I’ve listed the CDS reported percent SAT and ACT in each year at both Ithaca. Note that the number of “No SAT scores” reported in the fact sheet matches within ~1% of the CDS reported percent who did not submit SAT and instead submitted ACT. The slight <1% may relate to different classification of special students, such as not first time freshman, and not full time students.
Ithaca SAT, ACT Submit Rate
2006 – 40: 98% submitted SAT, 32% submitted ACT
2007 – 54: 97% submitted SAT, 30% submitted ACT
2008 – 85: 94% submitted SAT, 32% submitted ACT
2009 – 138: 93% submitted SAT, 34% submitted ACT
2010 – 149: 91% submitted SAT, 36% submitted ACT
2011 – 151: 91% submitted SAT, 34.5% submitted ACT
2012 – 161: 90% submitted SAT, 33% submitted ACT
official change in policy
Most colleges in New York State show a similar trend with decreasing submitted SAT rate between 2006 and 2012, as reported in their CDS. For example, Cornell’s rates are below.
Cornell SAT, ACT Submit Rate
2006 – 95% submitted SAT, 20% submitted ACT
2007 – 97% submitted SAT, 21% submitted ACT
2008 – 95% submitted SAT, 29% submitted ACT
2009 – 94% submitted SAT, 34% submitted ACT
2010 – 90% submitted SAT, 37% submitted ACT
2011 – 88% submitted SAT, 36% submitted ACT
2012 – 82% submitted SAT, 39% submitted ACT
The New York State ACT participation rate is listed for the same years below, which shows a similar trend. As more students take the both the SAT and ACT, more students are likely to find that they do significantly better on the ACT, and it’s to their advantage to not submit their SAT scores, so the submitted SAT rate decreases. There is also a larger portion of students that only take the ACT.
New York State ACT Participation Rate
2006: 17% took ACT
2007: 21% took ACT
2008: 23% took ACT
2009: 25% took ACT
2010: 27% took ACT
2011: 28% took ACT
2012: 29% took ACT
This same trend occurs nationally, with an increasing percent of students taking ACT during this period. Today more students take the ACT than SAT across the full United States. However, New York State lags behind and is still primarily SAT.