Ohio State reinstates ACT/SAT requirements for 2026 admissions

The Ohio State University has announced the reinstatement of ACT/SAT requirements for first-year undergraduate applicants starting in the 2026 admissions cycle, reversing its previous test-optional policy initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. University officials, including Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda, emphasized that test scores will be part of a holistic review process aimed at identifying students likely to succeed academically. While test scores will be required at the Columbus campus, this policy will not apply to Ohio State's regional campuses, which maintain an open-access admissions policy. The university will also implement superscoring, allowing applicants to combine their highest section scores from multiple test attempts. This decision follows an analysis indicating that students who submit test scores tend to achieve higher GPAs and progress more effectively through their studies. The university aims to ensure that admissions practices align with their goal of admitting successful students.