Colleges, chaos and cash: No wonder confidence in higher education today is so low

Colleges today aren't sure what they're doing.

An application process that for decades focused on SAT and ACT scores is gone for the most part. Yet there are now signs of a comeback, as some Ivy League institutions are reinstating a mandatory submission of scores after changes were put in place during the COVID pandemic.

Millions of parents enrolled their kids in SAT and ACT prep programs or tutoring arrangements — then the scores disappeared. Now they’re reappearing for some schools.

Getting rid of the SAT and ACT by colleges was not smart; the test has been shown to be the best predictor of student achievement in college and more. 

Even so, tracking by FairTest — The National Center for Fair & Open Testing based in New York City — found that for fall 2024 college admissions, roughly 77% of current U.S. four-year colleges and universities are not requiring applicants to submit ACT/SAT scores.