What Colleges Require the SAT Subject Test?

SAT subject tests are not required at the majority of colleges and universities in the United States. However, many of the country's best colleges -- the Ivy League, for example -- do require two or more SAT subject tests. The list below presents dozens of colleges that require the SAT subject test. Many other schools recommend the SAT subject tests, and strong scores will certainly strengthen an application.

Be sure to get more information from a college's website. In some cases the ACT with Writing can substitute for the SAT Subject tests, and colleges change their admissions criteria all the time.

Also check out these articles for subject-specific information: Biology | Chemistry | Literature | Math | Physics

All the schools below require SAT Subject Tests. Click on the school's name to get a description, admissions data, costs and financial aid information.

Amherst College
Barnard College
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bryn Mawr College
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cooper Union (some programs)
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
George Washington University (required of some dual degree programs only)
Harvard University
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Notre Dame (Indiana) (home schooled applicants must take 3 SAT II or AP exams)
New York University (NYU) (but ACT or AP exams can substitute for SAT II)
Olin College of Engineering
Pomona College
Princeton University
Rice University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) (some programs)
Stevens Institute of Technology (some programs)
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
University of California -- The state system has changed its policy to read, "While SAT Subject Tests are not required, some campuses recommend that students vying for slots in competitive majors take the tests to demonstrate subject proficiency." You can get more information here.
University of Pennsylvania
Vassar College
Washington and Lee University
Webb Institute
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University

The list of colleges and universities requiring the SAT subject tests is constantly changing, so be sure to check with the schools to which you are applying. Also, many colleges will allow an applicant to substitute AP scores or ACT scores for SAT subject test scores.