ACT Writing and SAT Essay Requirements

The SAT Essay and ACT Writing continue to pose a conundrum for students. While College Board and ACT have made these components optional, a small number of colleges continue to require or recommend them. Students typically must finalize testing decisions well before they finalize their lists of where they will apply to college, so a significant majority of students still take the essay exams each year. The University of California system continues to require the SAT Essay and the ACT Writing of all applicants. Duke provides recommended guidance and drops strong hints that the essay is still worth submitting in many cases. The list of holdouts, though, continues to decline. Claremont McKenna dropped the requirement as of November 2018, and Wellesley finally stopped asking for ACT Writing (it had already abandoned the SAT Essay). Princeton has replaced the SAT or ACT essay requirement by deciding to require a graded essay from a high school class instead.   We have unofficial informa tion that the University of California system is currently considering dropping the requirement, but applicants in the class of 2020 should proceed under the assumption that the requirement will stick around. The following table  of 360 popular colleges  provides a wide range of institutions and policies. In general, we find that less competitive colleges are less likely to require either  essay. Despite the decline in colleges requiring an SAT or ACT essay, Compass still advises many of our students to make the essay a part of their testing plans. Skipping the essay can leave a student scrambling to fit in an additional test date should his or her college plans change. Some colleges requiring the essay will not superscore test dates without the essay. The University of California system alone drives the decision for many of Compass students in California. Just as important, its uncommon for an ACT or SAT essay to be a significant negative factor on an application.   With a minimum amount of practice, most students can reach the 25th75th percentile score ranges of even the most elite colleges in the country. In other words, there is more upside than downside when looking at an extended test day. Colleges with essay optional policies often do not specify whether submitted essay scores will be used for admission. When the college explicitly states that scores will not be evaluated, we have listed the policy as Not Considered. Optional should not be interpreted as meaning that the college uses submitted scores. We recommend contacting the school if you have specific questions. ACT and SAT Essay Requirements - Class of 2019 and Beyond SchoolRegionSAT Essay RequiredACT Essay Required Abilene Christian UniversitySouthRecommendedRecommended Adelphi UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Agnes Scott CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Albion CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Allegheny CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional American UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Amherst CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Appalachian State UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Arizona State University—​TempeWestOptionalOptional Auburn UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Augustana CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Austin CollegeSouthRecommendedRecommended Babson CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Baldwin Wallace UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Bard CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Barnard CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Bates CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Baylor UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Beloit CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Bennington CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Bentley UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Berea CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Berry CollegeSouthRecommendedRecommended Binghamton University—​SUNYMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Biola UniversityWestOptionalOptional Birmingham-​Southern College SouthOptionalOptional Boston CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Boston UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Bowdoin CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Bradley UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Brandeis UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Brigham Young University—​ProvoWestOptionalOptional Brown UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Bryn Mawr CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Bucknell UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Butler UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional California Institute of TechnologyWestOptionalOptional California Lutheran UniversityWestOptionalOptional California Polytechnic State University—​San Luis ObispoWestOptionalOptional California State Polytechnic University--PomonaWestOptionalOptional California State University--FresnoWestOptionalOptional California State University--FullertonWestOptionalOptional California State University--Long BeachWestOptionalOptional California State University--Los AngelesWestOptionalOptional California State University--Monterey BayWestOptionalOptional California State University--NorthridgeWestOptionalOptional Carleton CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Carnegie Mellon UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Carroll CollegeWestOptionalOptional Case Western Reserve UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Centre CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Chapman UniversityWestRecommendedRecommended Christopher Newport UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Claremont McKenna CollegeWestNot ConsideredNot Considered Clark UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Clarkson UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Clemson UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Coe CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Colby College*New EnglandRecommendedRecommended Colgate UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional College of CharlestonSouthOptionalOptional College of New JerseyMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional College of St. BenedictMidwestOptionalOptional College of the Holy CrossNew EnglandOptionalOptional College of William and MarySouthOptionalOptional College of WoosterMidwestOptionalOptional Colorado CollegeWestOptionalOptional Colorado School of MinesWestOptionalOptional Colorado State UniversityWestOptionalOptional Columbia UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Concordia College—​MoorheadMidwestRecommendedRecommended Connecticut CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Cooper UnionMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Cornell CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Cornell UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Creighton UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional CUNY—​Baruch CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Dartmouth CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Davidson CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Denison UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional DePaul UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional DePauw UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Dickinson CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Drake UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Drew UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Drexel UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Drury UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Duke UniversitySouthRecommendedRecommended Duquesne UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Earlham CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Elmhurst CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Elon UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Embry-​Riddle Aeronautical UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Emerson CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Emory UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Fairfield UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Florida Institute of TechnologySouthOptionalOptional Florida State UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Fordham UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Franklin and Marshall CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Furman UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Gallaudet UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional George Mason UniversitySouthOptionalOptional George Washington UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Georgetown UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Georgia Institute of TechnologySouthOptionalOptional Gettysburg CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Gonzaga UniversityWestOptionalOptional Goshen CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Goucher CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Grinnell CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Hamilton CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Hampden-​Sydney CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Hampton UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Hanover CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Harvard University New EnglandOptionalOptional Harvey Mudd CollegeWestOptionalOptional Haverford CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Hendrix CollegeSouthOptionalOptional High Point UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Hillsdale CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Hobart and William Smith CollegesMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Hofstra UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Hollins UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Hope CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Howard UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Humboldt State University WestOptionalOptional Illinois Institute of TechnologyMidwestOptionalOptional Illinois Wesleyan UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Indiana University—​BloomingtonMidwestOptionalOptional Iowa State UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Ithaca CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional James Madison UniversitySouthOptionalOptional John Brown UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Johns Hopkins UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Kalamazoo CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Kenyon CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Knox CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Lafayette CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Lake Forest CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Lawrence UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Lehigh UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Lewis Clark CollegeWestOptionalOptional Lipscomb UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Louisiana State University—​Baton RougeSouthOptionalOptional Loyola Marymount UniversityWestOptionalOptional Loyola University ChicagoMidwestOptionalOptional Loyola University MarylandMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Loyola University New OrleansSouthOptionalOptional Luther CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Macalester CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Manhattan CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Marist CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Marquette UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Martin Luther CollegeMidwestRequiredRequired Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyNew EnglandOptionalOptional Mercer UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Miami University—​OxfordMidwestOptionalOptional Michigan State UniversityMidwestRecommendedRecommended Michigan Technological UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Middlebury CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Mills CollegeWestOptionalOptional Millsaps CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Milwaukee School of EngineeringMidwestOptionalOptional Mississippi State UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Missouri University of Science TechnologyMidwestOptionalOptional Morehouse CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Mount Holyoke CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Muhlenberg CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional New College of FloridaSouthOptionalOptional New Jersey Institute of TechnologyMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional New SchoolMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional New York UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional North Carolina State University—​RaleighSouthOptionalOptional Northeastern UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Northwestern UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Oberlin CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Occidental CollegeWestOptionalOptional Ohio State University—​ColumbusMidwestOptionalOptional Ohio UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Ohio Wesleyan UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Oklahoma State UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Oregon State UniversityWestRecommendedRecommended Pacific Lutheran UniversityWestOptionalOptional Pennsylvania State University—​University ParkMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Pepperdine UniversityWestOptionalOptional Pitzer CollegeWestOptionalOptional Point Loma Nazarene UniversityWestOptionalOptional Pomona CollegeWestOptionalOptional Pratt InstituteMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Presbyterian College (SC)SouthOptionalOptional Princeton University Mid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Providence CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Purdue University—​West LafayetteMidwestOptionalOptional Queens University of CharlotteSouthOptionalOptional Quinnipiac UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Randolph-​Macon CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Reed CollegeWestOptionalOptional Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Rhode Island School of DesignNew EnglandOptionalOptional Rhodes CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Rice UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Ripon CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Rochester Institute of TechnologyMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Rollins CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—​New BrunswickMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—​NewarkMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Saint Louis UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Samford UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Sam Houston State UniversitySouthOptionalOptional San Diego State UniversityWestOptionalOptional San Francisco State UniversityWestOptionalOptional San Jose State UniversityWestOptionalOptional Santa Clara UniversityWestOptionalOptional Sarah Lawrence CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Scripps CollegeWestOptionalOptional Seattle UniversityWestOptionalOptional Seton Hall UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Sewanee—​University of the SouthSouthOptionalOptional Siena CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Simmons UniversityNew EnglandRecommendedRecommended Skidmore CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Smith CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Soka University of AmericaWestRequiredRequired Southern Methodist UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Southwestern UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Spelman CollegeSouthOptionalOptional St. John Fisher CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional St. John's College AnnapolisMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional St. John's University (NY)Mid-AtlanticOptionalOptional St. Lawrence UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional St. Mary's College (IN)MidwestOptionalOptional St. Mary's College of CaliforniaWestOptionalOptional St. Mary's College of MarylandMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional St. Michael's CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional St. Olaf CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Stanford UniversityWestRecommendedRecommended Stetson UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Stevens Institute of TechnologyMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Stonehill CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Stony Brook University—​SUNYMid-AtlanticRecommendedRecommended SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional SUNY—​GeneseoMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Susquehanna UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Swarthmore CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Syracuse UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Taylor UniversityMidwestRecommendedRecommended Temple UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Texas AM University—​College StationSouthOptionalOptional Texas Christian UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Texas Lutheran UniversitySouthOptionalOptional The Catholic University of AmericaMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional The CitadelSouthOptionalOptional Thomas Aquinas CollegeWestOptionalOptional Transylvania UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Trinity College (Hartford)New EnglandOptionalOptional Trinity UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Truman State UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Tufts UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Tulane UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Union College (Schenectady, NY)Mid-AtlanticOptionalOptional United States Air Force AcademyWestOptionalOptional United States Coast Guard AcademyNew EnglandOptionalOptional United States Military AcademyMid-AtlanticRequiredRequired United States Naval AcademyMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University at Albany—​SUNYMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University at Buffalo—​SUNYMid-AtlanticRecommendedRecommended University of AlabamaSouthOptionalOptional University of ArizonaWestOptionalOptional University of Arkansas—​FayettevilleSouthOptionalOptional University of California—​BerkeleyWestRequiredRequired University of California—​DavisWestRequiredRequired University of California—​IrvineWestRequiredRequired University of California—​Los AngelesWestRequiredRequired University of California—MercedWestRequiredRequired University of California—RiversideWestRequiredRequired University of California—​San DiegoWestRequiredRequired University of California—​Santa BarbaraWestRequiredRequired University of California—​Santa CruzWestRequiredRequired University of ChicagoMidwestOptionalOptional University of CincinnatiMidwestOptionalOptional University of Colorado—​BoulderWestOptionalOptional University of ConnecticutNew EnglandOptionalOptional University of DallasSouthOptionalOptional University of DaytonMidwestOptionalOptional University of DelawareMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University of DenverWestOptionalOptional University of FloridaSouthOptionalOptional University of GeorgiaSouthOptionalOptional University of Hawaii at ManoaWestOptionalOptional University of Illinois—​ChicagoMidwestOptionalOptional University of Illinois—​Urbana-​ChampaignMidwestOptionalOptional University of IowaMidwestOptionalOptional University of KansasMidwestOptionalOptional University of KentuckySouthOptionalOptional University of La VerneWestOptionalOptional University of Mary WashingtonSouthOptionalOptional University of Maryland—​College ParkMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University of Massachusetts—​AmherstNew EnglandOptionalOptional University of MiamiSouthNot ConsideredNot Considered University of Michigan—​Ann ArborMidwestOptionalOptional University of Minnesota—​Twin CitiesMidwestRecommendedRecommended University of MississippiSouthOptionalOptional University of MissouriMidwestOptionalOptional University of Montana Western **WestRequiredOptional University of Nebraska—​LincolnMidwestOptionalOptional University of New HampshireNew EnglandOptionalOptional University of North Carolina—​Chapel HillSouthOptionalOptional University of North Carolina—​WilmingtonSouthOptionalOptional University of North TexasSouthOptionalOptional University of Notre DameMidwestOptionalOptional University of OklahomaSouthOptionalOptional University of OregonWestOptionalOptional University of PennsylvaniaMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University of PittsburghMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University of PortlandWestOptionalOptional University of Puget SoundWestOptionalOptional University of RedlandsWestOptionalOptional University of RichmondSouthOptionalOptional University of RochesterMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional University of San DiegoWestOptionalOptional University of San FranciscoWestOptionalOptional University of South CarolinaSouthOptionalOptional University of South FloridaSouthOptionalOptional University of Southern CaliforniaWestOptionalOptional University of St. Thomas (MN)MidwestOptionalOptional University of TennesseeSouthOptionalOptional University of Texas—​AustinSouthOptionalOptional University of Texas—​DallasSouthOptionalOptional University of the PacificWestOptionalOptional University of TulsaSouthOptionalOptional University of UtahWestOptionalOptional University of VermontNew EnglandOptionalOptional University of VirginiaSouthOptionalOptional University of WashingtonWestOptionalOptional University of Wisconsin—​MadisonMidwestOptionalOptional Ursinus CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Valparaiso UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Vanderbilt UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Vassar CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Villanova UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Virginia Commonwealth UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Virginia Military InstituteSouthOptionalOptional Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Wabash CollegeMidwestOptionalOptional Wake Forest UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Washington and Jefferson CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Washington and Lee UniversitySouthOptionalOptional Washington CollegeMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional Washington State UniversityWestOptionalOptional Washington University in St. LouisSouthOptionalOptional Wellesley CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Wesleyan UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Westmont CollegeWestOptionalOptional Wheaton College (IL)MidwestOptionalOptional Whitman CollegeWestOptionalOptional Whittier CollegeWestOptionalOptional Willamette UniversityWestOptionalOptional Williams CollegeNew EnglandOptionalOptional Wofford CollegeSouthOptionalOptional Worcester Polytechnic InstituteNew EnglandOptionalOptional Xavier UniversityMidwestOptionalOptional Yale UniversityNew EnglandOptionalOptional Yeshiva UniversityMid-AtlanticOptionalOptional * School has a Test Optional or Test Flexible policy but may still have requirements for students choosing to submit SAT or ACT scores. ** University of Montana Western has students submit ACT Writing in order to satisfy English proficiency requirements. Post a comment or send an email to guide@compassprep.com with questions or recommended changes. Related posts: ACT Writing scores have gone through multiple changes. To try to clear things up, Compass has published ACT Writing Scores Explained. A similar analysis for the SAT is also available. The Compass 360 provides New SAT and ACT  scores for some of the most competitive colleges in the country. Score choice and superscoring policies can be found for the Compass 360. Subject Test requirements continue to evolve, so Compass keeps an up-to-date list. Updated 11/26/18