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ETS Officially Acquires ACT: What It Means for Students and the Future of Standardized Testing
On June 30, 2026, ETS (Educational Testing Service), one of the world's largest educational assessment organizations, formally announced the completion of its acquisition of ACT. The deal, which closed on July 1, brings together the two organizations behind America's two major college entrance exams under a single corporate umbrella for the first time.
ETS has stated after it officially acquires ACT that ACT will continue to operate as an independent brand, with existing products, services, and partnerships remaining unchanged in the near term. ETS already owns and administers well-known assessments including the GRE and TOEFL, and notably managed the SAT on behalf of the College Board for many years before 2024.
If you or your child is currently preparing for the ACT, the official message is clear: this acquisition does not affect test-takers in any way. Together, the SAT and ACT will continue to serve approximately 35 million people annually. ETS has stated a longer-term goal of preparing more than 100 million people for next-generation careers by 2035.
ETS Officially Acquires ACT - What Changes for Students Right Now: Nothing
According to ETS's official statement, ACT will "continue to operate as its own organization" following the acquisition. Existing products and services will not be disrupted. The ACT's format, scoring standards, and registration processes will remain stable for the foreseeable future.
For students currently preparing for or planning to take the ACT, there is no reason to change your study schedule or reconsider your testing plans because of this news. Large-scale institutional mergers in the testing industry typically involve long integration timelines, and the core exam experience is the last thing to change. The practical advice: stay focused on your preparation and watch for official updates as they come.
Context: 2026 Is a Turning Point for Standardized Testing
This acquisition is happening against an important backdrop. After several years of test-optional policies at many selective universities, the tide has shifted decisively back toward required standardized testing. In the 2026 application cycle, 19 of the top 30 national universities have reinstated mandatory SAT or ACT submission requirements, and all eight Ivy League schools have eliminated test-optional policies entirely. Standardized testing is once again a non-negotiable part of the application to the most selective schools.
In this context, ETS's acquisition of ACT is less about consolidating power and more about strengthening both organizations' capacity in a testing landscape that is growing in importance again. The ACT's position as one of the two major U.S. college entrance exams is not in question, and the acquisition does not change its standing in admissions.
The Shifting Institutional Landscape
The ownership picture has now shifted in an interesting way. The SAT is managed by the College Board, while the ACT is now managed by ETS, which was itself the organization that previously administered the SAT. The two major college entrance exams are now run by different organizations, which were formerly on opposite sides of that same relationship.
In the short term, exam content and format are unchanged for both tests. Over the longer term, some observers expect the two exams to diverge more noticeably in format, scoring approach, and technology. ETS has existing investments in AI-based assessment and digital adaptive testing, and it is plausible that the ACT could be an early platform for rolling out new testing technologies that ETS has been developing.
A Broader Signal About Where Education Assessment Is Heading
ETS's stated ambition of preparing over 100 million people for next-generation careers goes well beyond college admissions. ACT brings with it the WorkKeys system, a suite of workplace skills certifications used by employers and workforce training programs. The combination signals that the future of educational assessment, at least in ETS's vision, is not limited to getting students into college but extends into certifying skills and readiness across a working lifetime.
For families planning college applications, this suggests a gradual but meaningful shift in how standardized assessment fits into the broader picture. Preparation for college admissions testing and preparation for professional competency are becoming more interconnected, not less, and planning that accounts for both is likely to become more valuable over time.
The Bottom Line
The core facts are straightforward: ETS has completed its acquisition of ACT, and nothing about the exam itself changes in the near term. Students should stay their course, continue their existing preparation, and not be distracted by the institutional headlines.
The more significant story is the one playing out around this acquisition: standardized testing is back at the center of selective college admissions, and the organizations behind those tests are positioning themselves for a future in which assessment plays a larger and more technology-driven role than it has in the recent past. For students aiming at top universities, that means treating strong standardized test scores as what they have once again become: a core, non-negotiable component of a competitive application.
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