Texas public colleges can now use the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to evaluate certain applicants. Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Wynn Rosser notified campus leaders that state universities can immediately accept the exam for students who do not qualify for automatic admission. This decision provides an alternative option for high schoolers, especially homeschooled students and those from classical education backgrounds.
What Happened
Texas Commissioner Wynn Rosser sent a memo to state higher education leaders stating that a recent study verified the CLT is rigorous and reliable enough for college admissions. The study, conducted by the Texas A&M University Public Policy Research Institute, examined the test's academic validity alongside the SAT and ACT. According to the Higher Ed Dive report, Texas public colleges can immediately use CLT scores to evaluate first-time applicants, international students, and those returning to college.
This policy change affects students who do not qualify for automatic admission. Under the state's Top 10 Percent Rule, high school graduates in the top tier of their class get guaranteed admission to public universities. Individual campuses can set tighter limits. For example, the University of Texas at Austin limits automatic admission to students in the top 6% of their graduating class. Students who do not meet these cutoffs undergo a holistic review where standardized test scores are heavily weighted.
The Bigger Picture
The CLT launched in 2015 to compete directly with the SAT and ACT. According to Capra Academy, the digital exam takes two hours and is graded on a 120-point scale. It tests grammar, mathematical reasoning, and reading comprehension. Mainstream exams typically use contemporary articles, but the CLT relies on passages from historical and classical authors like Plato, Saint Augustine, or William Shakespeare.
Testing volume has increased quickly, especially among faith-based schools and conservative-led states. KCRG reports that CLT volume grew tenfold over three years to 200,000 tests annually. States including Iowa, Florida, and Arkansas have passed policies to accommodate the exam. The test is popular with homeschooling networks and Christian colleges, but researchers debate its academic comparability. The Texas A&M study noted that while all three exams are rigorous, they are not equally comparable or defensible for uniform state use. The Texas Tribune reported that researchers rated the CLT's ability to predict freshman success lower than the SAT and ACT. CLT leadership attributes this lower rating to a lack of historical public-school data.
What This Means for Families
The state's decision gives parents and educators an alternative for students whose strengths lie in classical literature and logic rather than modern reading comprehension. Homeschooled and classically educated students can now submit scores that match their high school curricula.
Families should approach this option carefully. While Texas public universities can accept the test, the CLT is not widely recognized. More than 350 colleges nationwide accept CLT scores, but nearly every college in the country accepts the SAT and ACT. Families must also remember that automatic admission in Texas only guarantees entrance to the university. It does not guarantee admission into competitive majors like engineering or business, where departments may still require and review test scores.
What You Can Do
First, contact the admissions office at your target Texas university before registering for the CLT. You need to confirm that the individual campus has updated its policy to accept the exam.
Next, review a practice exam on Capra Academy to see how your student handles classical, philosophy-heavy reading passages compared to the modern, data-driven reading passages on the SAT.
Finally, keep traditional testing options open. Out-of-state and private universities vary widely in their policies, so students should still take the ACT or SAT at least once to keep their options open.