Mehr als 1.900 akkreditierte vierjährige Hochschulen in den Vereinigten Staaten verzichten im akademischen Jahr 2026 auf verpflichtende Testergebnisse, was die Zulassungslandschaft grundlegend verändert hat. Während nur noch 43% der Common-App-Bewerber standardisierte Testergebnisse einreichen, argumentieren selektive Elite-Universitäten, die zur Testpflicht zurückkehrten, dass standardisierte Tests die Identifizierung akademischer Begabungen erleichtern. Die folgenden Daten stammen von FairTest, Common Application, College Board, ACT Research und dem National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Das Verständnis dieser Zulassungsdynamik erfordert die Einordnung in college admissions and enrollment trends, steigende college tuition costs und Belastungen durch student debt burdens.
TL;DR
- 1.900+ 4-Jahres-Colleges (über 80% in den USA) verlangen 2026 keine SAT- oder ACT-Punkte (FairTest).
- 43% der Common-App-Bewerber reichten 2024–2025 Testergebnisse ein (77% im Zeitraum 2019–2020) (Common App).
- 19,4 Punkte beträgt der nationale ACT-Durchschnitt, nahe dem 30-Jahres-Tief (ACT Research).
- 1028 Punkte beträgt der nationale SAT-Durchschnitt (520 Lesen/Schreiben, 508 Mathe) (College Board).
- Dartmouth, MIT, Yale, Georgetown und UT Austin haben die Testpflicht wieder eingeführt (Institutionelle Berichte).
- Bewerber mit Testergebnissen erzielen an selektiven test-optionalen Hochschulen 2,1-mal höhere Zulassungsquoten (Zulassungsberichte).
- Bewerbungen von Erstakademikern stiegen an selektiven Privathochschulen um 82% (Common App).
- Kaliforniens öffentliche Universitätssysteme (UC und CSU) bleiben an 32 Campussen dauerhaft test-blind (UC Regents).
- 84% der Schulberater empfehlen Schülern mit Werten über dem 50. Perzentil die Einreichung (NACAC).
- 98,4% der SAT-Teilnehmer absolvierten den Test im Digital-SAT-Format (College Board).
- 61% der SAT-Teilnehmer legten den Test kostenlos an einem regulären Schultag ab (College Board).
- Bewerbungen unterrepräsentierter Minderheiten nahmen an test-optionalen Hochschulen um 65% zu (Common App).
1. National Landscape of Test-Optional Policies
Die Anforderungen an standardisierte Tests an amerikanischen Hochschulen haben sich nach den pandemiebedingten Ausnahmen von 2020 dauerhaft gewandelt. Die überwiegende Mehrheit der 4-Jahres-Institutionen hat die Testfreiheit beibehalten.
| Institutional Policy Status | Number of Institutions | Share of 4-Year US Colleges | Primary Governance / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test-Optional (Permanent Policy) | 1,520 | 64.2% | FairTest Higher Ed Database |
| Test-Optional (Temporary / Multi-Year Pilot) | 285 | 12.1% | FairTest Higher Ed Database |
| Test-Free / Test-Blind (Scores Not Reviewed) | 105 | 4.4% | FairTest / UC System |
| Test-Required (Mandatory Submission) | 455 | 19.3% | College Board / NCES IPEDS |
| Total Accredited 4-Year Institutions Tracked | 2,365 | 100.0% | FairTest / NCES |
Source: FairTest National Testing Directory and NCES IPEDS admissions reporting.
2. Applicant Submission Trends and Demographics
Bewerbungsplattformen zeigen eine deutliche Spaltung zwischen Bewerbern an großen staatlichen Universitäten und Bewerbern an privaten Elite-Colleges. Die Entscheidung zur Einreichung von Testergebnissen korreliert stark mit dem Haushaltseinkommen.
| Applicant Demographic Category | Test Submission Rate (2019-20) | Test Submission Rate (2024-25) | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Common App Applicants | 77.0% | 43.2% | -33.8 pp |
| First-Generation Applicants | 70.2% | 31.4% | -38.8 pp |
| Non-First-Generation Applicants | 81.5% | 49.1% | -32.4 pp |
| Students in Top Decile Household Income | 84.1% | 58.6% | -25.5 pp |
| Students in Bottom Decile Household Income | 68.4% | 27.8% | -40.6 pp |
| Underrepresented Minority (URM) Students | 71.0% | 32.1% | -38.9 pp |
| STEM Major Applicants | 82.4% | 54.7% | -27.7 pp |
Source: Common Application Research Briefs on applicant submission behavior.
3. National Score Baselines and Academic Benchmarks
Die nationalen Durchschnittswerte im Sekundarschulbereich haben sich auf historisch niedrigem Niveau stabilisiert. Die Erfüllung der Hochschulreife-Benchmarks verdeutlicht anhaltende Leistungsdisparitäten.
| Benchmark Assessment Metric | National Score / Value | College Readiness Benchmark | Meeting Benchmark (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Total Mean Score | 1028 / 1600 | 1010 Combined Benchmark | 40.2% |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing | 520 / 800 | 480 Benchmark | 64.1% |
| SAT Mathematics | 508 / 800 | 530 Benchmark | 41.5% |
| ACT Composite Mean Score | 19.4 / 36 | 21.2 Benchmark Target | 20.8% meeting all 4 |
| ACT English Benchmark (Score 18) | 18.6 Mean | 18 Benchmark | 53.2% |
| ACT Math Benchmark (Score 22) | 19.0 Mean | 22 Benchmark | 30.1% |
Source: College Board Annual Report and ACT Profile Reports.
4. The Selective School Reversal and Acceptance Disparities
Führende Forschungsuniversitäten, die zur Testpflicht zurückkehrten, begründen dies mit der Vorhersagekraft standardisierter Tests für MINT-Fächer. An test-optionalen Hochschulen genießen Bewerber mit eingereichten Testergebnissen weiterhin erhebliche Zulassungsvorteile.
| Institution / Category | Admit Rate (Submitters) | Admit Rate (Non-Submitters) | Submitter Advantage Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy League & Peer Institutions (Test-Optional) | 8.2% | 3.9% | 2.10x |
| Selective Private Colleges (Top 50 USNWR) | 18.4% | 9.6% | 1.92x |
| Competitive Public Flagships (Out-of-State) | 29.1% | 15.8% | 1.84x |
| Regional Comprehensive Universities | 68.2% | 64.1% | 1.06x |
| MIT (Reinstated Mandatory Testing) | 4.5% (All Submit) | N/A | Mandatory Testing |
| Dartmouth College (Reinstated Testing) | 5.3% (All Submit) | N/A | Mandatory Testing |
Source: Institutional Common Data Set filings and university admissions disclosures.
5. Economic Costs, Testing Access, and Digital Delivery
Die Umstellung auf computerbasierte adaptive Tests hat Testausfälle verringert und Prüfungszeiten verkürzt, während schulbasierte Testprogramme Familien finanziell entlasten.
| Testing Program Feature | Volume / Value | Economic Metric | Operational Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital SAT Test Administration Time | 134 Minutes (2h 14m) | 43 Minutes Shorter than Paper | College Board |
| School Day Testing Share of All SAT Takers | 61.4% | 1.18 Million Students Free | College Board |
| ACT Fee Waivers Distributed Annually | 420,000 | $28.5M Value Waived | ACT Research |
| Standard SAT Registration Fee (Without Subsidy) | $68.00 | Direct Student Expense | College Board 2026 Schedule |
| Standard ACT Registration Fee (With Writing) | $94.00 | Direct Student Expense | ACT 2026 Fee Schedule |
| Private Test Prep Industry Market Size (US) | $1.42B | Commercial Expenditures | IBISWorld Market Reports |
Source: College Board Program Data and ACT Annual Operations Disclosures.
Summary: Test-Optional College Admissions by the Numbers
| Admissions & Testing Indicator | Value / Metric | Source Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Total US 4-Year Institutions Test-Optional / Free | 1,900+ Colleges | FairTest |
| Share of 4-Year Colleges Not Requiring Scores | 80.7% | FairTest |
| Common App Test Score Submission Rate (2025) | 43.2% | Common App |
| Common App Pre-Pandemic Score Submission Rate | 77.0% | Common App |
| National Mean SAT Score | 1028 / 1600 | College Board |
| National Mean ACT Composite Score | 19.4 / 36 | ACT Research |
| First-Generation Applicant Score Submission Rate | 31.4% | Common App |
| Top Household Income Decile Submission Rate | 58.6% | Common App |
| Admission Multiplier for Score Submitters (Top 50) | 1.92x | Common Data Sets |
| Application Surge from URM Students under Test-Optional | +65.0% | Common App |
| Application Surge from First-Generation Students | +82.0% | Common App |
| Digital SAT Duration Reduction | -43 Minutes | College Board |
| Students Taking SAT via Free School Day Program | 61.4% | College Board |
| High School Seniors Meeting All 4 ACT Benchmarks | 20.8% | ACT Profile Report |
| High School Seniors Meeting Both SAT Benchmarks | 40.2% | College Board |
| California Public Campuses Operating Test-Blind | 32 Campuses | UC / CSU Regents |
| Private US Test Preparation Commercial Market | $1.42B | Industry Benchmarks |
Methodology and Sources
Data compiled from admissions filings, testing agency registries, and longitudinal applicant tracking repositories. Primary institutional authorities include FairTest, the Common Application, the College Board, and ACT Research.
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FairTest National Directory of Test-Optional Colleges (Fall 2026 cycle).
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Common App Research Briefs: Trends in College Application Testing Submissions (2020-2025 cohorts).
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College Board Annual SAT Suite of Assessments Cohort Reports.
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ACT National Profile Report and College Readiness Benchmarks.
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National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
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Institutional Common Data Set disclosures across public and private research universities.
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Data watch: Submission rates calculated across Common App member institutions exclude non-member state flagships (such as the University of California system), which enforce systemwide test-blind review. Disclosed submitter admission advantages reflect confounding applicant strengths (GPA, coursework rigor, extracurricular distinction) rather than isolated score weight.
Last updated: September 7, 2026. Quarterly updates track ongoing regulatory revisions, institutional testing announcements, and annual applicant submission trends.