Wisconsin Regents Recommended Ending Test Mandate

The board committee moved to permanently drop the requirement for ACT and SAT scores in student applications.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in College Applications

Isometric editorial illustration of a stack of blank university application folders on a wooden desk, symbolizing higher education policy change. — The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents Committee has voted to recommend the permanent removal of mandatory ACT and SAT admission requirements for students. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents Committee has voted to recommend the permanent removal of mandatory ACT and SAT admission requirements. Students would still retain the option to submit scores if the policy receives final approval.

Why it matters

The recommendation aligns the Wisconsin university system with a growing national trend among higher education institutions moving away from mandatory standardized testing.

The system has required standardized scores for admission since the 1980s but has maintained a waiver for test mandates since the beginning of the pandemic.

The players

Universities of Wisconsin

This public university system serves as the primary provider of higher education for students across the state.

UW Board of Regents Committee

The committee serves as the governing body responsible for overseeing policy decisions across the university system.

The details

The committee decision represents a shift for the state's public universities, which have operated under an optional testing policy since the COVID-19 pandemic began. If granted final approval by the board, the university system plans to have the permanent policy in effect by the next school year.

ACT and SAT scores became an admission requirement in the 1980s.
The university system began waiving the test requirement at the beginning of the pandemic.
The committee recommended the permanent waiver of the mandate on September 17, 2026.
The university plans to enact the permanent policy by the next school year.

Culture Shift

The decision mirrors a broader movement in American higher education to prioritize holistic review over standardized metrics. This shift suggests a long-term transition away from the rigid testing requirements that dominated university admissions for decades.

Prospective students applying for the upcoming school year will gain greater flexibility in their application process if the policy is approved. Applicants will need to decide whether submitting test scores adds value to their specific academic profile.

The takeaway

Students should review individual program requirements as optional testing may still influence scholarship or specific department criteria. Focusing on a strong cumulative high school record remains the most reliable strategy for applicants in a test-optional environment.