For years, families heard the same message: “The SAT and ACT don’t matter anymore.”
That message is now colliding with reality.
This spring, The Ohio State University in Columbus announced it would reinstate SAT and ACT requirements for incoming freshmen beginning with the 2026 admissions cycle. The reason was straightforward: students who submitted scores performed better academically. Ohio State’s own internal analysis found that students who submitted test scores earned higher college grade-point averages and progressed through the university at higher rates.
Ohio State’s decision reflects a growing realization in higher education: GPA alone no longer gives colleges enough information.
Today, nearly half of all American high school grades are in the “A” range. According to College Board research, because so many students now graduate with inflated GPAs, standardized tests provide “critical, additive information” in predicting college success.
In other words, colleges increasingly need both GPA and test scores together.
And when it comes to scholarships, that combination can be worth large amounts of money.
A student with a 3.8 GPA and a 24 ACT may qualify for admission. But a student with the same GPA and a 32 ACT may qualify for major merit scholarships worth $15,000 to $30,000 per year.
That is the financial reality many families misunderstand in the “test optional” era.
Test optional does not mean test blind.
Even colleges that do not require scores frequently use them to award merit aid. Financial aid consultants and admissions experts consistently report that higher SAT and ACT scores remain one of the fastest ways to reduce the cost of college.
Consider what happens nationally at many universities: ACT 25–26 or SAT around 1,200 can trigger entry-level merit scholarships around $6,000 annually. ACT 28 to 29 or SAT 1,330 to 1,350 often unlocks scholarships of $10,000 to $15,000 annually. ACT 32-plus or SAT 1,420-plus can produce awards approaching $28,000 annually at some institutions.
Over four years, the difference between a 26 ACT and a 32 ACT can exceed $80,000.
Very few investments in a teenager’s life offer that type of return.
Research from College Board also found that SAT scores combined with GPA are significantly better predictors of college performance than GPA alone. Their study showed the SAT helps identify which students are most likely to maintain the 3.0 to 3.5 college GPA often required to keep merit scholarships and honors status.
That matters because colleges are increasingly using scholarships strategically. Schools award the largest merit packages to students whose academic profile places them above the school’s average admitted applicant.
This is why students with strong test scores often receive aggressive financial offers from universities trying to improve rankings and academic profiles.
The numbers also show students are returning to testing in large numbers. More than two million students in the class of 2025 took the SAT, the highest participation level since before the pandemic. College Board further reported that 1.4 million students had SAT scores that were stronger than what their GPA alone suggested academically. Those students may have significantly strengthened both admissions and scholarship opportunities because of testing.
The practical reality for families
The practical reality for families is simple: a GPA tells colleges how a student performed in one high school environment. An SAT or ACT score tells colleges how that student compares nationally.
Together, they create the clearest picture.
And in today’s increasingly expensive college landscape and rising interest rates (Parent Plus Loan interest for 2026-27 is 9%), that clearer picture can translate directly into life-changing financial aid. An ACT score of 28 or higher can result in a $6,500 scholarship per year.
Families should stop asking whether the SAT or ACT matters. The better question is: how much money is a strong score worth?