PULLMAN, Wash. — It’s now even easier to be Cougar!
The Washington State University Board of Regents recently voted to stop requiring the SAT and ACT tests for the admissions process.
The new plan recommends that Washington State stop factoring in SAT and ACT scores when handing out scholarships and tuition waivers.
“This is the trend,” Provost and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton said. “I think COVID just sort of pushed a number of colleges and universities a little further along because we saw that we were able to make informed decisions without those scores.”
The Washington Student Achievement Council recently allowed public universities to make SAT and ACT scores optional for new students. The decision by the Regents makes this option permanent.
Recent studies have suggested that SAT and ACT scores are not great indicators of future college success, but the best indicator is a student’s GPA. Retention rates have been shown to be higher for students with a GPA above 3.5 than those with a 1200 on the SAT.
The decision has been overwhelmingly applauded by WSU chancellors, deans, vice presidents as well as student leaders.
“I just want to applaud the efforts here,” Regent Lisa Schauer said. “I do think that this is leadership and I think it’s the right way to go. It lives our values and centers equity and I think that’s what we want to continue to do.”
Cox Media Group
