Which Colleges Require the ACT Science Section?

We checked all 244 colleges on this list against their own published admissions materials. Two require the ACT Science section, and 164 haven’t published a policy at all.

The two that require it are Pomona College, which requires it from anyone who chooses to submit an ACT score, and Marquette University, which requires results from all sections of the exam. George Washington University and two other schools require it for specific programs only. Seven more recommend it, including Georgetown and Duke. Another 63 have published that it’s optional, and five say they won’t look at it.

Everything else, 164 schools or 67% of the list, has published nothing about the Science section since it became optional. That’s the practical finding: for most colleges, you can’t look this up. Which is why, for most students, the answer is to take the Science section anyway. It can’t lower your Composite, you can’t add it to a test you’ve already taken, and the odds are that your list contains at least one school whose position nobody can confirm.

See all 244 schools Should you take it?FAQ

All 244 schools, at a glance

2require the ACT Science sectionShow in the list 3require it for specific programs onlyShow in the list 7recommend itShow in the list 63have published that it’s optionalShow in the list 5say they won’t consider itShow in the list 164have published no policyShow in the list

Every row carries a link to the page we read. All 244 of them.

The full list: ACT Science policy at 244 colleges

LabelsScience Required Required for Some Programs Science Recommended Optional Science Not Considered No Published Policy What each label means

Name	State	ACT Science?	Source
Adelphi University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.adelphi.edu
Allen College	Iowa	No Published Policy	Checked — www.allencollege.edu
American University	D.C.	Optional	“The Science section is not required for admission.” — american.edu
Arizona State University	Arizona	No Published Policy	Checked — admission.asu.edu
Auburn University	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — auburn.edu
Auburn University at Montgomery	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — www.aum.edu
Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — www.aultmancollege.edu
Ave Maria University	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.avemaria.edu
Babson College	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — undergraduatecatalog.babson.edu
Baptist Health Sciences University	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — www.baptistu.edu
Bates College	Maine	No Published Policy	Checked — www.bates.edu
Baylor University	Texas	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.web.baylor.edu
Binghamton University - SUNY	New York	Optional	“No, Binghamton does not require the science section for students who choose to submit ACT scores.” — binghamton.edu
Boston College	Massachusetts	Optional	“Boston College does not require that ACT test-takers sit for the science section in order to apply as a test-submitter.” — bc.edu
Boston University	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — www.bu.edu
Bowdoin College	Maine	Optional	“As a test optional school, Bowdoin does not require the science section, though will consider a student's score if submitted for review.” — bowdoin.edu
Bradley University	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.bradley.edu
Brandeis University	Massachusetts	Optional	“Brandeis will not require the science section for the new ACT.” — brandeis.edu
Brigham Young University	Utah	Science Not Considered	“While you may take the Science and Writing sections, they are not included in the evaluation for admission to BYU.” — enrollment.byu.edu
Brigham Young University-Hawaii	Hawaii	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.byuh.edu
Brown University	Rhode Island	Optional	“The ACT Science section will be optional beginning in spring 2025 in alignment with the changes to this exam.” — admission.brown.edu
Bucknell University	Pennsylvania	Optional	“…SAT/ACT writing sections are not required; ACT science section not required…” — coursecatalog.bucknell.edu
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — cabarruscollege.edu
California Institute of Technology	California	Optional	“For fall 2027 applicants, Caltech does not require the ACT writing or science subscores.” — www.admissions.caltech.edu
Campbellsville University	Kentucky	No Published Policy	Checked — www.campbellsville.edu
Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	No Published Policy	Checked — www.cmu.edu
Carolinas College of Health Sciences	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — atriumhealth.org
Case Western Reserve University	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — case.edu
Centre College	Kentucky	No Published Policy	Checked — www.centre.edu
Claflin University	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.claflin.edu
Claremont McKenna College	California	Optional	“…SAT Essay, ACT Writing, and ACT Science…do not need to be submitted in order for us to consider your score results.” — www.cmc.edu
Clark University	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — www.clarku.edu
Clarkson University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.clarkson.edu
Clemson University	South Carolina	Optional	“Although the Science subject section score can still be submitted, it will not be factored into the super-score calculation, as it is now an optional section of the ACT.” — clemson.edu
Cleveland University-Kansas City	Kansas	No Published Policy	Checked — www.cleveland.edu
Colby College	Maine	No Published Policy	Checked — afa.colby.edu
Colgate University	New York	Optional	“The ACT (including the writing and science sections) is optional.” — catalog.colgate.edu
College of Charleston	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — charleston.edu
College of Saint Mary	Nebraska	No Published Policy	Checked — www.csm.edu
College of the Ozarks	Missouri	No Published Policy	Checked — www.cofo.edu
Colorado School of Mines	Colorado	No Published Policy	Checked — undergraduate-admissions.mines.edu
Colorado State University	Colorado	No Published Policy	Checked — policylibrary.colostate.edu
Columbia University	New York	Optional	“Columbia Undergraduate Admissions does not require the optional Writing and Science sections of the ACT.” — undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu
Concordia College	Minnesota	No Published Policy	Checked — www.concordiacollege.edu
Concordia University-Ann Arbor	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — www.cuaa.edu
Cornell University	New York	Optional	“The science section of the ACT is not required.” — admissions.cornell.edu
Cumberland University	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — www.cumberland.edu
CUNY - City College	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — ccny-undergraduate.catalog.cuny.edu
Dartmouth College	New Hampshire	Optional	“The ACT Science Section is an optional part of our review process.” — admissions.dartmouth.edu
Davidson College	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.davidson.edu
Denison University	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — denison.edu
DePaul University	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — www.depaul.edu
Drake University	Iowa	No Published Policy	Checked — www.drake.edu
Drexel University	Pennsylvania	Optional	“The science test and writing test are not required.” — drexel.edu
Duke University	North Carolina	Science Recommended	“Students taking the ACT are encouraged to include the science section…” — admissions.duke.edu
Duquesne University	Pennsylvania	Science Recommended	“If you plan to submit ACT scores for admission consideration, we strongly encourage you to take the Science section.” — duq.edu
East Carolina University	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.ecu.edu
Elon University	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.elon.edu
Emory University	Georgia	Optional	“Emory University accepts both the Classic ACT and the updated Core ACT (i.e. ACT with or without Science section).” — apply.emory.edu
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — www.fdu.edu
Florida A&M University	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.famu.edu
Florida Atlantic University	Florida	Optional	“Beginning with the 2025-26 application cycle, Florida Atlantic will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admission.” — fau.edu
Florida College	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — floridacollege.edu
Florida Gulf Coast University	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.fgcu.edu
Florida Institute of Technology	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.fit.edu
Florida International University	Florida	Optional	“Beginning with the 2025-26 application, FIU will no longer require a science score to be eligible for admission.” — admissions.fiu.edu
Florida Polytechnic University	Florida	Optional	“Effective April 2025, the Science section of the ACT exam is optional, and Florida Poly no longer requires a Science score to be considered for admission.” — floridapoly.edu
Florida State University	Florida	Optional	“Beginning with the 2025-26 application cycle, FSU will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admission.” — admissions.fsu.edu
Fordham University	New York	Optional	“Whether or not to submit optional sections (such as SAT Writing, ACT Science, or ACT Writing) is up to the student.” — fordham.edu
Francis Marion University	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.fmarion.edu
Furman University	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.furman.edu
George Mason University	Virginia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.gmu.edu
George Washington University	D.C.	Required for Some Programs	“The ACT Science section is not required, except for students applying to the B.A./B.S. - M.D. Program.” — undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu
Georgetown University	D.C.	Science Recommended	“For students taking the ACT, we highly recommend taking the Science section…” — uadmissions.georgetown.edu
Georgia College and State University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.gcsu.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology	Georgia	Science Not Considered	“We do not use the Science or Writing section.” — visits.gatech.edu
Georgia Southern University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.georgiasouthern.edu
Georgia State University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.gsu.edu
Gonzaga University	Washington	Optional	“We do not require the Science section of the ACT.” — gonzaga.edu
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — www.gscollege.edu
Harvard University	Massachusetts	Optional	“The optional science portion of the new ACT is not required for applying to Harvard.” — college.harvard.edu
Harvey Mudd College	California	No Published Policy	Checked — www.hmc.edu
Hofstra University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.hofstra.edu
Illinois Institute of Technology	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — www.iit.edu
Indiana University - Bloomington	Indiana	No Published Policy	Checked — bloomington.iu.edu
Johns Hopkins University	Maryland	Optional	“the optional Science and Writing sections of the ACT, aren't required…” — apply.jhu.edu
Kansas State University	Kansas	Required for Some Programs	“A minimum score of 29 on the ACT Science section is also required if reported separately.” — vet.k-state.edu
Kennesaw State University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.kennesaw.edu
Kettering College	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — kc.edu
Kuyper College	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — www.kuyper.edu
LeMoyne-Owen College	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — loc.edu
Lee University	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — www.leeuniversity.edu
Lehigh University	Pennsylvania	Optional	“The ACT science section is not required to submit ACT scores, or to be considered for admission to Lehigh.” — www2.lehigh.edu
Livingstone College	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — livingstone.edu
Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge	Louisiana	No Published Policy	Checked — www.lsu.edu
Louisiana State University-Alexandria	Louisiana	No Published Policy	Checked — www.lsua.edu
Louisiana State University-Shreveport	Louisiana	No Published Policy	Checked — explore.lsus.edu
Louisiana Tech University	Louisiana	No Published Policy	Checked — www.latech.edu
Loyola Marymount University	California	No Published Policy	Checked — admission.lmu.edu
Loyola University Chicago	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — www.luc.edu
Marquette University	Wisconsin	Science Required	“Marquette requires that students who choose to submit ACT scores provide results from all sections of the exam, including the Science section.” — marquette.edu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts	Optional	“We do not require the ACT writing or science sections or the SAT optional essay.” — mitadmissions.org
Mercer University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — undergrad.mercer.edu
Michigan State University	Michigan	Science Recommended	“The writing and science portions are recommended, but not required.” — admissions.msu.edu
Michigan Technological University	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — www.mtu.edu
Middlebury College	Vermont	Optional	“If you choose to submit your ACT scores, you are not required to include the science section.” — middlebury.edu
Mississippi State University	Mississippi	No Published Policy	Checked — www.admissions.msstate.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology	Missouri	Science Recommended	“The science section is recommended, but not required.” — futurestudents.mst.edu
Missouri Valley College	Texas	No Published Policy	Checked — www.moval.edu
Montclair State University	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — www.montclair.edu
New College of Florida	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.ncf.edu
New Jersey Institute of Technology	New Jersey	Required for Some Programs	“If an applicant chooses to take the ACT, they must complete the science section, even if it is listed as optional by the testing agency.” — honors.njit.edu
New York University	New York	Optional	“We will super score results across multiple test dates, with or without the optional science section.” — nyu.edu
North Carolina State University	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.ncsu.edu
North Greenville University	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.ngu.edu
Northeastern University	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.northeastern.edu
Northwestern University	Illinois	Optional	“For students who choose to take and submit an ACT score, Northwestern will not require the science section.” — admissions.northwestern.edu
Ohio University	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — www.ohio.edu
Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.okstate.edu
Oregon State University	Oregon	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.oregonstate.edu
Palm Beach Atlantic University	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.pba.edu
Pepperdine University	California	Science Recommended	“The optional ACT science section is not required, but it is recommended for nursing applicants.” — admission.pepperdine.edu
Piedmont University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.piedmont.edu
Pomona College	California	Science Required	“For those who choose to submit the optional ACT, we require the Core ACT plus Science…” — pomona.edu
Princeton University	New Jersey	Optional	“The science section of the redesigned ACT is optional.” — admission.princeton.edu
Purdue University	Indiana	Optional	“The optional ACT Science section is not required.” — admissions.purdue.edu
Quinnipiac University	Connecticut	No Published Policy	Checked — www.qu.edu
Randall University	Oklahoma	No Published Policy	Checked — ru.edu
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — undergrad.admissions.rpi.edu
Rhodes College	Tennessee	Optional	“a science score isn't required and will only be included if it boosts your overall ACT score” — www.rhodes.edu
Rice University	Texas	Optional	“The science section of the ACT is optional.” — admission.rice.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	Science Recommended	“If you are applying to a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) program and are planning to submit your ACT scores, we recommend including the optional ACT Science section.” — rit.edu
Russell Sage College	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.sage.edu
Rutgers University - Camden	New Jersey	Optional	“The science section is optional and not required.” — admissions.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University - New Brunswick	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University - Newark	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.rutgers.edu
Samford University	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — www.samford.edu
Santa Clara University	California	Optional	“Santa Clara does not require submission of these scores for admission application evaluation.” — scu.edu
Scripps College	California	Optional	“Scripps does not require the science section but will review it if submitted.” — www.scrippscollege.edu
Seattle University	Washington	No Published Policy	Checked — www.seattleu.edu
Seton Hall University	New Jersey	Optional	“…the ACT science section may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Admissions…” — catalogue.shu.edu
Shorter University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.shorter.edu
Simmons University	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — www.simmons.edu
Southeastern University	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — seu.edu
Southern Methodist University	Texas	No Published Policy	Checked — www.smu.edu
Southwestern College	California	No Published Policy	Checked — www.swccd.edu
Spring Arbor University	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — springarbor.edu
St. John Fisher University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.sjf.edu
St. John's University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.stjohns.edu
Stanford University	California	Optional	“The Science and Writing sections are optional. You may report these scores if you would like.” — admission.stanford.edu
Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — web.stevens.edu
Stockton University	New Jersey	No Published Policy	Checked — stockton.edu
Stony Brook University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.stonybrook.edu
Swarthmore College	Pennsylvania	Optional	“We do not require the ACT science section, but…they must include that in their composite score.” — www.swarthmore.edu
Syracuse University	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.syracuse.edu
Temple University	Pennsylvania	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.temple.edu
Tennessee Wesleyan University	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — www.tnwesleyan.edu
Texas A&M University	Texas	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.tamu.edu
Texas Christian University	Texas	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.tcu.edu
The Ohio State University	Ohio	Optional	“It's not necessary to submit the optional science section.” — undergrad.osu.edu
The Pennsylvania State University - University Park	Pennsylvania	Science Not Considered	“Penn State does not require or accept scores from the optional Science portion of the Enhanced ACT exam.” — psu.edu
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Tennessee	No Published Policy	Checked — www.utc.edu
The University of Tennessee-Martin	Tennessee	Optional	“The science section of the ACT is not required for admission.” — www.utm.edu
The University of West Florida	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — uwf.edu
Trine University	Indiana	No Published Policy	Checked — www.trine.edu
Trinity College	Connecticut	No Published Policy	Checked — www.trincoll.edu
Truett McConnell University	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — tmu.edu
Tufts University	Massachusetts	Optional	“We do not require the ACT science section score from students who choose to submit the ACT with their application.” — admissions.tufts.edu
Tulane University	Louisiana	Optional	“Submission of the SAT Essay, ACT Writing and ACT Science sections are optional.” — admission.tulane.edu
Union College	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.union.edu
United States Air Force Academy	Colorado	No Published Policy	Checked — www.academyadmissions.com
United States Merchant Marine Academy	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — www.usmma.edu
United States Military Academy	New York	Optional	“Optional writing/science sections are not required.” — www.westpoint.edu
United States Naval Academy	Maryland	No Published Policy	Checked — www.usna.edu
University of Alabama	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.ua.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.uab.edu
University of Arkansas	Arkansas	Optional	“The University of Arkansas does not require the science reasoning section of the ACT for scholarship, placement, or enrollment purposes.” — admissions.uark.edu
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	Arkansas	No Published Policy	Checked — ualr.edu
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	Arkansas	No Published Policy	Checked — uapb.edu
University of Central Florida	Florida	Optional	“UCF no longer requires a Science score to be considered for admission.” — ucf.edu
University of Chicago	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu
University of Cincinnati	Ohio	No Published Policy	Checked — www.admissions.uc.edu
University of Connecticut	Connecticut	Science Not Considered	“Writing and science sections are not required or used in our review.” — admissions.uconn.edu
University of Delaware	Delaware	No Published Policy	Checked — www.udel.edu
University of Denver	Colorado	No Published Policy	Checked — www.du.edu
University of Detroit Mercy	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — www.udmercy.edu
University of Florida	Florida	Optional	“In response to recent changes from ACT, UF will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admissions.” — admissions.ufl.edu
University of Georgia	Georgia	Science Not Considered	“UGA will not require the optional ACT Science section, and as in the past, we will only focus on the ACT English and Math in our admission review.” — admissions.uga.edu
University of Hawaii at Manoa	Hawaii	No Published Policy	Checked — manoa.hawaii.edu
University of Idaho	Idaho	No Published Policy	Checked — www.uidaho.edu
University of Illinois - Chicago	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.uic.edu
University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign	Illinois	No Published Policy	Checked — www.admissions.illinois.edu
University of Iowa	Iowa	Optional	“We do not require the optional science section of the ACT.” — admissions.uiowa.edu
University of Kansas	Kansas	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.ku.edu
University of Kentucky	Kentucky	No Published Policy	Checked — admission.uky.edu
University of La Verne	California	No Published Policy	Checked — www.laverne.edu
University of Louisville	Kentucky	Optional	“UofL no longer requires the Science Reasoning portion.” — louisville.edu
University of Maryland, College Park	Maryland	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.umd.edu
University of Massachusetts - Amherst	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — www.umass.edu
University of Massachusetts - Lowell	Massachusetts	No Published Policy	Checked — www.uml.edu
University of Miami	Florida	Optional	“No, we do not require the science section of the ACT.” — admissions.miami.edu
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Michigan	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.umich.edu
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities	Minnesota	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.tc.umn.edu
University of Mississippi	Mississippi	No Published Policy	Checked — olemiss.edu
University of Missouri	Missouri	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.missouri.edu
University of Nebraska - Lincoln	Nebraska	No Published Policy	Checked — bulletin.unl.edu
University of Nevada - Reno	Nevada	No Published Policy	Checked — www.unr.edu
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill	North Carolina	Optional	“If you choose to self-report your Science section, we will review it though it is not required should you report the other three sections.” — admissions.unc.edu
University of North Carolina - Charlotte	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.charlotte.edu
University of North Florida	Florida	Optional	“Beginning with the 2025-26 application cycle, UNF will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admission.” — unf.edu
University of North Georgia	Georgia	No Published Policy	Checked — ung.edu
University of Notre Dame	Indiana	Optional	“The science section of the ACT is optional.” — admissions.nd.edu
University of Oklahoma	Oklahoma	No Published Policy	Checked — www.ou.edu
University of Oregon	Oregon	No Published Policy	Checked — www.uoregon.edu
University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Optional	“The Science section is not required for students who choose to submit the ACT.” — admissions.upenn.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.pitt.edu
University of Rhode Island	Rhode Island	No Published Policy	Checked — web.uri.edu
University of Rochester	New York	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.rochester.edu
University of South Carolina	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — sc.edu
University of South Florida	Florida	No Published Policy	Checked — www.usf.edu
University of Southern California	California	No Published Policy	Checked — admission.usc.edu
University of St. Thomas	Minnesota	Optional	“St. Thomas will not require the science section of the ACT.” — stthomas.edu
University of Tennessee	Tennessee	Optional	“The University of Tennessee does not require the ACT Science section for Fall 2027 admission or institutional merit scholarship consideration.” — admissions.utk.edu
University of Texas at Austin	Texas	Optional	“Students may submit ACT scores with or without the Science section and both will be treated equally in our admission process.” — admissions.utexas.edu
University of the Pacific	California	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.pacific.edu
University of Utah	Utah	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.utah.edu
University of Vermont	Vermont	No Published Policy	Checked — www.uvm.edu
University of Virginia	Virginia	No Published Policy	Checked — admission.virginia.edu
University of Washington	Washington	No Published Policy	Checked — admit.washington.edu
University of West Alabama	Alabama	No Published Policy	Checked — www.uwa.edu
University of Wisconsin - Madison	Wisconsin	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.wisc.edu
Vanderbilt University	Tennessee	Optional	“Vanderbilt does not require the Science section of the ACT.” — admissions.vanderbilt.edu
Villanova University	Pennsylvania	Optional	“You are not required to submit a score from the science section.” — villanova.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University	Virginia	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.vcu.edu
Virginia Tech	Virginia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.vt.edu
Wake Forest University	North Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — admissions.wfu.edu
Washington and Lee University	Virginia	Optional	“We do not require the Writing or Science sections of the ACT…but will review Science scores if submitted.” — www.wlu.edu
Washington University in St. Louis	Missouri	Optional	“The ACT science section is optional and not required by WashU.” — admissions.washu.edu
William & Mary	Virginia	No Published Policy	Checked — www.wm.edu
William Carey University	Mississippi	No Published Policy	Checked — www.wmcarey.edu
Williams College	Massachusetts	Optional	“The science section is optional for those taking the enhanced ACT.” — williams.edu
Wofford College	South Carolina	No Published Policy	Checked — www.wofford.edu
Yale University	Connecticut	Optional	“The Science and Writing sections on the ACT are optional.” — admissions.yale.edu
York College of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	No Published Policy	Checked — catalog.ycp.edu

About the sources. Every row links to the institution's own admissions page. On a row marked No Published Policy, that link goes to the page we checked, and you'll find no mention of the ACT Science section on it. That's not a broken citation. The absence is the finding, and the link is there so you can confirm it yourself.

What each policy label means

The table uses six labels. They aren't interchangeable, and the difference between the last two matters more than it looks.

Science Required: You must submit an ACT score that includes Science. An ACT taken without the Science section won't satisfy the school's testing requirement.
Required for Some Programs: The school doesn't require Science of applicants generally but does require it for one or more specific programs. Read the school's own page before assuming which side of that line you fall on.
Science Recommended: The school won't reject an ACT without Science but has stated that it prefers, expects, or highly recommends seeing the section. This language usually appears for STEM and health-science applicants. If the school is a reach for you, treat this as required.
Optional: The school accepts the ACT with or without Science and hasn't indicated that submitting it confers an advantage. Among schools that have published a policy, this is the most common position by a wide margin.
Science Not Considered: The school has indicated it won't evaluate a Science score even if you send one. For these schools, taking the Science section costs time and money for no admissions benefit.
No Published Policy: We read this institution's admissions materials and found no stated position on the ACT Science section. This is not the same as optional. It means the question is unanswered, and if the school matters to your list, you should contact its admissions office directly. This is the largest category on the list by a wide margin, and that in itself is the most useful thing this page can tell you.

Is the ACT Science section required or optional?

Optional, in almost every case. On the enhanced ACT, Science is an add-on section that you can choose whether to take. For national test dates, the decision is yours.

The exception is school-day testing. When a state or district administers the ACT during the school day, the testing contract, not the student, determines which subjects are included. If you're taking the ACT through your school rather than on a national date, ask your counselor whether Science is part of your administration. You may not have a choice either way.

Two colleges in the table above require it. A handful more require it for specific programs or recommend it. The striking result, though, isn't the requirement but the silence: two-thirds of these institutions have published nothing at all about the Science section since it became optional. For most schools on most students' lists, there's no published answer to find.

Why the ACT Science section became optional

ACT restructured the test rather than dropping Science outright. The enhanced ACT is shorter, has fewer questions, allows more time per question, and moves Science out of the core.

The important consequence for applicants is that Science stopped being part of the number colleges quote. The Composite is now built from English, Math, and Reading alone. Science still exists, still has a scaled score, and still feeds the STEM score, but it sits alongside the Composite rather than inside it.

Colleges were left to decide what to do with a section that's no longer standard. Most concluded that requiring it would disadvantage students who had already tested or couldn't afford the additional section, so they made it optional. A small number, generally with specific programs in mind, kept a requirement or a recommendation.

Does ACT Science count toward your Composite score?

No. Since September 2025, the ACT Composite has been calculated from English, Math, and Reading only. Science isn't part of it. Science isn't part of the Superscore Composite either.

If you take the Science section, ACT reports your Science section score and your STEM score separately on every score report. They appear alongside the Composite, not folded into it.

This has a consequence that gets overlooked: taking Science carries no downside risk to your Composite. A weak Science score can't pull your headline number down because it was never in that number. The usual argument against taking an optional section, that it might hurt you, doesn't apply here. The real costs are time, test-day stamina, and the added fee.

What is the ACT STEM score, and do you need Science to get one?

The STEM score combines your Math and Science scores into a single figure. Because Science is half of the calculation, you can't get one without taking Science.

The STEM score isn't used in the Composite and isn't superscored into it. Its value is narrower than that: it's a single, standardized data point that an admissions reader evaluating an engineering, nursing, or pre-health application already knows how to interpret. If you're applying to those programs, it's the only way to put that data point in front of them.

If you're not applying to a quantitative or health-science program, the STEM score is unlikely to change any decision about you.

Should you take the ACT Science section anyway?

For most students, yes. Not because many colleges require it, but because of the two facts this page has established. Science can't lower your Composite, so there's no downside risk. And two-thirds of institutions have published no position, so for most of your list you can't find out whether it matters.

That combination is unusual. Normally an optional section is a trade: some upside, some risk, and a published policy telling you which. Here there's no risk to your headline score, and for most schools there's no policy to read. What's left is a small cost in time and money, weighed against an unknown but nonzero benefit, on a decision you can't revisit later.

Take Science if any one of these is true

Any school on your list appears in the table as Science Required or Science Recommended.
Any school on your list appears as No Published Policy. Statistically, this will be most of your list. Silence isn't permission; it means nobody has told you.
You're applying to engineering, nursing, pre-health, or a direct-admit STEM program, whatever the school's stated policy.
Science is one of your stronger sections on practice tests.

You can reasonably skip it if all of these are true

Every school on your list shows Optional or Science Not Considered. Check this against the table rather than assuming it, since only 68 of the 244 schools here carry either label.
You're not applying to a quantitative or health-science program.
Test-day stamina is a real constraint for you, or the added time and fee are a burden.

When in doubt, take it once. College lists change during senior year, and you can't retroactively add a Science score to a test you've already taken. Having the score and not needing it costs you one section. Needing it and not having it costs you a retest, and you may not learn which case you're in until after the deadline.

If you're applying to nursing or pre-health programs

Take it. Nursing and allied-health programs are among the most quantitative reads in undergraduate admissions, and many run through a separate departmental review that looks at science preparation specifically. Even where the university's central policy says optional, the program reading your file may weigh it. The STEM score is the cleanest way to show that preparation in a form the reader already understands.

If you're applying to engineering or the physical sciences

Take it. Direct-admit engineering programs are competitive on quantitative signal, and you're being compared against applicants who submitted a Science score. A strong Science score plus a strong Math score produces a STEM score that does work for you that a Composite alone doesn't.

If you're applying pre-med

Take it, and note the one hard requirement in the table: George Washington University requires ACT Science from applicants to its B.A./B.S.-M.D. program. Combined-degree medical programs are the single clearest place where a Science score is still expected, and they're exactly the programs a pre-med applicant is most likely to be considering.

If you're applying to business, economics, or the humanities

Optional, and mostly skippable. No school in our data requires Science for these programs, and the STEM score isn't a signal these readers are looking for. If Science is a strength of yours, taking it does no harm. If it isn't, the section is unlikely to earn its time.

Specific schools people ask about

Does Georgetown require the ACT Science section?

No, but it comes closer than any other school on this list. Georgetown highly recommends the Science section without requiring it. An application without a Science score will be read.

Practically, treat this as a requirement. Georgetown is a highly selective school that has gone out of its way to say it wants to see the section. Choosing not to submit something the school has explicitly asked for is a decision you have to be comfortable defending, and there's no upside to it.

Does Boston University require the ACT Science section?

Not currently. Boston University required ACT Science as recently as December 2025 but has since removed that language from its application credentials page.

This is the clearest example on the page of why a dated source matters. If you're reading advice about BU that was written before 2026, it may still tell you Science is required there. Check the date on anything you read about testing policy, including this page.

Does Pomona College require the ACT Science section?

Yes. Pomona requires the Core ACT plus Science from any applicant who chooses to submit an ACT score. Pomona is test-optional overall, so this applies only if you're submitting an ACT at all. If you submit an ACT, it must include Science.

Does George Washington University require the ACT Science section?

Only for one program. GW requires ACT Science from applicants to its B.A./B.S.-M.D. combined-degree program. For every other GW applicant, it isn't required.

How we verify this data

Every entry in this table comes from the institution's own published admissions materials. If a policy isn't something you could look up and read yourself, we don't publish it. We don't carry over prior-year language, we don't infer a policy from what a peer institution does, and we don't rely on secondhand accounts of what a school is said to have replied privately.

Where an institution has published nothing, we record it as No Published Policy rather than assuming the section is optional there. That category is larger than it would be under a looser standard, and we think that's the right trade. We'd rather show you an unanswered question than a confident guess you can't check.

The National Test Prep Association is a nonprofit professional association of independent test preparation educators. We have no commercial relationship with ACT. No institution pays to appear on this list or to be characterized in any particular way.

This page carries the date of its most recent review. Entries are rechecked on a rolling basis, and schools without a confirmed position are rechecked each cycle.

Found an error or know of a policy change? Tell us, and we'll verify it against the school's own materials and update the table.

Citing this page: National Test Prep Association, Which Colleges Require the ACT Science Section?, nationaltestprep.org/act-science-requirements/, last updated as dated below.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ACT Science section optional in 2026?

Yes. On the enhanced ACT, Science is an optional add-on section for national test dates. State and district school-day administrations are set by contract, so whether Science is included there is decided by your school or state, not by you.

Which colleges require the ACT Science section?

Two require it outright: Pomona College, which requires it from any applicant who submits an ACT score, and Marquette University, which requires results from all sections. A few others, including George Washington University, require it for specific programs only, and a small number recommend it. Every remaining school with a published policy treats it as optional or doesn't consider it.

Does the ACT Science section count toward my Composite score?

No. Since September 2025, the Composite has been calculated from English, Math, and Reading only. Science is reported as a separate section score and feeds the STEM score, but it doesn't affect your Composite or your Superscore Composite.

What is the ACT STEM score?

A combined figure derived from your Math and Science scores. You can't receive one without taking the Science section. It's reported alongside the Composite and is most relevant to engineering, nursing, and pre-health applications.

Can I superscore the ACT Science section?

Your Science section score is reported across test events, but it isn't part of the Superscore Composite, which uses English, Math, and Reading only. Superscoring won't fold a strong Science score into your headline number.

Do colleges know I skipped the Science section?

Effectively yes. A score report without a Science score simply doesn't have one, so its absence is visible. Given how few schools require or consider Science, this is rarely held against an applicant, but it isn't invisible.

What does Science Not Considered mean?

The school has indicated it won't evaluate a Science score even if you send one. For those schools, taking the section produces no admissions benefit. It's a stronger statement than optional.

My college shows No Published Policy. Does that mean Science is optional there?

No. It means we read the school's admissions materials and found nothing about the Science section. Two-thirds of the list is in this position. The question is open. If the school matters to your list, contact its admissions office directly, and please tell us what it says.

My college is not on this list at all. What should I do?

Contact the admissions office and ask whether it requires, recommends, or considers the ACT Science section. Then send us the answer, and we'll verify it and add the school.

Can I add a Science score to an ACT I already took?

No. Science has to be taken at the time of the test. If you tested without it and later find you need it, the only route is another test date. This is the main argument for taking it once even if you're unsure.

Does skipping Science make the ACT shorter and cheaper?

Shorter, yes. Science is an additional section on test day. On cost, ACT prices Science as an add-on rather than including it, so check ACT's current fee schedule for the amount, which changes between testing years.

What is on the ACT Science section?

It tests scientific reasoning rather than recall. The passages draw on biology, chemistry, physics, and the earth and space sciences, and the questions ask you to interpret data presented in tables and graphs, understand experimental design, and evaluate competing explanations. You aren't expected to have memorized content.

Related resources

ACT/SAT concordance tablesConvert a score between the two tests.NTPA member directoryFind independent test preparation professionals who have agreed to our code of ethics.ACT Affiliate Tutor ProgramFor tutors: NTPA members can get a listing on ACT's Find-a-Tutor page and a license to use official ACT test forms.

Last updated: September 8, 2026 | 244 colleges listed