Which Ivy League Schools Require Test Scores This Year and What Are Enrolled Students Scoring?

Planning to apply to an Ivy League university this fall? One of the first things you need to check is whether you have to send standardized test scores. The answer depends on where you apply. Six of the eight Ivies require test scores for the 2026-27 application cycle, while two remain test-optional. Here is a breakdown of where each school stands, what enrolled students scored and how to use this information to build your testing strategy.

Quick Reference

School	Policy for 2026-27	Middle 50% SAT of Enrolled Students
Harvard	Required	Not reported as one number
Yale	Required	1480 to 1560
Brown	Required	1470 to 1550
Dartmouth	Required	1440 to 1550
Cornell	Required	1490 to 1550
Penn	Required, with a hardship waiver	Not reported as one number
Princeton	Optional this year	1490 to 1560
Columbia	Optional this year	1510 to 1560

These score ranges reflect enrolled students who submitted scores from each school’s 2025-26 Common Data Set. Columbia’s comes from its 2024-25 report, the latest we could find.

The Six That Require Scores

Harvard. Harvard requires the SAT or ACT. It reinstated its testing requirement starting with the Class of 2029, and it accepts other eligible tests only in exceptional cases where applicants can’t access the SAT or ACT.

Yale. Yale ended its test-flexible policy in May 2026. According to Yale News, first-year and transfer applicants must now submit ACT or SAT scores, and AP and IB scores no longer substitute. Yale also reported that 90 percent of the class that began in fall 2025 included a score, and 92 percent of the class entering this fall did.

Brown. Brown requires the SAT or ACT, starting with the Class of 2029. It makes an exception only in the rare case that the tests aren’t available to a student.

Dartmouth. Dartmouth was the first Ivy to bring back required testing. It requires the SAT or ACT from applicants at U.S. high schools, starting with the Class of 2029, with no preference for either test.

Cornell. Cornell requires the SAT or ACT from applicants for fall 2026 admission and beyond, across all of its undergraduate colleges.

Penn. Penn’s testing page says applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores, and students who face hardship in meeting that requirement can submit a waiver instead. It says there is no minimum score and no preference for either test. If you have taken a test, Penn says your scores replace the waiver. For 2026-27, Penn lists November 7 as the latest SAT date for Early Decision and December 5 for Regular Decision.

The Two That Are Still Optional

Princeton. Princeton says on its testing page that it stays test-optional for students enrolling in fall 2026 and fall 2027, and will require testing starting with the 2027-28 admission cycle.

Columbia. Columbia says on its testing policy page that it stays test-optional for 2026-27 and will require SAT or ACT scores for the 2027-28 cycle.

Even where a school offers a test-optional path, submitting a competitive score can help your application. And if you’re a junior, plan to test, because both schools will require scores next cycle.

What the Score Ranges Do and Don’t Tell You

The middle 50 percent range represents the middle band of scores for enrolled students who submitted testing. A quarter of enrolled students scored below this range, and a quarter scored above it. Here are a few important points to keep in mind when you look at these numbers.

These ranges are not minimum cutoffs. Scoring below the 25th percentile does not mean you won’t be accepted, though other parts of your application will need to stand out
They represent enrolled students. These ranges reflect students who actually enrolled, not every applicant who received an offer of admission
Harvard and Penn don’t report one composite range. Their Common Data Sets report section scores only. Harvard’s shows Reading and Writing at 720 to 770 and Math at 730 to 790, and Penn’s shows Reading and Writing at 740 to 770 and Math at 770 to 800
Test-optional statistics tend to skew higher. At Princeton and Columbia, the reported range only includes students who chose to submit scores, which naturally pushes the range up

Scores are one part of a holistic review. Our guide, Good SAT Score for Ivy League: 2026 - 2027 Guide, goes deeper on what a competitive score looks like.

What to Do With This

Check each university’s specific requirements. Review the official testing page for each school on your list to confirm the latest policy for your application year
Track score submission deadlines. Testing deadlines can differ from application deadlines, so plan your test dates accordingly
Evaluate your section scores. Compare your breakdown against each school’s middle 50 percent range to decide whether a retake makes sense
Plan ahead on the testing calendar. Schedule your test dates early so your scores arrive well before your application deadlines
Prepare early. Giving yourself plenty of time to study and retake the exam gives you the best chance of reaching your target score band

Once you know what you need, your Skills Insight band shows what to practice. Our guide, Skills Insight: How to Reach Your Next SAT/PSAT Score Band, shows how.

How AcceptedX Can Help

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Ace won’t hand over the answer. It opens with a hint tailored to the question and offers quick buttons for a hint, the concept being tested, a strategy and, on Math questions, how Desmos can help. If you guess, ask “is it B?” and Ace points you back to the detail that matters instead of just confirming it. SAT Studio’s Deep Insights shows whether a missed question came from a content gap or from timing, so you know whether to learn a concept or practice speed. Use drills with Ace to close gaps, then take a full-length practice test, which runs without Ace under real timed conditions, to see where you stand.

LogoLife students get full AcceptedX access automatically, including SAT Studio and Ace, along with SAT/ACT prep and a dedicated team that includes a 1:1 admissions counselor. LogoLife’s guide, Align SAT Prep With Your College Strategy, helps you decide how testing fits into your application plan.

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FAQs

Which Ivy League schools require the SAT or ACT for 2026-27?
A: Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell and Penn require standardized test scores for this application cycle. Penn offers a waiver for students who face hardship in accessing testing.

Which Ivies are still test-optional?
A: Princeton and Columbia remain test-optional for the current application cycle. Both will require scores starting with the 2027-28 admission cycle.

Does Yale accept AP or IB scores instead of the SAT?
A: No. Yale ended its test-flexible policy in May 2026, and applicants must now submit the SAT or ACT.

What SAT score do I need for the Ivy League?
A: There is no set minimum cutoff across the Ivy League. Enrolled students typically have middle 50 percent SAT ranges between 1440 and 1560.

Should I send a score to Princeton or Columbia this year?
A: It depends on whether it helps you. Enrolled students at the two schools had middle 50 percent ranges of about 1490 to 1560 and 1510 to 1560, so a score in that range can support your application.