College admission trends: Increase in test score reporting, applications, and more
More students are now reporting SAT, ACT, and CLT scores on their Common Application (Common App) than are applying to test-optional schools, the first time that’s been true since the pandemic. That shift matters if you’re applying to college: with more schools reinstating score requirements, preparing for the SAT or ACT is more important than it’s been in years. The Common App’s report on 2025-2026 First-year Application Trends shows how applications, score reporting, and demographics are changing over time.
Overall trends in college admissions
College applications continue to increase. In the 2025-26 cycle, about 1.4 million people submitted applications through the Common Application, with over 9.4 million applications submitted in total (an average of roughly 6 applications per student).
Compared to the 2021-22 cycle, applications increased by 5% while the number of unique applicants increased by 2%.
More students are now reporting test scores
In undergraduate admissions, the number of test-optional applicants was lower than that of test-reporting applicants for the first time since the pandemic. This is likely due to the reversal of test-optional policies at leading institutions, as well as increased interest in using test scores to measure students’ abilities.
First-generation applicants, applicants identifying as URM, applicants eligible for a Common App Fee Waiver, and other applicants who identified with specific demographic or socioeconomic indicators remained less likely to report a score, though the number of students in these groups is increasing:
While the debate over test scores, equity, and inclusion continues, many higher education institutions are now recognizing the value of test scores as a standardized measure of college readiness and as part of a complete, holistic view of a student.
Applications from underrepresented groups are increasing
Applications from underrepresented groups (racial minority groups, first-generation college applicants, and fee-waiver-eligible students) are also on the rise.
Since 2024, the number of underrepresented minority race/ethnicity (URM) applicants has increased by 5%, first-generation applicants by 6%, and those with Fee Waivers by 6%. Students eligible for Fee Waivers now make up nearly 40% of college applicants. This suggests that undergraduate education remains an important source of upward mobility and career development for underrepresented groups.
Other trends to note
- Female applicants made up a larger share of applicants in the reporting period (799,436 vs. 629,631 applicants in 2025-26)
- The increase in the number of students from below-median-income ZIP codes outpaced the increase among students from above-median-income areas
- More students are applying to both public and private institutions, though applications grew at the same rate (5%)
- Fewer international students applied, likely due to immigration restrictions
- The growth rate in applicants was slowest in metropolitan areas
Is this the end of test-optional admissions?
Not entirely, but the trend is clearly moving toward required testing. Roughly 63 colleges now require or will soon require test scores. This year, many colleges, public and private, reinstated their test-score requirements, signaling growing interest in using scores in admissions. Many schools still maintain test-optional policies, some promising to keep them indefinitely, but a growing number now require or heavily encourage a reliable benchmark in the form of ACT, SAT, or CLT scores.
In the U.S., there are 21 private and 42 public colleges that currently or soon will require SAT or ACT scores for admission. This chart, courtesy of the College Board, presents each school in order of application volume (largest to smallest):
| Public colleges that require the ACT/SAT | Location | Private colleges that require the ACT/SAT | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Naval Academy | Annapolis, MD | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | Harvard College | Cambridge, MA |
| Auburn University (Fall 2027) | Auburn, AL | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | Brown University | Providence, RI |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD |
| Southern Arkansas University | Magnolia, AR | Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, MA |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | Nova Southeastern University (Fall 2027) | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | Georgetown University | Washington, DC |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Pasadena, CA |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | Mercer University | Macon, GA |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) | Tallahassee, FL | Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh, NC |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | Harding University | Searcy, AR |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout, MO |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS |
| Florida Polytechnic University | Lakeland, FL | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Waxahachie, TX |
| New College of Florida | Sarasota, FL | Gallaudet University | Washington, DC |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) | Atlanta, GA | Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | ||
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | ||
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | ||
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | ||
| Georgia College and State University | Milledgeville, GA | ||
| Augusta University | Augusta, GA | ||
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, LA | ||
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | ||
| Alcorn State University | Lorman, MS | ||
| Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | ||
| Ohio State University: Columbus Campus | Columbus, OH | ||
| University of Tennessee Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | ||
| University of Memphis | Memphis, TN | ||
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, TN | ||
| University of Tennessee: Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | ||
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, TN | ||
| University of Tennessee, Martin | Martin, TN | ||
| University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski, TN | ||
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | ||
| Fairmont State University | Fairmont, WV |
This list changes frequently, so check official university websites for the most up-to-date information.
Conclusion
Test-score reporting is back on the rise, and required-testing policies are spreading across both public and private institutions. As the applicant pool grows and becomes more diverse, admission officers have more opportunities to build dynamic first-year classes with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. For students, the takeaway is simple: a strong SAT, ACT, or CLT score is once again a meaningful advantage, so it’s worth preparing early.
