Is the ACT writing test required for college in 2027, and should my child take it?

As of November 2026: The ACT writing test is optional for fall 2027: none of the 397 most-applied-to colleges we checked require it, and only 5 recommend it. If none of your child's colleges require or recommend it, we tell families to skip it and spend the time on the scored sections.

We checked the admissions pages of the 397 most-applied-to US colleges we could research for fall 2027. Not one requires ACT writing. Here is who recommends it, who will read it, who ignores it, and what we tell our own families.

By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

None of 397 colleges require ACT writing We checked the 397 most-applied-to US colleges for fall 2027. Not one of them requires the writing test. Only 5 recommend it, and 13 more will look at it if you send it.

89 colleges say they do not use it These 89 colleges say on their own pages that they do not require or use the writing score. The other 290 state no writing policy.

Writing adds 40 minutes and $25.00 ACT calls the writing test optional. It is a 40-minute essay with its own score from 2-12. Adding it costs $25.00 for the 2026-27 testing year.

What does ACT say about the writing test?

These are ACT's own words about the writing test, its score, its length and its fee.

Fact	Value	In ACT's words	Source
The ACT Writing test is optional	Optional	Because postsecondary institutions have varying needs, we offer the ACT writing test as an option.	Source
Writing score range	2-12	a single subject-level writing score reported on a scale of 2-12	Source
Cost to add writing for the 2026-27 testing year	$25.00	Writing Add-On $25.00	Source
Writing section length	40 minutes	The writing section is a 40-minute essay test	Source
Whether ACT states that most colleges do not require writing	Not verified; ACT says institutions make their own decisions	Postsecondary institutions are making their own decisions about whether to require the results from the ACT writing test	Source

The writing add-on fee is for the 2026-27 testing year.

Which colleges state an ACT writing policy?

These colleges say something about ACT writing on their own admissions pages for fall 2027 first-year applicants. Each policy is quoted in the college's own words.

College	ACT writing	In the college's words	Source
Adelphi University	Considered if sent	the Essay section of the SAT and the Writing section of the ACT are optional	Source
Arizona State University Campus Immersion	Not considered	ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission, but may be submitted for ASU course placement or as supplemental information.	Source
Auburn University	Not considered	We do not require scores for the written portion of either test.	Source
Barnard College	Considered if sent	Barnard will not require the science or writing sections but will review them if students submit them.	Source
Binghamton University	Not considered	Binghamton does not require the: ACT writing section	Source
Boston College	Not considered	We accept the ACT or SAT and don't require any Optional Writing portion.	Source
Boston University	Not considered	ACT: 1794 (Please note, the writing section is optional.)	Source
Bowdoin College	Considered if sent	ACT with or without writing accepted	Source
Bowling Green State University	Recommended	The ACT writing test is recommended but NOT required.	Source
Brigham Young University	Not considered	The Writing section is not included in the admission review.	Source
Brown University	Not considered	the SAT Essay and ACT Writing components remain completely optional	Source
Bucknell University	Not considered	SAT/ACT writing sections are not required	Source
California Institute of Technology	Not considered	Caltech does not require the ACT writing or science subscores.	Source
California State Polytechnic University Pomona	Not considered	Applicants may still submit test scores, however, they will NOT be used for admission purposes.	Source
California State University Chico	Not considered	No essay, SAT, or ACT required for admission	Source
California State University Dominguez Hills	Not considered	Students are recommended to submit their scores only for placement purposes but are not needed for admissions purposes.	Source
Clemson University	Not considered	Clemson does not require the SAT or ACT essay.	Source
Colgate University	Considered if sent	Should a student choose to submit ACT scores, the science and writing scores, if taken, will be reported separately from the composite scores.	Source
Connecticut College	Not considered	ACT (writing component is not required)	Source
Dartmouth College	Considered if sent	The ACT Writing Section is an optional part of our review process.	Source
Drexel University	Not considered	The science test and writing test are not required.	Source
Duke University	Considered if sent	Submitting essay scores from the ACT and/or SAT is optional.	Source
Eastern Illinois University	Recommended	Although not required for admission, applicants are encouraged to submit ACT Writing Test Results.	Source
Emory University	Not considered	Please note, the writing portion is not required by Emory University.	Source
Florida International University	Considered if sent	ACT scores are calculated using the highest composite score, including the writing portion of the exam.	Source
Florida State University	Not considered	Florida State does not require the optional ACT writing score	Source
Franklin And Marshall College	Not considered	Submission of the essay portion of the SAT/ACT is optional.	Source
George Washington University	Not considered	GW does not evaluate the essay section of the SAT or ACT in the admissions process.	Source
Georgetown University	Not considered	Georgetown does not consider the writing portion of the ACT.	Source
Georgia State University	Considered if sent	While the writing score is not entered into the admission calculation process, we reserve the right to read and consider the writing sample before rendering a final decision.	Source
Grinnell College	Not considered	The essay component of both the ACT and the SAT is optional.	Source
Howard University	Not considered	The essay section is not required for the SAT/ACT exam.	Source
Indiana University of Pennsylvania	Not considered	We do not use them as part of the application review process at IUP.	Source
Jacksonville State University	Considered if sent	The ACT writing score is not utilized for admission purposes but may be utilized as requirements in admission to specific programs.	Source
Johns Hopkins University	Considered if sent	the optional Science and Writing sections of the ACT, aren't required but can add value to your application	Source
Kansas State University	Not considered	K-State does not require the writing component of the ACT	Source
Lafayette College	Not considered	If you have taken the SAT or ACT (writing section not required)	Source
Loyola University Maryland	Not considered	Loyola does not require or consider SAT subject tests or the ACT writing section	Source
Miami University	Not considered	Science and Writing are now optional.	Source
Michigan State University	Recommended	The writing and science portions are recommended, but not required.	Source
Mississippi State University	Not considered	The writing test of the ACT and SAT are not considered for admission or scholarship awarding purposes.	Source
Missouri State University Springfield	Not considered	We don't consider the optional ACT writing section.	Source
North Carolina State University	Not considered	SAT Essay or ACT Writing scores are not required.	Source
Nova Southeastern University	Not considered	For the ACT, NSU does not utilize the optional writing section.	Source
Oregon State University	Not considered	Is the writing section of the SAT or ACT test required for first-year students? No, OSU has adopted a test-optional admission policy.	Source
Pepperdine University	Not considered	The optional ACT writing test and SAT writing/essay section are neither required nor recommended.	Source
Pomona College	Not considered	If you choose to submit ACT, we require you take and submit the Core ACT plus the Science section.	Source
Providence College	Not considered	We do not require or recommend the writing portion of either the SAT or ACT.	Source
Quinnipiac University	Not considered	ACT with or without writing accepted	Source
Rice University	Not considered	The ACT Essay and SAT Essay sections are not required and not considered for admission.	Source
Rider University	Not considered	Rider does not require the optional essay/writing sections on the SAT or ACT.	Source
Rochester Institute of Technology	Not considered	Students who complete the ACT may submit scores with or without the optional writing section.	Source
Rutgers University	Not considered	The SAT essay and ACT writing component are not required.	Source
Rutgers University Newark	Not considered	The SAT essay and ACT writing component are not required.	Source
Seattle University	Not considered	the writing sections of either test are not required.	Source
Stanford University	Considered if sent	The Science and Writing sections are optional. You may report these scores if you would like.	Source
Suffolk University	Not considered	The writing test is not required.	Source
Swarthmore College	Not considered	The writing sections of both the SAT and ACT are not accepted or considered.	Source
Syracuse University	Not considered	If you take the ACT, the writing portion is not required.	Source
Texas Christian University	Not considered	For both the ACT and SAT, we do not require or recommend the writing/essay portion of the exam.	Source
Texas State University	Recommended	An ACT/SAT Writing section score is recommended but not required for admissions consideration.	Source
Towson University	Not considered	The Writing section is not required for either test.	Source
Tufts University	Not considered	We do not require the writing section of the ACT, nor do we review it in our evaluation process.	Source
Tuskegee University	Not considered	The New 2025 ACT Reporting for Tuskegee University must include the Science section (Writing optional).	Source
United States Air Force Academy	Not considered	Optional test sections (like ACT Science Reasoning or the ACT Writing Test) are not required.	Source
United States Military Academy	Not considered	Optional writing/science sections are not required.	Source
University of Akron	Recommended	Does UA require the writing portion of the ACT or SAT for admission? No, but we strongly encourage students to take the writing portion.	Source
University of Arkansas	Not considered	The Office of Admissions does not require that students submit the essay component of either test.	Source
University of California Davis	Not considered	UC Davis no longer considers SAT or ACT test scores for admissions decisions or scholarship awards.	Source
University of Central Florida	Not considered	Beginning in Spring 2017, UCF will not require the writing section of the ACT or the essay section of the SAT.	Source
University of Cincinnati	Not considered	The University of Cincinnati does not require that students complete and submit scores for the writing sections of either the ACT or SAT.	Source
University of Colorado Boulder	Not considered	the Writing and Science section of the ACT are not accepted or considered.	Source
University of Connecticut	Not considered	Writing and science sections are not required or used in our review.	Source
University of Dayton	Not considered	Both the ACT and SAT have optional essay sections; they are not required at the University of Dayton.	Source
University of Delaware	Not considered	We do not require the writing portions of the SAT or ACT	Source
University of Denver	Not considered	We do not consider subject tests or writing sections.	Source
University of Florida	Not considered	UF does not require or encourage applications or applicants to complete the essay portion of the ACT.	Source
University of Georgia	Not considered	For our admission evaluation, however, we focus specifically on the English and Math sections.	Source
University of Hawaii at Manoa	Not considered	students can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission consideration.	Source
University of Illinois	Not considered	We don't use the ACT writing test.	Source
University of Indianapolis	Considered if sent	writing scores from the SAT or ACT are not required but may be used for placement or advising.	Source
University of Maryland	Not considered	No, we do not require subject tests or scores from the writing sections of the SAT or ACT. Even if these scores are sent to us, they are not one of the 23 factors we review for admission.	Source
University of Massachusetts Amherst	Not considered	The SAT essay and ACT writing component are neither recommended nor required.	Source
University of Massachusetts Lowell	Not considered	UMass Lowell is not using the Writing Score.	Source
University of Miami	Not considered	The University of Miami neither recommends nor requires the optional writing section for either the SAT or ACT.	Source
University of Minnesota	Not considered	No. The writing exam is not required.	Source
University of Minnesota Duluth	Not considered	Although UMD does not require ACT writing scores, students who wish to enroll in education programs can benefit from taking the writing portion of the ACT.	Source
University of Missouri	Not considered	The writing sections of the ACT and SAT will not affect your admission.	Source
University of Nebraska Lincoln	Not considered	score 20 or higher on the ACT, writing portion not required.	Source
University of New Hampshire	Not considered	the writing section of the SAT or ACT is not required for UNH consideration.	Source
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Not considered	Please note that the writing section of the ACT is not required for admission purposes.	Source
University of North Florida	Not considered	UNF does not require the essay section of the SAT, ACT or CLT.	Source
University of North Texas	Not considered	The writing portion of the exam is not required.	Source
University of Notre Dame	Not considered	The writing sections of the ACT and SAT are not required.	Source
University of Oregon	Not considered	we do not require essay scores from either test, and will not use them	Source
University of Rhode Island	Not considered	We do not require the writing section of the ACT or the optional SAT essay.	Source
University of South Florida	Not considered	Currently, USF does not require or consider the optional essay section of the SAT or ACT during the admission or scholarship review processes.	Source
University of Tennessee, Knoxville	Not considered	We do not use the optional essay.	Source
University of Texas at Austin	Not considered	We do not require the SAT Essay, ACT Writing scores, the ACT Science section, or SAT Subject Tests.	Source
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire	Not considered	No, we do not require the written portion of the ACT.	Source
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	Considered if sent	Although the writing portion of the ACT is not required, we will consider these results if you wish to submit them.	Source
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	Not considered	No, we do not require the writing portion.	Source
Vanderbilt University	Not considered	If you choose to submit test scores, the Science and Writing sections of the ACT are not required.	Source
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University	Not considered	We do not look at the Writing section of either test.	Source
Virginia State University	Not considered	The writing score is not used in the admission decision process.	Source
Washington University in St Louis	Not considered	We do not require the writing test if you submit ACT scores	Source
Western Michigan University	Not considered	WMU does not have a preference between the two tests and does not use the writing portion of the tests.	Source

Of the 397 colleges checked, 0 require writing, 5 recommend it, 13 consider it if sent and 89 do not consider it.

Which colleges say nothing about ACT writing?

These colleges did not state a writing policy on the admissions page we read, are test-free, or had a page we could not check.

College	Status
Abilene Christian University	Not stated on the page read
Alabama A M University	Not stated on the page read
American University	Page could not be checked
Amherst College	Page could not be checked
Appalachian State University	Page could not be checked
Ball State University	Not stated on the page read
Barry University	Not stated on the page read
Baylor University	Page could not be checked
Bentley University	Not stated on the page read
Boise State University	Not stated on the page read
Bradley University	Not stated on the page read
Brandeis University	Page could not be checked
Brigham Young University Idaho	Not stated on the page read
Bryant University	Not stated on the page read
Butler University	Not stated on the page read
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	Not stated on the page read
CUNY Brooklyn College	Not stated on the page read
CUNY City College	Page could not be checked
CUNY Hunter College	Not stated on the page read
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice	Not stated on the page read
CUNY Lehman College	Not stated on the page read
CUNY Medgar Evers College	Page could not be checked
CUNY New York City College of Technology	Not stated on the page read
CUNY Queens College	Not stated on the page read
CUNY York College	Page could not be checked
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State Polytechnic University Humboldt	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Bakersfield	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Channel Islands	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University East Bay	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Fresno	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Fullerton	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Long Beach	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Los Angeles	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Monterey Bay	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Northridge	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University Sacramento	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University San Bernardino	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
California State University San Marcos	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
Carnegie Mellon University	Not stated on the page read
Case Western Reserve University	Not stated on the page read
Central Michigan University	Not stated on the page read
Chapman University	Not stated on the page read
Chicago State University	Not stated on the page read
Clark Atlanta University	Not stated on the page read
Clark University	Not stated on the page read
Cleveland State University	Not stated on the page read
Coastal Carolina University	Not stated on the page read
Colby College	Page could not be checked
College of Charleston	Not stated on the page read
Colorado Mesa University	Not stated on the page read
Colorado School of Mines	Not stated on the page read
Colorado State University Fort Collins	Not stated on the page read
Columbia University	Page could not be checked
Cornell University	Not stated on the page read
Denison University	Not stated on the page read
Depaul University	Not stated on the page read
Duquesne University	Not stated on the page read
East Carolina University	Not stated on the page read
East Tennessee State University	Not stated on the page read
Eastern Kentucky University	Page could not be checked
Eastern Michigan University	Page could not be checked
Edward Waters University	Not stated on the page read
Elon University	Not stated on the page read
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach	Not stated on the page read
Emerson College	Not stated on the page read
Fairfield University	Not stated on the page read
Farmingdale State College	Not stated on the page read
Ferris State University	Not stated on the page read
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University	Not stated on the page read
Florida Atlantic University	Not stated on the page read
Florida Gulf Coast University	Not stated on the page read
Florida Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
Florida Memorial University	Not stated on the page read
Florida Southern College	Not stated on the page read
Fordham University	Page could not be checked
George Mason University	Page could not be checked
Georgia Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
Georgia Southern University	Not stated on the page read
Gonzaga University	Page could not be checked
Grambling State University	Not stated on the page read
Grand Canyon University	Not stated on the page read
Grand Valley State University	Not stated on the page read
Hamilton College	Not stated on the page read
Hampton University	Not stated on the page read
Harvard University	Not stated on the page read
Hawaii Pacific University	Not stated on the page read
High Point University	Not stated on the page read
Hofstra University	Not stated on the page read
Houston Christian University	Page could not be checked
Illinois State University	Not stated on the page read
Indiana State University	Not stated on the page read
Indiana University	Not stated on the page read
Indiana University Indianapolis	Not stated on the page read
Iowa State University	Page could not be checked
Ithaca College	Not stated on the page read
Jackson State University	Not stated on the page read
James Madison University	Not stated on the page read
Kean University	Not stated on the page read
Kennesaw State University	Not stated on the page read
Kent State University	Not stated on the page read
Lehigh University	Not stated on the page read
Liberty University	Not stated on the page read
Long Island University	Not stated on the page read
Louisiana State University And Agricultural Mechanical Colle	Not stated on the page read
Louisiana Tech University	Not stated on the page read
Loyola Marymount University	Not stated on the page read
Loyola University Chicago	Not stated on the page read
Manhattan College	Not stated on the page read
Marist College	Not stated on the page read
Marquette University	Not stated on the page read
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
Mercer University	Not stated on the page read
Merrimack College	Not stated on the page read
Metropolitan State University of Denver	Not stated on the page read
Michigan Technological University	Not stated on the page read
Middle Tennessee State University	Not stated on the page read
Middlebury College	Not stated on the page read
Minerva University	Not stated on the page read
Minnesota State University Mankato	Not stated on the page read
Montana State University	Not stated on the page read
Montclair State University	Not stated on the page read
Morgan State University	Not stated on the page read
Murray State University	Not stated on the page read
New Jersey Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
New Mexico State University	Not stated on the page read
New York Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
New York University	Not stated on the page read
Norfolk State University	Not stated on the page read
North Carolina A T State University	Not stated on the page read
North Carolina Central University	Page could not be checked
Northeastern University	Not stated on the page read
Northeastern University Oakland	Not stated on the page read
Northern Arizona University	Not stated on the page read
Northern Illinois University	Not stated on the page read
Northwestern University	Not stated on the page read
Oakland University	Not stated on the page read
Oberlin College	Not stated on the page read
Ohio State University	Page could not be checked
Ohio University	Not stated on the page read
Oklahoma State University	Page could not be checked
Old Dominion University	Not stated on the page read
Pace University	Not stated on the page read
Pennsylvania State University	Not stated on the page read
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg	Not stated on the page read
Princeton University	Not stated on the page read
Purdue University	Not stated on the page read
Radford University	Not stated on the page read
Reed College	Not stated on the page read
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Not stated on the page read
Rollins College	Not stated on the page read
Rowan University	Not stated on the page read
Rutgers University Camden	Not stated on the page read
SUNY Brockport	Not stated on the page read
SUNY Buffalo State University	Not stated on the page read
SUNY College at Geneseo	Not stated on the page read
SUNY Oneonta	Not stated on the page read
Sacred Heart University	Not stated on the page read
Saginaw Valley State University	Not stated on the page read
Saint Louis University	Not stated on the page read
Sam Houston State University	Not stated on the page read
San Diego State University	Not stated on the page read
San Francisco State University	Page could not be checked
San Jose State University	Not stated on the page read
Santa Clara University	Not stated on the page read
Savannah College of Art And Design	Page could not be checked
Seton Hall University	Not stated on the page read
Shaw University	Not stated on the page read
Siena College	Not stated on the page read
Skidmore College	Not stated on the page read
Smith College	Not stated on the page read
Sonoma State University	Page could not be checked
South Carolina State University	Not stated on the page read
Southern Illinois University Carbondale	Not stated on the page read
Southern Methodist University	Not stated on the page read
Southern New Hampshire University	Not stated on the page read
Southern University And A M College	Page could not be checked
Southern Utah University	Page could not be checked
Spelman College	Not stated on the page read
St John S University New York	Not stated on the page read
State University of New York at Cortland	Not stated on the page read
State University of New York at New Paltz	Not stated on the page read
State University of New York at Oswego	Not stated on the page read
Stephen F Austin State University	Not stated on the page read
Stevens Institute of Technology	Not stated on the page read
Stockton University	Not stated on the page read
Stony Brook University	Not stated on the page read
Temple University	Not stated on the page read
Tennessee State University	Not stated on the page read
Texas A M University Corpus Christi	Page could not be checked
Texas A&M University	Page could not be checked
Texas Tech University	Not stated on the page read
The College of New Jersey	Page could not be checked
The New School	Page could not be checked
The University of Montana	Not stated on the page read
The University of Tampa	Not stated on the page read
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga	Page could not be checked
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Not stated on the page read
The University of Texas at Arlington	Not stated on the page read
The University of Texas at Dallas	Not stated on the page read
The University of Texas at El Paso	Not stated on the page read
The University of Texas at San Antonio	Not stated on the page read
Trinity University	Not stated on the page read
Tulane University of Louisiana	Page could not be checked
Union College	Not stated on the page read
United States Naval Academy	Not stated on the page read
University at Albany	Not stated on the page read
University at Buffalo	Not stated on the page read
University of Alabama	Not stated on the page read
University of Arizona	Not stated on the page read
University of California Berkeley	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Irvine	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Los Angeles	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Merced	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Riverside	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California San Diego	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Santa Barbara	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of California Santa Cruz	Test-free system: does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission
University of Chicago	Page could not be checked
University of Colorado Colorado Springs	Not stated on the page read
University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus	Not stated on the page read
University of Hartford	Not stated on the page read
University of Houston	Not stated on the page read
University of Idaho	Not stated on the page read
University of Illinois Chicago	Not stated on the page read
University of Iowa	Not stated on the page read
University of Kansas	Not stated on the page read
University of Kentucky	Not stated on the page read
University of La Verne	Page could not be checked
University of Louisville	Not stated on the page read
University of Maine	Not stated on the page read
University of Mary Hardin Baylor	Not stated on the page read
University of Maryland Baltimore County	Not stated on the page read
University of Massachusetts Boston	Not stated on the page read
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	Not stated on the page read
University of Memphis	Not stated on the page read
University of Michigan	Page could not be checked
University of Michigan Dearborn	Not stated on the page read
University of Mississippi	Not stated on the page read
University of Nebraska at Omaha	Not stated on the page read
University of Nevada Las Vegas	Not stated on the page read
University of Nevada Reno	Not stated on the page read
University of New Haven	Not stated on the page read
University of New Mexico	Not stated on the page read
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Not stated on the page read
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Not stated on the page read
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Not stated on the page read
University of North Georgia	Not stated on the page read
University of Northern Colorado	Not stated on the page read
University of Oklahoma	Not stated on the page read
University of Pennsylvania	Not stated on the page read
University of Pittsburgh	Not stated on the page read
University of Portland	Not stated on the page read
University of Richmond	Page could not be checked
University of Rochester	Not stated on the page read
University of San Diego	Not stated on the page read
University of San Francisco	Not stated on the page read
University of Scranton	Page could not be checked
University of South Alabama	Not stated on the page read
University of South Carolina	Not stated on the page read
University of Southern California	Not stated on the page read
University of Toledo	Not stated on the page read
University of Utah	Not stated on the page read
University of Vermont	Not stated on the page read
University of Virginia	Page could not be checked
University of Washington Seattle Campus	Not stated on the page read
University of West Florida	Not stated on the page read
University of Wisconsin Madison	Not stated on the page read
University of Wisconsin Whitewater	Not stated on the page read
University of the Incarnate Word	Page could not be checked
Utah State University	Not stated on the page read
Vassar College	Not stated on the page read
Villanova University	Not stated on the page read
Virginia Commonwealth University	Not stated on the page read
Wake Forest University	Not stated on the page read
Washington State University	Not stated on the page read
Wayne State University	Not stated on the page read
Wesleyan University	Not stated on the page read
West Chester University of Pennsylvania	Not stated on the page read
Western Carolina University	Not stated on the page read
Western Washington University	Not stated on the page read
Wilberforce University	Not stated on the page read
William Mary	Not stated on the page read
Williams College	Page could not be checked
Wingate University	Not stated on the page read
Winston Salem State University	Not stated on the page read
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Not stated on the page read
Xavier University	Not stated on the page read
Xavier University of Louisiana	Not stated on the page read
Yale University	Not stated on the page read

22 are UC and CSU test-free campuses, 39 pages could not be checked, and 229 did not mention writing on the page read.

Is the ACT writing test required for college in 2027?

No, none of the 397 colleges we checked require the ACT writing test for fall 2027. We looked at the 400 US colleges that get the most first-year applications. We could not research 3 of them, so our count is 397. The number that require writing is 0.

That is the short answer. The full answer has a few more shades. A small group of colleges recommend the writing test. A larger group will look at it if you send it. Most say they do not use it, or say nothing at all. The sections below walk through each group, so you can match it to your child's list.

What is the ACT writing test, and what does it cost?

The ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test. Yes, ACT itself calls the writing test optional. In ACT's words, 'we offer the ACT writing test as an option.'

The essay gets its own score on a scale of 2-12. That score is reported apart from the main ACT score. Adding writing costs $25.00 for the 2026-27 testing year.

ACT does not say that most colleges skip it. It says each college makes its own choice. So the real question is not what ACT says. It is what your child's colleges say.

Which colleges recommend the ACT writing test?

Bowling Green State University, Eastern Illinois University, Michigan State University, Texas State University and the University of Akron recommend the ACT writing test.

These are the only 5 of the 397 that use that word or something close to it. None of them require it. Bowling Green says writing is 'recommended but NOT required.' Michigan State says the writing and science parts are 'recommended, but not required.' Texas State says a writing score is 'recommended but not required for admissions consideration.' The University of Akron says, 'we strongly encourage students to take the writing portion.'

If your child plans to apply to any of these 5, we add writing to the plan. It is a small cost, and it keeps that door open.

Which colleges will read a writing score if we send one?

13 colleges say they will consider a writing score if your child sends it.

They are Adelphi, Barnard, Bowdoin, Colgate, Dartmouth, Duke, Florida International, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, the University of Indianapolis and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Jacksonville State notes the score 'may be utilized as requirements in admission to specific programs'; the other 12 do not list it as a requirement.

Barnard says it will 'review them if students submit them.' Johns Hopkins says the writing section is not required 'but can add value to your application.' Stanford says, 'You may report these scores if you would like.'

We see a writing score here as a choice, not a must. Our advice is to send it only if your child is proud of it.

How many colleges say they do not use the writing score?

89 of the 397 colleges say on their own pages that they do not require or use the ACT writing score.

Some say it very plainly. Georgetown says it 'does not consider the writing portion of the ACT.' Rice says the essay is 'not required and not considered for admission.' Tufts says it does not 'review it in our evaluation process.' Swarthmore says the writing sections 'are not accepted or considered.'

Others simply say writing is not required. Some, like UC Davis and Cal Poly Pomona, do not use test scores for admission at all. For a student who applies only to colleges like these, writing adds time to test day and nothing else.

What about the colleges that say nothing about ACT writing?

290 of the 397 colleges state no writing policy.

They fall into 3 groups. 22 are campuses of the University of California and California State University systems. These campuses are test-free, so they do not use SAT or ACT scores in admission at all. For 39 colleges, we could not check the admissions page. The other 229 had a page we read, and it did not mention writing.

The full list is below. Our rule for this group is simple. If a college says nothing about writing, we treat it as not required. If your child has a heart set on one of these colleges, look up its testing page yourself before test day. A line that says 'recommended' would change our advice.

What do we tell families about the ACT writing test?

Our rule is to skip the $25.00 writing add-on unless a college on your child's list recommends it.

If none of your child's colleges require or recommend it, we tell families to skip it and spend the time on the scored sections. The writing test adds 40 minutes to an already long morning. We see our students tire near the end, and tired students make simple mistakes.

We would rather a student put that prep time into English, math and reading. Those are the scored sections.

When should my child add the writing test?

Add writing if your child's list includes any of the 5 colleges that recommend it, or a program that uses it.

Jacksonville State says the writing score 'may be utilized as requirements in admission to specific programs.' The University of Minnesota Duluth says students who want education programs 'can benefit from taking the writing portion of the ACT.' The University of Indianapolis says writing scores 'may be used for placement or advising.'

If your child is not sure yet, there is a middle path. Take the first ACT without writing. Add writing to a later sitting once the college list is firm. That keeps the first test day shorter while the list takes shape.

What should we do this month?

Start with a free mock SAT and a free mock ACT from Test Prep Gurus at https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step.

The mock tests show which test fits your child better. Then plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. We prepare our students for the whole test every sitting, not just the parts they like.

Next, write down your child's college list. Look up each college's testing page and note what it says about writing. If none of them recommend it, leave writing off the sign-up.

Have questions? Call us at 949.229.5359. We are glad to help you build a plan that fits your child.

Questions parents ask

Is the ACT writing test required for college in 2027?
No, none of the 397 colleges we checked require the ACT writing test for fall 2027.

Is the ACT writing test optional?
Yes, ACT itself calls the writing test optional.

How much does it cost to add ACT writing?
Adding writing costs $25.00 for the 2026-27 testing year.

Which colleges recommend the ACT writing test?
Bowling Green State University, Eastern Illinois University, Michigan State University, Texas State University and the University of Akron recommend the ACT writing test.

Should my child take the ACT writing test?
If none of your child's colleges require or recommend it, we tell families to skip it and spend the time on the scored sections.

Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.

Method and sources: Each college's writing policy is quoted from its own admissions page for fall 2027 first-year applicants; a college marked as not stated may still describe a policy on another page. The 400 colleges are the US colleges with the most first-year applications in the latest federal (IPEDS) data; 3 could not be researched, so 397 were checked. UC and CSU test-free status comes from highschoolreach.com. ACT facts, including the $25.00 writing add-on fee for the 2026-27 testing year, come from ACT's own pages.