Texas public universities will begin accepting the Classic Learning Test (CLT) for college admissions on Aug. 1. The change follows a July 22 decision by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Texas Universities Add Classic Learning Test to Admissions
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board voted July 22 to approve the CLT, according to the test’s website. The board’s action makes Texas the latest state to adopt the exam.
Created by co‑founder Jeremy Tate, the CLT replaces the SAT and ACT with passages from classical and historical texts. It is positioned as a direct competitor to the College Board’s exams.
Tate says the exam challenges the “monopoly” of the College Board, which he calls the “unelected gatekeeper of American education.” He argues the test will broaden access to higher education.
A July 23 memo from Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Wynn Rosser confirms the board commissioned the Texas A&M Public Policy Institute to study the CLT. The study was released on July 23.
The study found the CLT matches the “rigor and reliability” of the SAT and ACT. Researchers said the scores are comparable across the three exams.
Although data on the CLT are fewer than on the SAT and ACT, the research concluded that all three exams meet the readiness benchmark. They also found the scores fall within acceptable ranges for admissions consideration.
Texas joins Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina and Oklahoma, which already accept the CLT in their public university systems. The list reflects a growing regional trend toward the test.
More than 360 public and private colleges nationwide now allow the CLT as an admissions option. This number includes both public universities and private institutions.
Service academies have also begun accepting the CLT after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called it the “gold standard.” The policy change was issued by the Department of Defense.
Sen. Jim Banks added a 2027 budget amendment requiring the academies to keep the test, making future reversal difficult. The amendment locks the decision into the 2027 military budget.
The CLT’s growth follows a broader revival of classical education, with about 900 classical schools operating nationwide and many families choosing classical homeschooling. The movement emphasizes Western civilization and ancient teaching methods.
Hillsdale College senior Matthew Tolbert, the only student to score perfectly on the CLT, says the test feels more engaging than the SAT or ACT. He says the exam better matches his academic interests.
Tolbert told The Federalist that the CLT “has more interesting questions and respects my time better,” and that applicants should skip other exams if the schools accept it. He believes the CLT offers a clearer path to admission for interested students.
He notes the CLT favors liberal arts schools, while STEM‑focused institutions may still prefer the SAT or ACT because its math section emphasizes logic. The logical math section aligns with the test’s overall classical emphasis.
Tolbert praised the expanding acceptance, saying it breaks the SAT/ACT duopoly. His comments highlight growing dissatisfaction with the traditional testing monopoly.
Skye Graham is an intern at The Federalist. She is a senior History major at Hillsdale College and serves as the assistant features editor for the Hillsdale Collegian.
