UT Austin Reinstates Standardized Testing for 2025 Admissions

Citing academic potential and support, the university joins others in reversing test-optional policies.

The University of Texas at Austin will require SAT or ACT test scores for admissions starting fall 2025, reversing its test-optional policy initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
University officials cite data showing standardized test scores help identify students with the greatest academic potential and those who would benefit from targeted support programs.
The decision aligns UT Austin with other prestigious universities like Brown, Yale, and Dartmouth, which have also reinstated testing requirements recently.
UT Austin introduces an early action program and other changes to the admissions process, including a waitlist and encouragement of letters of recommendation from outside high school.
Critics argue that standardized testing requirements can exacerbate educational inequities, but UT Austin believes they are essential for placing students in suitable programs and supporting academic success.