Texas students will soon have another way to qualify for admission to the state's public universities.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the Classic Learning Test, better known as the CLT, as an accepted college entrance exam alongside the SAT and ACT. The decision follows changes made by the Legislature earlier this year and opens the door for students to choose from three recognized admissions exams instead of two.
In a July 23 letter to university chancellors and presidents, Higher Education Commissioner Wynn Rosser said a study by the Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute found the CLT, SAT and ACT all meet the state's standards for rigor and reliability in college admissions.
The approval makes Texas one of several states and university systems that recognize the CLT, joining Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, the University of Oklahoma, the University of New Mexico and the U.S. Service Academies.
The board's decision builds on Senate Bill 1241, approved during this year's legislative session. The bill removed references to the SAT and ACT from state law and instead allows the coordinating board to decide which college entrance exams qualify for admissions.
Supporters of the legislation argued that writing the SAT and ACT directly into state law gave those tests an unfair advantage over competitors. Sen. Mayes Middleton, who authored the bill, also pointed to concerns about the College Board's influence on education, including its ties to Common Core, changes in test rigor and controversies surrounding Advanced Placement coursework. The legislation was intended to create more competition by allowing additional exams such as the CLT.
Founded in 2015, the CLT takes a different approach than the SAT and ACT. Instead of relying primarily on modern reading passages, it draws heavily from classic literature, philosophy and historical writings. Students may encounter works ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh to Toni Morrison while being tested in reading, grammar, writing and mathematics.
Several Texas universities had already begun using the CLT before the statewide approval. West Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University accepted CLT scores for scholarship eligibility, while the University of Texas allowed applicants to include CLT scores as an optional part of the admissions process.
The state's review found the exam is suitable for admissions use but noted that it still has limitations.
Researchers concluded the CLT demonstrates adequate college readiness but carries a moderate level of risk compared to the more established SAT and ACT. One area where the CLT scored lower was its ability to predict future college success. The report noted there is little Texas-specific data because public universities have not previously been allowed to use the exam for admissions, making it difficult to compare student outcomes.
The study also pointed to relatively small sample sizes and limited research available in Texas. CLT officials have argued those shortcomings should diminish as more Texas students take the exam and universities collect additional data.
The SAT remains by far the most widely used college entrance exam in Texas. According to the College Board, 74 percent of the state's graduating Class of 2025 took the SAT.
While the CLT has now been approved, its role in automatic admissions is still being worked out.
The coordinating board is assembling a rulemaking committee to update the state's Uniform Admissions Policy, which governs automatic admission for students graduating near the top of their high school class. Those proposed rules are expected to come before the board by January 2027. If adopted, CLT scores could be used for automatic admission beginning with students applying for the fall 2028 semester.
For now, the exam can already be considered in admissions decisions for first-time freshmen who do not qualify for automatic admission, international applicants and returning students.
The decision also comes as Texas continues to debate the role of classical education in public schools. Earlier this year, the State Board of Education approved revised social studies standards and reading lists after months of debate over the inclusion of biblical stories and classical literature. Supporters argued those works provide important historical and cultural context, while opponents questioned whether the changes reflected a particular ideological viewpoint.
