SAT Scores Are Becoming Another Barrier to Diversity in U.S. College Admissions
College admissions policy is shifting again across the U.S. after years of test-optional rules during the pandemic. Now, as selective schools reinstate SAT and ACT requirements, concerns are growing that the move could narrow access for Black, Latino, and low-income applicants. The issue is national, but it is playing out most clearly at highly selective universities that shape broader admissions trends.
Colleges are restoring testing requirements
Dartmouth College announced on Feb. 5, 2024, that it would require SAT or ACT scores again for applicants, joining a small but influential group of selective schools that have reversed test-optional policies. The college said the decision followed an internal review of admissions data. Brown University later announced a similar move in 2024, adding to the list of campuses returning to mandatory testing.
Those announcements matter because standardized tests remain strongly tied to family income and race in national results. Data from the College Board has long shown score gaps across racial and economic groups. In practice, that means a policy that looks neutral on paper can affect who gets through the door.
The impact is falling unevenly on students
What is confirmed is that students from higher-income families are more likely to access tutoring, multiple test sittings, and application support. National admissions data and university statements show that these advantages can shape who presents the strongest testing profile. What is not yet known is how much each campus’s newly restored testing rule will change the racial and economic makeup of its next admitted class.
The concern is especially sharp for students attending underfunded public high schools, where test prep resources can be limited. In many parts of the U.S., students still face registration fees, travel demands, and fewer counseling resources tied to the SAT or ACT process. Those barriers are not new, but the return of testing requirements gives them renewed weight in admissions.
Why this shift is happening now
Colleges that reinstated testing said scores can help identify high-achieving applicants whose grades alone may not fully show academic potential. Dartmouth stated in February 2024 that test scores could help find talented students from less-resourced schools. At the same time, critics argue the broader pattern still benefits students with greater financial support because preparation opportunities are unevenly distributed.
The policy turn also comes after the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending race-conscious admissions, a major change in the legal landscape for colleges. With fewer tools available to build diverse classes, standardized testing is drawing new scrutiny as one of the most visible parts of the application. For families and students, the immediate reality is simple: at a growing number of selective colleges, SAT and ACT scores are once again required.
