The state Board of Regents in Georgia recently voted to require the ACT or SAT college tests at four more public universities starting in the fall of 2026. These universities include Augusta University, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, and Kennesaw State University. Test requirements had already been restored for the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College and State University. The decision to reinstate testing requirements comes as an increasing number of colleges nationwide are also restoring testing requirements, including elite schools such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT.
Tests have never been required at many of Georgia’s nine state colleges, which are intended to be the least selective of the state’s four tiers of schools. However, they had long been required for admission to the state’s 17 public universities until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Due to testing services being unable to guarantee the availability of exams, the system suspended testing requirements and instead admitted students based solely on high school grades. Under the new policy, other schools can choose to require a test score starting in fall 2026, but it is not mandatory.
Chancellor Sonny Perdue has consistently expressed his belief that tests, in combination with high school grades, are a better predictor of college success than grades alone. He stated that standardized testing will be instrumental in determining the strengths and weaknesses of every student entering college. Although regents had previously discussed imposing testing requirements in the fall of 2025, leaders of some affected universities requested another year to adjust to the changes. This additional time will allow universities to better prepare for the implementation of testing requirements.
The decision to reinstate testing requirements in the University System of Georgia comes after a previous attempt to do so in fall 2022 resulted in a decrease in applications. Many students did not complete their applications due to a lack of a test score. During that year, officials in the University System of Georgia attributed the decline in applications to the test requirement, which was later dropped. Moving forward, students who submit optional tests may still be admitted with lower grades, indicating a flexible approach to the admission process within the state’s public universities.
Overall, the move to reintroduce testing requirements at select public universities in Georgia reflects a broader trend of colleges nationwide returning to standardized testing as part of the admissions process. The decision reflects a belief in the predictive value of tests in determining college success, particularly when considered alongside high school grades. While some universities may choose to require a test score starting in fall 2026, others have the flexibility to maintain their current admission practices. The additional year before full implementation allows universities to prepare adequately for the transition and ensure a smooth admissions process for prospective students.
