Test policy · 50 states · Ohio

Do Ohio's public universities require the SAT or ACT in 2026?

As of October 2026: It depends on the campus. Of the 6 Ohio public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (The Ohio State University); 5 are test-optional (Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Miami University and 2 more).

Ohio has no statewide SAT/ACT rule; each public university sets its own policy, and they now differ sharply. Ohio State's flagship Columbus campus reinstated a test requirement starting with the 2026 admissions cycle, while its own regional campuses and every other large Ohio public university checked (Cincinnati, Ohio University, Kent State, Miami, Bowling Green) remain test-optional.

Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach, highschoolreach.com), October 2026. Figures and the table may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

The statewide rule

No statewide rule. each public university in Ohio sets its own policy.

No statewide Ohio Department of Higher Education testing mandate was found; attempted fetch of highered.ohio.gov returned 404 on both the homepage and a guessed admission-standards path. The policy divergence between Ohio State's Columbus campus (required, starting with the fall 2026 cycle) and every other Ohio public university checked (all test-optional) is itself evidence that no single statewide rule governs this.

University by university

The flagship and the state's largest public universities. Each label comes from the university's own admissions page, quoted; "applies to" is the entering term the page names. 1 required · 5 test-optional · 0 test-blind.

University	SAT / ACT	Applies to	CLT	Source
The Ohio State University Flagship Columbus Columbus campus reinstated the ACT/SAT requirement for the 2026 admissions cycle, ending a test-optional pilot that had run since 2020 Columbus campus: required, with an exception for applicants who will have been out of high school 2+ years by enrollment; scores are superscored. Ohio State's regional campuses (Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, ATI in Wooster) remain test-optional: 'Submission of test scores for regional campus applicants is optional but strongly encouraged' (same source family, https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-regional/apply-step-by-step), except homeschooled applicants and students from unaccredited high schools, who must submit a score.	Required	2026 admissions cycle and beyond (Columbus campus); current policy as published (regional campuses)	—	“Yes, standardized test scores from ACT or SAT are required for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus.” undergrad.osu.edu
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green If a student applies test-optional, a submitted score is explicitly NOT considered, per the page's FAQ ('If a student applies test optional, their score will NOT be considered even if it is provided'). A minimum suggested 20 ACT / 1040 SAT plus 2.5 GPA is listed for students who do choose to submit scores, and some named scholarships (Alumni Laureate, Presidential Scholars Award) still require a test score.	Test-optional	current policy as published; no specific entering term stated	—	“Bowling Green State University is offering applicants the opportunity to have their applications reviewed without consideration of test scores.” bgsu.edu
Kent State University Kent Applicants are asked on the application whether they want test scores considered.	Test-optional	current policy as published; applies to first-year and transfer admission	—	“Kent State University is test-optional, meaning students applying for first-year or transfer admission are not required to submit standardized test scores.” kent.edu
Miami University Oxford Page links to a dedicated 'Test Optional FAQs' section for details.	Test-optional	current policy as published; no specific entering term stated	—	“Optional ACT or SAT test scores.” miamioh.edu
Ohio University Athens test-optional pathway in place since the 2021 class Footnote on the admitted-student profile page states: 'Beginning with the 2021 class, test score values only reflect scores that were used in admissions decisions.'	Test-optional	current policy as published; test-optional pathway in place since the 2021 entering class per the admitted-student-profile footnote	—	“Ohio University has implemented a test-optional pathway for admission to the Athens campus.” ohio.edu
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati	Test-optional	current policy as published; no specific entering term stated	—	“UC is test-optional for all programs.” admissions.uc.edu

Other public colleges in Ohio with 5,000 or more students

Not individually checked for this report. The policy flag and the share of enrolled first-years who submitted a score are what each college reported to the federal government for the 2023 admissions cycle (IPEDS); check the college's own page before relying on it.

College	Students	Admit rate	Reported to IPEDS, 2023	Submitted SAT · ACT
Sinclair Community College	13,308	—	—	— · —
University of Toledo	9,770	95%	Test-optional	10% · 28%
University of Akron Main Campus	9,052	71%	Test-optional	20% · 72%
Cleveland State University	8,969	96%	Test-optional	0% · 33%
Youngstown State University	7,961	80%	Test-optional	17% · 78%
Wright State University-Main Campus	6,762	95%	Test-optional	6% · 60%
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College	5,667	—	—	— · —
Lorain County Community College	5,373	—	—	— · —

What this means for your family

Optional describes the checkbox, not the outcome. At test-optional colleges that publish both numbers, students who sent a score were admitted at a higher rate than students who did not, and 115 colleges nationally still require one. Take a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT, prepare for the whole test over 6 to 12 weeks, and decide college by college whether to send the score.

How much a score moves with preparation, by starting score: Test Prep Gurus results. The submit-or-withhold arithmetic: Do test scores still matter?

At a glance

JSON (all states) · For AI agents

As of October 2026: It depends on the campus. Of the 6 Ohio public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (The Ohio State University); 5 are test-optional (Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Miami University and 2 more).

There is no statewide rule in Ohio; each public university sets its own policy.

The Ohio State University, the flagship, is required for 2026 admissions cycle and beyond (Columbus campus); current policy as published (regional campuses).

The Ohio State University: Columbus campus reinstated the ACT/SAT requirement for the 2026 admissions cycle, ending a test-optional pilot that had run since 2020.

Ohio University: test-optional pathway in place since the 2021 class.

Checked against each university's own admissions page, October 2026. Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach).

Questions families ask

Is Ohio test-optional for its public universities in 2026? It depends on the campus. Of the 6 Ohio public universities we checked, 1 requires a score (The Ohio State University); 5 are test-optional (Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Miami University and 2 more).

Does The Ohio State University require the SAT or ACT in 2026? Required for 2026 admissions cycle and beyond (Columbus campus); current policy as published (regional campuses). Columbus campus: required, with an exception for applicants who will have been out of high school 2+ years by enrollment; scores are superscored. Ohio State's regional campuses (Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, ATI in Wooster) remain test-optional: 'Submission of test scores for regional campus applicants is optional but strongly encouraged' (same source family, https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-regional/apply-step-by-step), except homeschooled applicants and students from unaccredited high schools, who must submit a score. Source: undergrad.osu.edu.

Should my child take the SAT or ACT if Ohio's public universities do not require it? Yes. Most families apply to colleges in more than one state, 115 four-year colleges nationally require a score, and at test-optional colleges students who submit a score are admitted at higher rates than students who do not. A strong score also opens merit scholarships. Start with a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT, prepare for the whole test over 6 to 12 weeks, and decide college by college whether to send it.

Method: for each state, the flagship and the public universities with roughly 8,000 or more undergraduates. Each policy label was read from the university's own first-year admissions page (or the state or system regulation), quoted verbatim, and re-checked by a second pass, October 2026. "Required" means a score is required of most first-year applicants (exemptions in the notes); "test-optional" means a score is considered if sent; "test-blind" means a score is not considered even if sent. Community colleges and private colleges are not covered. Policies change: the page carries the term each page named, and the report is refreshed each October.

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