Do Colleges Prefer the ACT® or SAT®: Taking the Right Test

ACT® Test or SAT® Test? 

Consider several factors when choosing which standardized test to take and submit with your college application. If you’re looking for admission to a specific college (and perhaps a selective one), you might wonder which test colleges prefer.

Do Colleges Prefer the ACT® Test or the SAT® Test?

The short answer: No. All colleges that consider test scores in 2025 accept both the ACT® Test and SAT® Test for admissions and don’t discriminate based on which test applicants take.

The biggest reason why you might think a college prefers one test is that a college typically receives more of one test than the other. This is usually due to geography. According to the 2025 American Freshman Survey, 56% of college students went to school less than 100 miles from their home. This means that a college will largely receive test scores based on the popularity of either the ACT® Test or the SAT® Test in their region. 

For example, students attending the University of Nebraska usually submit ACT® Test scores because the ACT® Test is mandated and commonly taken in Nebraska. However, the University of Nebraska will not favor students who submit ACT® Test scores over those who submit SAT® Test scores.

ACT® Test & SAT® Test by State

If your state mandates (and provides) either of the tests during the school day for its high school juniors, that's typically the test students use for college admissions. Even in states where a test isn’t mandated, the ACT® Test or SAT® Test is typically more popular. In Oregon, 13% of students took the ACT® Test while 24% took the SAT® Test in 2025. In Texas, 22% of students took the ACT® Test while 74% took the SAT® Test.  

This chart shows an estimate of student test preference by ACT® Test and SAT® Test, from the most recent data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics. 

Which Test Is Right for You? 

Instead of thinking about which test a specific college prefers, the better question to ask is, “Which test do I prefer?” While the tests are equal in the eyes of colleges, they do have specific differences. 

The ACT® Test

Four sections make up the ACT® Test: English, Math, Reading, and (now optional) Science. The ACT® Test emphasizes geometry more than the SAT® Test does: approximately 30% of the ACT® Math questions cover geometry, while at most 10% of the SAT® Math questions involve geometry.

The SAT® Test

The SAT® Test allows more time per question than the ACT® Test. However, SAT® Test questions, on average, are typically more challenging than ACT® Test questions. The SAT® Test has no separate Science section (beginning April 2025, the ACT® Science section will be optional). Reading & Writing and Math are the two sections. Thus, Math on the SAT® Test is 50% of your total score compared to only 33% on the ACT® Test. 

While colleges don’t prefer one test over the other, you might!

Take both the ACT® Test and SAT® Test at least once, then see which you prefer. Then take your chosen test four times total: twice junior spring and twice senior fall. Increasing your score even by a few points can make a big difference in the scholarships you receive!

Learn more about the differences between the tests.