How SAT Scores Fit Into College Admissions Today

How are SAT scores used in college admissions?

The SAT is a standardized test that has been used in college admissions in the United States ⁴. Its place in an application depends on the college. The University of California, for example, stopped using SAT and ACT scores for freshman admissions in 2020, and its leaders are now reviewing that policy ²³. The reports do not describe the policies of every other college.

That means there is no single answer to whether a student needs an SAT score. A college may have a different policy from another school, and rules can change over time. Applicants should look at the admissions information for each college and the year they plan to apply. If the policy is unclear, the college’s admissions office is the best place to ask.

The sources do not explain how individual colleges weigh SAT scores alongside grades, courses, essays, or other parts of an application. Nor do they show that a particular score guarantees admission. A score is information about a test result; it is not, by itself, a decision about a student’s future.

• Check each college’s official policy for your application year.
• Do not assume one college’s rules apply to another.

What do the 2026 SAT results show about New York?

New York students who took the SAT during the 2025–26 school year had a mean score of 1,053, according to a Newsday analysis of recently released College Board data ¹. The national mean for the Class of 2026 was 1,045 ¹. New York’s mean was eight points higher than the state’s figure from the previous year, and it was above the national mean for the fifth year in a row ¹.

More than 127,000 students took the test in New York during that school year, Newsday reported ¹. The report also said New York had its highest participation rate since 2020, though the supplied information does not give the exact rate ¹. Long Island-specific data was not available in the report ¹.

These figures are useful as a broad snapshot of students who took the exam. They do not tell a reader what any one student scored, and they cannot show how a particular applicant compares with the group without more detailed information.

What does a state SAT average mean for one student?

A mean is an average across a group. It can summarize the overall results, but it does not show how scores were distributed or explain why the average changed. New York’s mean being higher than the national mean does not mean every New York student scored above the national figure.

The reported result also does not explain whether the change came from differences in test-takers, preparation, or other factors. The source gives the scores and participation context, but it does not establish a cause for the increase ¹.

For students and families, the practical point is to treat the state average as background, not as a personal benchmark that decides whether an application is strong. The admissions policy at each college is more directly relevant to whether a score is required or considered.

Is the University of California bringing back SAT scores?

The University of California Board of Regents is considering whether to reinstate SAT and ACT requirements for undergraduate admissions. The change could take effect as early as fall 2028, according to The UCSD Guardian ². UC stopped using the tests for freshman admissions in 2020 ²³.

This is a review, not a confirmed policy change. If the regents reinstate a requirement on the timeline described, the first applicant group that could be affected would be the class of 2032, The UCSD Guardian reported ². The sources do not provide a final decision or the details of any possible new rule.

Students considering UC colleges should therefore check official admissions information as their application year approaches. A report about a proposal or review is not a substitute for the final policy.

Why is UC reviewing its testing policy?

The debate includes concerns about students’ preparation for college-level work. The UCSD Guardian reported that UC San Diego had more students in remedial math courses and that one in eight admitted freshmen were placed below high-school level in math ². It also reported that the domestic student failure rate for the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement rose from 12% in 2020 to 18% in 2025 ². These are specific measures reported in the article; they do not, on their own, establish why students had those results.

There are also arguments for keeping admissions test-free. LAist reported that, after UC stopped using SAT and ACT scores for freshman admissions, graduation rates had inched up and more students returned for their second year ³. The same report describes disagreement among UC faculty and leaders about whether students are adequately prepared and what role testing should play ³.

Taken together, the reports describe a real policy debate, not proof that one approach caused the outcomes. They do not settle whether reinstating tests would improve student readiness or how the change would affect applicants. Those questions remain part of the review.

What should students do with this information?

Start with the colleges on your own list. Check each school’s current admissions page to see whether it requires, considers, or does not use SAT scores for the year you plan to apply. If you cannot tell what the policy means for your situation, contact the admissions office.

Use state or national averages only for context. New York’s 2026 mean describes a large group of test-takers, not a target every student must reach ¹. And while the UC review may matter to future applicants, the reports available here describe a possible change rather than a completed one ².

Because admissions rules can change, it is sensible to verify information directly with the college instead of relying on an old summary. These sources do not provide personal test-taking advice or a complete directory of college policies.