The University of California confirmed on July 20, 2026, that all nine campuses remain test-blind for fall 2027 applicants. If you're a current senior applying this fall, you do not need SAT or ACT scores. But the policy's future is unsettled — the Regents must issue a decision by June 2027, which could affect anyone applying for fall 2028 and beyond.

If you're applying to UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, or any other University of California campus for fall 2027, you do not need SAT or ACT scores. The test-blind policy is confirmed for this cycle.

What's no longer simple is everything that comes after.

What the Regents Actually Decided

On July 20, 2026, the UC Board of Regents confirmed the test-blind policy stays for the current admissions cycle. Students applying in fall 2026 for fall 2027 enrollment will not have their standardized test scores considered, even if they choose to submit them.1

The decision followed pressure from faculty who wanted to move faster. Board Chair Maria Anguiano announced that the UC Academic Senate must deliver a formal testing recommendation to the Regents by June 2027. A vote would follow, potentially taking effect for students applying for fall 2028 enrollment.2

Test-blind and test-optional are not the same thing. UC campuses are test-blind: they do not look at SAT or ACT scores at all, even if you submit them. Your score plays no role in admissions decisions or scholarship consideration. This is stricter than test-optional policies.

Why 3,000 Faculty Signed a Letter

The debate inside UC has been building since spring. In May 2026, several thousand UC faculty signed a letter sent to the university president, Board of Regents, and Academic Senate demanding a return to mandatory standardized testing in math for STEM applicants.3

The letter described a classroom crisis: students arriving at UC campuses without the ability to perform basic mathematical operations from middle school. Faculty said they were spending class time on remedial content rather than university-level coursework.

Some faculty pushed for a decision by September 2026. The Regents set June 2027 as the deadline and held firm.

What This Means by Year in School

Current seniors (applying fall 2026, enrolling fall 2027): No test scores needed. The December 1, 2026 application deadline applies to all nine UC campuses. You may submit scores, but they will not be seen by admissions offices or used for scholarship decisions. The test-blind policy is fully in effect.

Current juniors (applying fall 2027, enrolling fall 2028): Your path is uncertain. If the Regents vote in June 2027 to restore testing, it will likely apply to your application. If they vote to keep the test-blind policy, nothing changes. Faculty pressure is real: more than 3,000 professors signed on to the letter. But the Regents have consistently prioritized a careful review over quick reversals.

Even if you don't need scores for UC admissions, submitting them after enrollment may affect math course placement. If you're planning a STEM major, strong SAT or ACT math scores could help you skip a prerequisite course. Worth knowing before you rule out test prep entirely.

The Broader Context

The UC system is one of the most prominent holdouts in a higher education landscape that has shifted sharply back toward testing. All eight Ivy League schools now require SAT or ACT scores. Major state university systems in Georgia, Florida, and elsewhere have also reinstated testing requirements.

California's political environment (including legislation restricting public universities from using standardized tests) adds another layer of complexity to any potential reversal in the UC system. The June 2027 Regents vote will happen in that context.

What to Do Right Now

If your list is primarily UC campuses: don't defer your application over test scores. You don't need them this cycle.

If you have other schools on your list that require tests, keep your prep on track. A strong score matters for most other schools, including ACT-required campuses outside the UC system.

If you're a current junior: build a balanced college list that doesn't depend on any single testing policy. The UC question resolves in June 2027. Plan accordingly.

Footnotes

  1. KTVU Fox 2. (2026, July). UC Regents delay decision on reinstating SAT, ACT requirement until 2027. KTVU. https://www.ktvu.com/news/uc-regents-delay-decision-reinstating-sat-act-requirement-until-2027 ↩

  2. Daily Bruin. (2026, July 13). UC board rescinds original timeline to reconsider SAT, ACT in admissions. UCLA Daily Bruin. https://dailybruin.com/2026/07/13/uc-board-rescinds-original-timeline-to-reconsider-sat-act-in-admissions ↩

  3. EdSource. (2026). UC professors demand SAT, ACT return. EdSource. https://edsource.org/2026/uc-professors-demand-sat-act/762457 ↩