Colleges Requiring All SAT Scores Sent: Complete List

Are you putting together your college application list? One factor you might not have considered is which schools require you to send your entire SAT testing record. Unfortunately, you can't always hide your rotten SAT scores! So if you have some less-than-stellar scores, you might avoid (or at least think carefully) before applying to those schools.

We have a complete list of which schools require your complete SAT testing record. Read on for this list as well as exclusive advice for applying to these schools.

Quick Answer

Most colleges let students use College Board Score Choice and send only the SAT scores they want colleges to see. However, a small number of colleges require applicants to submit every SAT score from every test date. Georgetown University is the best-known example. Always verify each school's current admissions policy on its admissions website because testing requirements can change from year to year. 

What's the Differences Between All Scores Sent vs. Score Choice?

Traditionally, nearly all colleges have required you to send at least one SAT or ACT score as part of your application for admission. But colleges differ on how they handle students with multiple sets of scores—for example, if you had two sets of SAT scores.

Most colleges allow you to take advantage of SAT's Score Choice policy, and only send in your best SAT scores. Some may still recommend sending your complete testing history, but they don't require it.

However, a few colleges do require you to send your entire SAT or ACT testing record, even if that means sending not-so-great scores. (This does not apply to any tests taken in middle school (7th/8th grade) or earlier as part of a talent-search program.)

What Difference Could Sending All SAT Scores Make?

You might be wondering why it matters if colleges see all of your SAT scores. Couldn't it help your chances of admission if colleges see your complete testing record, including your highest section scores?

Indeed, colleges consider the entire testing history when it's given, generally paying most attention to your highest scores achieved. However, when colleges specifically require you to send all of your scores, this means they're considering your lower scores as well. They aren't just looking for low scores and throwing your application out, but the higher all of your scores are, the better.

Back when I was contacting colleges to conduct research for our SAT investigation, I asked dozens of admissions officers if freshmen or sophomores could take the SAT and submit it for admission when they apply to colleges

Many of the admissions officers cautioned against taking the SAT that young. "We're still going to see those scores," an admissions officer from Cornell told me, implying that potentially lower scores could, in fact, hurt your application.

While I want to take colleges at their word that even if they require all scores they only look at the highest ones, they wouldn't require all scores to be sent unless they wanted to consider them all—including the lower ones.

How Does Sending All SAT Scores Affect Your Test-Taking Strategy?

If you're applying to schools that require all SAT scores, you need to be very careful each time you take the SAT because you will have to send any scores you get, even if they're low.

If you're reading this and aren't sure which schools you're applying to yet, we recommend taking a careful look at the schools that require you to send all scores. If any of the schools might be a top choice for you, adjust your test-taking policy accordingly.

In general, we only recommend taking (or retaking) the SAT after you've studied and are certain you'll get a decent score. But you'll have to be extra careful if you're applying to an "all scores" school.

Don't take the SAT for the first time as practice, or to get used to the test. Colleges will see your "practice score." (Not to mention it's a waste of money to take the test for this reason only!)

We recommend taking the PSAT your sophomore and/or junior year to get the experience of taking the SAT and to receive a score without compromising your actual SAT score. Also, make taking strictly timed, full-length SAT practice tests part of your study regimen so that when you sit down to take the SAT for real, it won't feel as though it's your first time taking it.

If you have to retake the SAT, be sure to continue to study for both sections (Reading & Writing and Math), even if you're only trying to bring up one section's score. You wouldn't want the score from your other section to drop dramatically on a retake!

For more tips on how to study effectively, read our guides on how long you should study for the SAT and how to set an SAT target score.

By keeping this advice in mind and only taking the SAT after careful studying, you should be able to apply to "all scores" schools without worrying about lower scores weakening your application.

Does Georgetown Require All SAT Scores?

Before we get to the complete list of colleges that require all SAT scores, we'll highlight some top schools you might be interested in. We include quotes from their admissions websites to give you an idea as to how serious they are about their scoring policies. Bold emphasis is mine.

Georgetown University

"Please send all individual ACT scores to our office from each ACT test administration as we are not a score choice school."

Georgetown makes it very clear that, if you're submitting ACT scores, you must submit all ACT scores. While their language for the SAT isn't as blunt, they still require an official report from the College Board and likely expect to see all your SAT scores on that as well.

University of Pennsylvania

Penn used to require all scores but has since altered its policy somewhat:

"Although we permit Score Choice, we encourage students to submit their entire testing history for both ACT and SAT exams."

Complete List of Colleges That Require All SAT Scores

Below is the complete list of four-year colleges and universities that require you to send all SAT scores, grouped by state. Look through this list carefully. If any of the schools here are your top choices, that means you need to be especially careful about SAT retakes.

For a complete list of all colleges (including community colleges) that require all SAT scores, check out the official College Board PDF.

If your school has started requiring all SAT scores are sent and they aren't listed, be sure to tell us in the comments!

Do You Need to Submit SAT Scores You Earned in Middle School?

If you took the SAT in middle school through a gifted program or talent search, you do not need to worry about those scores when applying to college. Most students applying to colleges that require all SAT scores only need to report the scores that are part of their high school testing record.

If you later created a College Board account and those middle school scores are still linked to your account, check each college's admissions policy if you're unsure whether they must be included. In most cases, colleges are interested in the SAT scores you earned while preparing for college admissions, not those taken years earlier as part of an academic enrichment program.

If, however, you signed up for the SAT in middle school with the intent of seeing how well you might score for college admissions, you likely do need to submit those scores to colleges requiring all SAT scores.

If you have questions about your specific situation, especially if you took the SAT before high school and are applying to a college that requires all SAT scores, it's a good idea to contact the admissions office directly. They can tell you whether those early scores need to be submitted.

FAQ: Colleges Requiring All SAT Scores

Do colleges require you to send all SAT scores?

No, most colleges do not require you to send every SAT score. Many schools participate in the College Board's Score Choice program, which lets you choose which SAT test dates to send with your application. However, a small number of colleges require applicants to submit all SAT scores from every test date. Because testing policies can change, always check the admissions website of each college you're applying to before sending your scores.

Can colleges see SAT scores you don't send?

Generally, no. Colleges only receive the SAT scores you choose to send through the College Board, unless the college has a policy requiring applicants to submit all SAT scores. Colleges cannot automatically access your complete testing history.

What is SAT Score Choice?

SAT Score Choice is a free College Board feature that lets you choose which SAT test dates to send to most colleges. For example, if you took the SAT three times but only want colleges to see your two highest scores, Score Choice allows you to do that, as long as the colleges you're applying to accept Score Choice.

Does the Digital SAT change score reporting rules?

No. The Digital SAT uses the same score reporting process as the paper SAT did. Whether you took the Digital SAT or the previous paper version, each college decides whether it accepts Score Choice or requires applicants to submit all SAT scores. The move to the Digital SAT did not change these admissions policies.

If I took both the paper SAT and the Digital SAT, do I need to send both?

It depends on the college's score reporting policy. If a college requires applicants to submit all SAT scores, you'll generally need to send both your paper SAT and Digital SAT test dates. If the college allows Score Choice, you can usually choose which SAT scores to send, regardless of whether they came from the paper or Digital SAT.

Do colleges superscore the Digital SAT?

Many colleges superscore the Digital SAT just as they did the paper SAT. Superscoring means the college combines your highest Reading and Writing score with your highest Math score across multiple test dates to create your highest possible composite score. Each college sets its own superscoring policy, so check the admissions website for details.

Should I retake the SAT if a college requires all scores?

It depends on your situation. If your target college requires all SAT scores, remember that admissions officers will see every test date you submit. That said, many colleges focus on your highest scores or your overall academic record rather than penalizing you for multiple attempts. If you believe you can significantly improve your score, retaking the SAT may still be worthwhile.

Do Ivy League schools require all SAT scores?

Most Ivy League schools do not require applicants to submit every SAT score. Instead, they generally allow students to use Score Choice or consider your highest reported scores. However, admissions policies can change from year to year, so it's important to verify the current requirements for each school before applying.

Is it better to send all my SAT scores even if I don't have to?

In most cases, no. If a college allows Score Choice, students typically send only the SAT scores that best represent their academic ability. However, if your scores show a meaningful improvement over time, sending multiple test dates may strengthen your application. Consider each college's admissions policy and superscoring practices before deciding.

Can colleges see canceled SAT scores?

No. If you canceled your SAT scores before they were reported, colleges cannot see them. Only official score reports that you choose (or are required) to send through the College Board are shared with colleges.

What's Next?

Not sure if you need to retake the SAT or ACT? Find out what a good, bad, or excellent SAT/ACT score is based on the schools you are applying to. If your score falls short, consider a retake.

Need tips for studying? Get a rundown of the overall best strategies to use for the SAT.

For SAT/ACT resources, check out the best SAT/ACT study websites you should be using.