT required. |
| Georgetown | Yes | Yes | At least one full SAT or ACT required. |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Yes | Yes | Test-optional; follow its reporting instructions if submitting. |
| Wake Forest | Yes | Yes | SAT and ACT scores are optional application materials. |
Examples of universities that do not use SAT or ACT for admission
The University of California states that SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions decisions or scholarship awards. This includes its undergraduate campuses such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine. This is different from a test-optional college that can review a score you elect to submit.
The California State University system no longer uses ACT or SAT examinations to determine admission eligibility. Examples include San Diego State, San José State, and Cal State Long Beach. Check the campus’s academic and program requirements even though these exam scores are not part of ordinary first-year admission eligibility.
Do not interpret these policies as meaning SAT or ACT scores can never have any use at those universities. UC describes certain eligibility and course-placement uses, and CSU can use scores as one measure for placement after admission. Those uses are separate from the general admissions score review discussed here.
Do you need to take both tests if a college accepts both?
Usually, an SAT-or-ACT requirement can be met with one of the two exams. The published requirements in the table above do not call for both. If you already have results from each, read the college’s instructions about reporting test dates, section scores, and complete sittings.
Choose your primary exam using current official practice, your section strengths, pacing, and the available test dates. Compare results with official concordance guidance rather than dividing each score by its maximum. The SAT and ACT use different scales, and a larger raw number does not identify the stronger result.
For example, Stanford and Yale explicitly state that they do not prefer one exam over the other. There is no general admissions advantage to choosing SAT over ACT, or ACT over SAT, solely because of the exam’s name.
Build a testing plan from your college list
Make one row per college with four entries: whether scores are used, whether they are required, which exam or sections are accepted, and the reporting deadline. Add separate notes for scholarships, special programs, and English proficiency. Test-optional status does not automatically answer those questions.
For a mixed list of test-required, test-optional, and test-free colleges, one carefully chosen exam may serve several applications. If none of your targets uses these scores for admission, decide whether another documented purpose justifies testing. Your plan should reflect the actual colleges you are applying to.
Try this next
Check your target colleges first. If SAT or ACT preparation fits your plan, start with a free Bilubi diagnostic and review the skills you need to practice. A free account is required, with no credit card; Bilubi estimates are study feedback, not official scores.