Test policy · 50 states · Oregon
Do Oregon's public universities require the SAT or ACT in 2026?
As of October 2026: No. All 3 Oregon public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University).
Oregon has no statewide SAT/ACT requirement for its public universities — each university's own independent governing board sets its own testing policy. All three large public universities (University of Oregon, Oregon State, Portland State) are currently test-optional for first-year applicants.
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. Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) does not set a testing requirement; each public university in Oregon sets its own policy.
The old Oregon University System (which could have set a uniform standard) was dissolved around 2015. HECC coordinates but does not set admission or testing standards; each of the seven public universities has its own governing board and sets its own SAT/ACT policy.
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. 0 required · 3 test-optional · 0 test-blind.
| University | SAT / ACT | Applies to | CLT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Oregon
Flagship
Eugene
Also test-blind for scholarships: the page states submitted scores will not be considered in merit- or need-based awards. Page does not mention CLT or state when the policy began.
|
Test-optional | current first-year applicants (page does not state a specific entering term such as fall 2026 or fall 2027) | — | “The University of Oregon is a 'test-optional' school, allowing first-year applicants to be considered for admission without submission of ACT or SAT scores.” |
|
Oregon State University
Corvallis
Page frames this as a holistic-review choice (submit scores only if you think they add value). No CLT mention; no stated effective/reaffirmation date.
|
Test-optional | current first-year applicants (page does not state a specific entering term such as fall 2026 or fall 2027) | — | “Oregon State University has a test-optional admissions policy for first-year students.” |
|
Portland State University
Portland
Page notes applicants with GPA below 3.0 are considered through holistic review, which may weigh other factors (including scores if submitted) more heavily. No CLT mention; no stated effective date.
|
Test-optional | current first-year applicants (page does not state a specific entering term such as fall 2026 or fall 2027) | — | “Submission of test scores is optional, and not required to receive an admission decision.” |
Other public colleges in Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemeketa Community College | 6,610 | — | — | — · — |
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 agentsAs of October 2026: No. All 3 Oregon public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University).
There is no statewide rule in Oregon; each public university sets its own policy.
University of Oregon, the flagship, is test-optional for current first-year applicants (page does not state a specific entering term such as fall 2026 or fall 2027).
Checked against each university's own admissions page, October 2026. Analysis: Test Prep Gurus (High School Reach).
Questions families ask
Is Oregon test-optional for its public universities in 2026? No. All 3 Oregon public universities we checked are test-optional: a score is considered if sent, but not required (University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University).
Does University of Oregon require the SAT or ACT in 2026? Test-optional for current first-year applicants (page does not state a specific entering term such as fall 2026 or fall 2027). Also test-blind for scholarships: the page states submitted scores will not be considered in merit- or need-based awards. Page does not mention CLT or state when the policy began. Source: uoregon.edu.
Should my child take the SAT or ACT if Oregon'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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Read next on Test Prep Gurus
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