COLUMBUS, Ohio — Starting in the 2026 admissions cycle, The Ohio State University announced it will reinstate ACT/SAT test requirements for new, first-year undergraduate applicants. 

Ohio State was among the many universities that adopted a "test-optional pilot" in 2020 because of COVID-19. The school explained that during the pilot, it was monitoring students' success metrics to see whether the test-optional admissions had an impact on academic performance and student outcomes. 

“Our goal is to find and admit students who will succeed at Ohio State, and test scores provide valuable insight into academic success at our university,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Bellamkonda. “As part of our holistic review that takes into account multiple factors, we believe that test scores are an important data point in helping to ensure the success of our students.”

Ohio State noted it won't rely solely on test scores for admissions and will continue to review each student's application in full. 

“The ACT/SAT score complements other measures to create a fuller picture of future academic success at Ohio State when used as part of a holistic review process,” said Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management James Orr. “Our analysis shows Ohio State students who submit test scores have higher grade point averages and are more likely to progress through the university.”  

The testing will be required for all programs and degree types for the Columbus campus only. The regional campuses and Ohio State ATI don't consider test scores for admissions.