Purdue University Will Require the SAT and ACT Again

• Seventy-five percent of Purdue applicants still submitted test scores despite no requirement.
• The reinstatement of standardized testing for applicants goes against the national trend to get rid of them.
• According to the College Board, 700,000 fewer students took the SAT in 2021 than in 2020.

Prospective Purdue University students will again have to study up for the SAT or ACT.

On Nov. 29, Purdue University in Indiana announced it will reinstate its requirement for either an SAT or ACT score for the 2024-25 academic year. The decision was announced early so high school juniors could schedule exams before they apply for college.

According to the school's press release, the university administration recommended the decision, and an endorsement by the board of trustees followed.

"The evidence is clear that test scores provide essential information in a comprehensive admissions evaluation that enables us to ensure the optimal chance of success for each admitted student," said Kris Wong Davis, vice provost for enrollment management.

Since 2020, Purdue has not required ACT or SAT scores to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 75% of applicants still provided them.

Purdue's reinstatement goes against a national trend to abolish standardized testing at higher education institutions.

During the pandemic, many colleges and universities elected not to include standardized test scoresin their admissions process.

In 2020, the University of California system voted to eliminate SAT and ACT test score requirements by 2025.

Harvard announced last year that standardized testing requirements would be waived for undergraduates through the class of 2030.

Colorado and Iowa also recently removed the standardized test requirement at their public institutions.

According to the College Board, 700,000 fewer students took the SAT in 2021 than in 2020. In January, the organization announced that the SAT will be going digital by 2024.