Do Colleges Prefer the ACT or SAT?

Students worry about this way more than they should. Colleges don't prefer the SAT over the ACT or vice versa. They accept both and treat them the same way. The real question isn't which test to take—it's whether you need to take one at all.

The tests are treated equally

If a college accepts both tests (virtually all U.S. colleges do), there's no advantage to submitting one over the other. Admissions committees see them as equivalent measures. Pick the one you score better on and move on.

Some students find the SAT's format more intuitive. Others do better on the ACT. The differences are real but personal—there's no universal "easier" test. Take a practice version of each and see which one clicks.

Testing policies are the actual variable

The bigger shift in recent years isn't about SAT vs. ACT. It's about whether scores are required at all.

You'll encounter three types of policies:

Test-required: Some schools—including several selective universities—are back to requiring scores. No choice here; you need to test.

Test-optional: You decide whether to submit. If you do, your scores get reviewed. If you don't, they evaluate you without them.

Test-blind: Scores aren't considered even if you send them. They literally won't look at them.

This is the distinction that actually affects your strategy. Check each school's current policy before assuming anything.

Policies vary by school and program

Even within the same university, requirements can differ. Some majors or honors programs require scores even when the general application doesn't. In-state and out-of-state applicants sometimes have different rules. Scholarship applications often have their own requirements.

Don't rely on generic "test-optional school" lists. Check each school's admissions website directly. Policies change from year to year, and a wrong assumption can derail your timeline.

Should you submit to test-optional schools?

Test-optional doesn't mean test-irrelevant. At many of these schools, a majority of admitted students still submit scores. Strong results can help, especially if they reinforce the rest of your application.

A useful rule: compare your score to the school's middle 50% range for admitted students. If you're at or above that range, submitting probably helps. If you're well below, leaving scores out may be the smarter move.

But check the fine print. Some test-optional schools still require scores for specific programs, honors tracks, or merit scholarships.

How to approach testing

Since colleges don't favor one test over the other, the efficient strategy is to figure out which one suits you better and focus on it.

Take a timed diagnostic for both the SAT and ACT. Compare your results. Pick the test where you scored higher or felt more comfortable. Then prepare for that one.

You can submit both if you score well on both, but most colleges don't require it. Focus on maximizing your best result rather than spreading effort across two tests.

The short version

Colleges treat the SAT and ACT the same. What matters is each school's testing policy—required, optional, or blind. Check policies individually, use the middle 50% range to guide submission decisions at test-optional schools, and prepare for whichever test fits you better.