North Columbus News

The Ohio State University has announced that it will reinstate the ACT/SAT test requirement for all new first-year undergraduate applicants to its Columbus campus starting with the 2026 admissions cycle. This decision comes after a period during which the university adopted a test-optional policy in response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this test-optional pilot phase, Ohio State monitored student success metrics to evaluate the impact of not requiring standardized tests on academic performance and student outcomes. Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda emphasized the importance of these scores, stating, “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.”

Despite reinstating the test requirement, Ohio State plans to continue its comprehensive review process for each applicant. The university maintains that it will not rely solely on test scores when making admissions decisions. James Orr, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, noted that “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.”

The decision applies specifically to first-year undergraduate applicants seeking admission to the Columbus campus. However, regional campuses and Ohio State ATI will not require test scores due to their open-access policy for Ohio residents.

For more information about admission criteria for new first-year students at Ohio State's Columbus campus, prospective applicants can visit their website.