Schools That Require, Recommend or Utilize SAT Subject Tests in Admission or for Placement/Credit
All data provided on this list are current for the 2015-2016 school year. Special circumstances and unusual conditions are indicated wherever known, so please read this list carefully. In all cases, however, be certain to double-check with the school(s) to which you are applying to assure that information on SAT Subject testing is both accurate and up-to-date.
The list is organized by state with colleges and universities listed alphabetically within each section. If no bracketed statement follows the name of the college, SAT Subject Tests are REQUIRED for admission to that school. The number of SAT Subject Tests required for admission follows the name of the school. If specific numbers and/or content of SAT Subject Tests are prescribed, this is indicated by <characters in carats>—otherwise, students are free to submit any SAT Subject Tests of their choosing. In all other cases—SAT Subject Tests recommended or known special circumstances—specific information is provided if it is known. If there is a particular number of SAT Subject Tests a school recommends, this is noted; if the school in question does not specify a number, the designation is simply “recommended.”
A special note to homeschooled students: your requirements may be somewhat more extensive than those for individuals that attend public or private school. Please be certain to check with each individual college or university regarding SAT Subject Test requirements (or recommendations) for homeschooled students. The same goes for international students as regards differential expectations and requirements (such as TOEFL, ELPT or additional Subject Tests). Please be sure to check with each individual college or university to which you apply!
NOTE: All references to SAT are to the “new” version of the test (March
2005 and later) containing a Writing section; all references to ACT are to the version with Writing (February 2005 and later)
[last updated July 24, 2015, at 7:40 PM]
ALBERTA
University of Alberta [“Applicants from the US may be considered for admission in one of three ways, [including the attainment of] an acceptable score on the SAT Subject Test in the appropriate subjects. These are: Biology E or M, 590; Chemistry, 600; Chinese, 750; French, 580; German, 560; Hebrew, 600; Italian, 620; Japanese, 620; Korean, 600; Latin, 600; Literature, 550; Math Level 2, 600; Physics, 600; Spanish, 570; US History, 620; World History, 620. Critical Reading (550) from the SAT Reasoning Test may be used to meet the English subject requirement. Grade equivalencies or AP/IB test results or Subject Test scores must be presented in five different curriculum areas: English, Humanities (includes History and Languages), Fine Arts (no Subject Tests in Fine Arts), Mathematics and Science”]
CALIFORNIA
California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) <must take Math Level 2 and either Physics, Chemistry or Biology>
Chapman University [optional and used for placement]
Claremont McKenna College [optional—will be used for placement purposes only if submitted]
Deep Springs College [optional—will be used “to better understand a student” if sent]
Harvey Mudd College <must take Math Level 2 and one of student’s choice>
Mills College [recommended if student application “may be enhanced” by submission of Subject Tests]
Occidental College [optional]
Pomona College [optional—will be considered if submitted
Scripps College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Stanford University [‘recommended but not required”; if Math, Level 2 preferred]
University of California system—[recommended—see below reprinted directly from UC website]
Recommended SAT Subject Tests
Remember, these are recommendations, not mandates. You will not be penalized for failing to take the SAT Subject Tests. On the other hand, submission of these test scores (just like submission of AP and/or IB scores) may add positively to the review of your application
Berkeley
College of Chemistry and College of Engineering: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) closely related to the applicant’s intended major
Davis
Not recommended for any area
Irvine
Henry Samueli School of Engineering: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) closely related to the applicant’s intended major.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Biology M, Chemistry, and/or Math Level 2
School of Physical Sciences: Chemistry and Math Level 2 for chemistry, earth system science, mathematics, and physics majors.
Program in Public Health: Biology E, Biology M, and/or Chemistry for public health science majors; Biology E, Biology M, and/or World History for public health policy majors
Los Angeles
Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) closely related to the applicant’s intended major
Merced
No recommendation at this time
Riverside
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Bourns College of Engineering: Math 2 and Chemistry or Physics, for all majors
San Diego
Jacobs School of Engineering and biological or physical sciences majors: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) closely related to the applicant’s intended major
Santa Barbara
College of Engineering: Math Level 2
College of Creative Studies:
- Math Level 2 for math majors
- Math Level 2 and Physics for physics majors
- Biology for biology majors
- Chemistry for biochemistry and chemistry majors
- Math Level 2 for computer science majors
Santa Cruz
Not recommended for any area
University of the Pacific
[“strongly recommended” in Math Level 1 or 2 for all applicants for placement purposes; “strongly recommended” in Math Level 1 or 2 and Chemistry for the following majors: biological sciences; biochemistry; bioengineering; chemistry; chemistry-biology; civil engineering; dental hygiene; electrical engineering; engineering management; engineering physics; mechanical engineering; physics; pre-dental studies; pre-medical studies; pre-pharmacy studies]
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut College [submission of standardized testing optional; if submitted, student may choose from SAT or ACT or two Subject Tests]
Trinity College [requires “one or more” of the following: ACT, SAT or any two Subject Tests]
Wesleyan University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Yale University [recommended]
DELAWARE
University of Delaware [two recommended, especially for candidates to Honors Program]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
American University [recommended, especially for placement purposes in mathematics and world languages]
Catholic University of America [Subject Test or AP/IB exam in Language recommended for Arts/Sciences and Philosophy candidates prior to matriculation—can take university placement test or submit AP/IB results if no prior exam; Subject Tests recommended in other disciplines and used for placement purposes]
George Washington University [required for applicants to accelerated BA/MD program: any math and any science]
Georgetown University [three “strongly recommended”]
FLORIDA
Florida Atlantic University [recommended for applicants to seven year Wilkes Medical Scholars Program BS/MD program: math (Level 2), biology, chemistry and literature]
University of Florida [optional and used for placement only—if submitting math, must be Level 2]
University of Miami [Subject Tests required in Math and one Science for all applicants to Honors Program in Medicine]
GEORGIA
Emory University [“encouraged”—this includes students applying to Oxford College of Emory University]
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) [optional—used for placement and credit in English and chemistry]
University of Georgia [recommended for placement purposes, especially in math]
ILLINOIS
Northwestern University [Math Level 2; Chemistry; and Physics required of applicants to Integrated Science Program; Math Level 2 and Chemistry required of applicants to Honors Program in Medical Education; two recommended for all other applicants]
INDIANA
Indiana University Bloomington [optional—Biology E or M Subject test used for placement/credit purposes if submitted]
University of Notre Dame [Subject Tests “only considered in admission process if scores enhance an application” and are “also used for credit and placement in the first year of studies in French, Italian, German and Spanish”]
MAINE
Bates College [SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests optional—will be considered in admission process if submitted]
Bowdoin College [SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests optional—will be considered in admission process if submitted]
Colby College [applicants may submit SAT or ACT or three Subject Tests in different areas (cannot submit Math 1 and Math 2 or Spanish and Spanish with Listening, e.g.)]
MARYLAND
Johns Hopkins University [two “encouraged”; if applying in Engineering, Math Level 2 and one science Subject Test “strongly encouraged”]
MASSACHUSETTS
Amherst College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT and two Subject Tests]
Babson College [optional—will consider if submitted; “the Admissions Committee will review any other exam results that applicants wish to submit”]
Boston College [optional—“students are welcome to submit Subject Tests for consideration. Subject Tests may be used for placement in World Language in first year studies”]
Boston University [SAT or ACT and Subject Tests required for accelerated programs: Accelerated Liberal Arts/Medical Education Combined Degree Program: two Subject Tests—Chemistry and Math Level 2 required, Subject Test in world language recommended;
Accelerated Liberal Arts/Dental Education Combined Degree Program: two Subject Tests—Chemistry and Math Level 2 required, Subject Test in world language recommended
College of the Holy Cross [“submission of all standardized testing is entirely voluntary”; will consider Subject Tests in admission if submitted]
Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges <”normally, two”> [“you may apply without them if the cost of taking the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application considered without them” For those who do submit: “Students should not submit two Subject Tests in math. Candidates whose first language is not English should NOT use a Subject Test in their first language to meet Subject Test requirements”]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) <one Math, one Science>
Olin College of Engineering [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Smith College [submission of standardized testing optional—will consider Subject Tests if submitted]
Tufts University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject Tests; if SAT option chosen, prospective engineering majors required to submit either Math Level 1 or Level 2 and either Chemistry or Physics; prospective science/math majors in Arts/Sciences math and science Subject Tests recommended]
Wellesley College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject tests; prospective science/math majors are “strongly encouraged” to submit at least one in quantitative subject]
Wheaton College [submission of standardized testing optional, will consider Subject Tests if submitted]
Williams College <two>
MICHIGAN
University of Michigan [optional: “if you include these (Subject Tests) results as part of your application, we will consider them only in light of how they might benefit your review”]
MINNESOTA
Carleton College [optional]
Macalester College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
NEVADA
Deep Springs College [optional—will be used “to better understand a student” if sent]
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Dartmouth College <two> Also note, however, this statement from website: “We recognize that taking Subject Tests may represent a financial hardship for some students. If this is the case for you, we will consider your application without Subject Test scores”
NEW JERSEY
Princeton University [recommended; if submitting, prospective engineers must submit Physics or Chemistry and Math Level 1 or 2>
Stevens Institute of Technology [Math Level 1 or Math Level 2 and Biology or Chemistry required if applying for accelerated pre-medical or pre-dental degrees]
NEW YORK
Barnard College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT and two Subject Tests]
Clarkson University [recommended]
Columbia University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT and two Subject Tests; if submitting SAT, prospective engineering students must submit Math Level 1 or Level 2 and a science exam]
Cooper Union [Math Level 1 or Level 2 and Physics or Chemistry required of engineering applicants]
Cornell University [required or optional as below]
- Agriculture and Life Sciences: optional
- Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture applicants required Math Level 1 or Level 2
- Arts and Sciences: two required
- Engineering: required Science and Math
- Hotel Administration: required Math Level 1 or Level 2
- Human Ecology: optional
- Industrial and Labor Relations: optional
Hamilton College [submit one of the following: ACT; SAT; any of these three SAT Subject tests—math, chemistry, physics; three Advanced Placement (AP) tests; three International Baccalaureate (IB) tests; or a combination of any three of the preceding exams, provided that at least one is verbal/writing and one is quantitative; AP English Literature not accepted as verbal/writing submission; AP Statistics not accepted as quantitative submission]
Hobart and William Smith Colleges [submission of standardized testing optional—will be considered if submitted] Hofstra University [submission of standardized testing optional—will be considered if submitted]
Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Albert List College [two Subject Tests required for applicants to Double Degree Program with Barnard]
New York University (NYU) [must provide one of the following: SAT or ACT or three Subject Tests (one in literature or humanities: US History, World History or Literature; one in math or science; and one in non-language test of student’s choice) or three IB HL or AP Exam scores (one in literature or humanities: AP English Literature, AP English Language, AP US History, AP World History, AP European History; one in math or science: AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, 2, B or either C; one in non-language of student choice; or evidence of completion of the IB Diploma. AP and IB exams must be taken prior to senior year to be applicable during the admissions cycle. Applicants to the Stern School of Business who do not provide SAT or ACT scores must provide a score from a mathematics examination. Applicants to NYU Polytechnic who do not provide ACT or SAT scores must provide one Subject Test in literature or humanities; one in math; and one in science. Note also this statement on the NYU website: “Students may instead select to submit result from a nationally accredited exam that is considered locally to signify the completion of secondary education; is administered independently of the student’s school; and has been approved by the NYU Office of Admissions”]
Pratt Institute [Level 1 or 2 math recommended for applicants to architecture program]
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) [Subject Tests in Math and Science required of all applicants to accelerated degree programs in law and medicine; optional for all other candidates]
Skidmore College [“welcomes but does not require two Subject Tests”]
Union College [standardized testing optional, except: applicants to eight-year BS/MD program in Leadership in Medicine and Health Management must submit SAT and one math and one science Subject Test or ACT]
University of Rochester [SAT or ACT or two or more Subject Tests or IB HL exams or AP exams or results from national secondary school exams such as British A level can be submitted; Math and Biology or Chemistry Subject Tests “strongly encouraged” for all applicants to Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program]
Vassar College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject Tests “in different academic areas”]
Webb Institute (of Naval Architecture) <Chemistry or Physics; and Math Level 1 or Math Level 2>
NORTH CAROLINA
Davidson College [two “recommended”: one Math and one of student choice if submitting SAT instead of ACT]
Duke University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and Subject Tests; if ACT submitted, Arts/Sciences applicants are “encouraged” to take Subject Tests in World Language; Engineering applicants required to submit Math Level 1 or Math Level 2 and one other of student’s choice]
North Carolina State University [Math Level 2; an AP Calculus exam (AB or BC); or completion of NC State Online Math Skill Test required of accepted students who wish to enroll in a university mathematics course; Subject Tests in World Language used for placement purposes if submitted]
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill [“you are welcome to provide any Subject Test results”; Math Level 2; AP Calculus AB or BC; or IB Math HL exams required of accepted students for placement purposes only if student will enroll in a Calculus course; Math Level 1 required of accepted students for placement purposes only if student does not intend to enroll in a non-Calculus math course; Subjects Tests in Latin, German, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and French optional and used for placement purposes only]
Wake Forest University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
OHIO
Case Western Reserve University [optional—“you may send them if you feel they strengthen your application”]
Kenyon College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Oberlin College [optional—“if you take any Subject exams, you may send us your scores”]
ONTARIO
University of Toronto <required or recommended as follows> Applied Science and Engineering: three recommended Architecture, Landscape and Design: Architecture candidates only must submit two, one of which must be in math; candidate may also use AP or IB tests to fulfill this requirement
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences: two of student’s choice “in different subject areas”; however, one Math Subject Test required for any math-based major; applicant may also take any combination of two AP, IB or Subject Tests in different subject areas to fulfill this requirement
Commerce, Business, Management: same as above
Computer Science: same as above
Life/Biological Sciences and Psychology: same as above
Music: same as above
Physical Education and Health/Kinesiology: same as above
Physical/Mathematical/Chemical Sciences: same as above
OREGON
Reed College [recommended]
PENNSYLVANIA
Allegheny College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Bryn Mawr College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Bucknell University [optional—will be considered if submitted; Subject Test in World language recommended for placement purposes]
Carnegie Mellon University [required or otherwise as below]
Carnegie Institute of Technology [Math Level 1 or 2 and Chemistry or Physics required] College of Fine Arts: Architecture [same as above] College of Fine Arts: Other [neither required nor recommended] College of Humanities and Social Sciences [Math Level 1 or 2 and one of student’s choice required] Information Systems [same as above] Mellon College of Science [Math Level 1 or 2 and one of the three sciences: Biology, Physics, Chemistry required] School of Computer Science [same as above except Biology must be Biology M (molecular)] Tepper School of Business [Math Level 1 or 2 and one of student’s choice, preferably a science]
Dickinson College [optional—considered if submitted; SAT and ACT optional though required for scholarship consideration]
Franklin and Marshall College [submission of testing optional—if not submitted, student must submit two recent (junior or senior year) graded writing samples; Subject Tests “may be submitted to demonstrate student’s strength within academic subjects”]
Haverford College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject Tests]
Lafayette College [Subject Tests recommended, considered for placement “in some academic departments” if submitted]
Lehigh University [recommended for placement; applicants to BA/MD degree program “highly recommended” to take any math and Chemistry Subject Test]
Susquehanna University [recommended “to provide valuable information about admission”; students may submit two graded writing samples in lieu of SAT or ACT]
Swarthmore College [one of three options: SAT and two Subject Tests of student’s choice; or ACT; or SAT and ACT with or without Writing; engineering applicants “encouraged” to submit Math Level 2 regardless of whether SAT or ACT is presented]
University of Pennsylvania [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject Tests; if submitting SAT and Subject Tests, please see information as follows:
STEM applicants: “strongly encouraged” to submit Math Level 2 and a science—if Engineering and Applied Science, that science should be Physics;
Wharton “strongly encouraged’ to submit Math Level 2;
Nursing “strongly encouraged’ to submit a science test, preferably Chemistry;
Vagelos Dual Degree Program in Life Sciences and Management “one Subject Test of two required in Science or Math”
PUERTO RICO
University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon University College and Mayaguez campus [recommended; exams in Spanish, in literature and in math required from English speaking US applicants]
QUEBEC
McGill University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and Subject Tests; if submitting Subject Tests, see below]
Agricultural/Environmental Sciences: one math and one science
Architecture: Math; Chemistry or Physics
Arts: any two Subject Tests
Arts and Science (BA): Math and one other of student’s choice
Education: any two Subject Tests
Engineering: Math and Chemistry or Physics
Kinesiology: two of the following—Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Management: Math and one other of student’s choice
Music: Subject Tests neither required nor recommended
Nursing: two of the following—Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Religious Studies: neither required nor recommended
Science (BS): two of the following—Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
RHODE ISLAND
Brown University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two Subject Tests; if applying to eight year accelerated BA/MD Program in Liberal Medical Education and submitting Subject Tests, one must be in science]
SWITZERLAND
Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne [three AP exams, IB HL certificates or Subject Tests or a combination of the three along with minimum 500 score per subtest on SAT required from applicants from USA who have not earned an IB Diploma with 28 points or more. “At least one of these [IB, AP, Subject Tests] should be in a quantitative or scientific subject”]
TENNESSEE
Vanderbilt University [optional—will be considered if submitted and will be used for placement purposes; “applicants to the School of Engineering who choose to take Subject Test ‘should strongly consider taking” Math Level 1 or 2”]
TEXAS
Rice University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT and two Subject Tests in “subjects related to student’s proposed area of study”]
Trinity University [optional—considered if submitted]
University of Texas at Austin [Subject Tests in Latin, Korean, German, Physics and Math used for placement purposes if submitted]
UNITED KINGDOM
King’s College of London [“applicants must study three subjects in depth; we will therefore ask for three AP exams or three Subject Tests (or any combination of these in three different subjects) from applicants from the US”]
VERMONT
Bennington College [all standardized testing optional; Subject Tests will be considered if submitted]
Middlebury College [SAT or ACT or three Subject Tests “in different areas of study”]
VIRGINIA
College of William and Mary [optional—will consider if submitted and used for placement purposes in world languages]
George Mason University [submission of SAT and ACT optional if student is in top 20% of class and/or has GPA of 3.5 or better on 4.0 scale; Subject Tests used for placement in World Languages if submitted]
University of Mary Washington [optional—will be considered if submitted and used primarily for placement purposes in World Languages]
University of Virginia [“strongly recommended”]
Washington and Lee University [two exams “in unrelated areas” recommended—can’t submit Math Level 1 and Math Level 2, for example]
APPENDICES
SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRE SOME APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT THREE SUBJECT TESTS:
Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (may also submit three AP or IB exams or may qualify with 28 points or better on IB Diploma [see listing for Ecole above]
King’s College of London (may also submit a combination of AP exams and Subject Tests [see listing for King’s above])
There are NO schools in the United States that require submission of three Subject Tests
SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF SUBJECT TESTS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER APPLICANT TAKES SAT OR ACT:
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie Mellon University (PA) – exception: non-architecture majors, College of Fine Arts (neither required nor recommended)
Cornell University (NY) – exception: applicants to Agriculture/Life Sciences, to Human Ecology and to Industrial/Labor Relations (Subject Tests optional for these schools)
Dartmouth College (NH)*
Harvard/Radcliffe Colleges (MA)#
Harvey Mudd College (CA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Webb Institute of Naval Architecture (NY)
Williams College (MA)
*– note: Dartmouth will waive Subject Test requirements for those with financial hardship. See Dartmouth entry above with statement extracted directly from website
# –note: Harvard will waive Subject Test requirements for those with financial hardship or those who select to be evaluated without Subject Tests. See Harvard entry above with statement extracted directly from website
SCHOOLS THAT WILL ACCEPT ACT IN LIEU OF BOTH SAT AND SUBJECT TESTS:
Amherst College (MA) Barnard College (NY)
Brown University (RI) Columbia University (NY)
Duke University (NC) Haverford College (PA)
McGill University (PQ) Rice University (TX)
Swarthmore College (PA)* Tufts University (MA)
University of Pennsylvania Vassar College (NY)
Wellesley College (MA)
*–note: other testing options obtain for Swarthmore that may also vitiate need for submission of Subject Tests
DISCLAIMER: While information is current with the compilation of this list in July 2015, always double check with the individual college in question to assure that SAT Subject testing requirements are being met. Taking requisite SAT Subject Tests and submitting these to appropriate colleges and universities will not guarantee admission to those schools
This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, long time New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling Executive Board Member and former member of the Professional Development Committee of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (2007-2010).