By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of The Andrew Branca Show.

Imagine a university that admits anyone with a perfect high‑school GPA, regardless of whether they can solve a simple algebra problem. That’s the reality many California campuses are grappling with after they tossed the SAT out of the admissions process.

The SAT’s Exit and the Surge of Applications

When the University of California system eliminated the SAT requirement in 2021, the immediate effect was a dramatic rise in applications from Black and Latino students who had previously been deterred by the test. Miriam Powell, author of California Dreams, notes that UCLA saw a “significant jump in applications from high‑achieving Black and Latino students for whom the standardized test had been a barrier.” The admissions office proudly announced that the system was enrolling “one of the most academically accomplished and diverse classes in our history.”

Supporters hailed the move as a triumph of equity, emphasizing that the credential— a college degree— is the true gateway to economic mobility, especially for first‑generation students. California now boasts that about 40% of its students are the first in their families to attend a four‑year college, and more than half qualify for tuition assistance.

Professors Sound the Alarm Over Academic Readiness

Within a few years, mathematics professors began sounding a stark warning. One professor, writing op‑eds, complained: “I get 100 kids in my math class and we have to bifurcate the class. Half the kids can do college‑level math, and the others are in sixth grade.” Faculty organized a petition urging the reinstatement of the SAT, arguing that the test was a reliable filter for basic competency.

The concern isn’t about diversity for its own sake; it’s about the ability of students to succeed in rigorous coursework. A physics professor, recalling Nobel laureate Owen Chamberlain’s 1960s critique of Berkeley’s homogenous student body, suggested that today’s “racial favoritism” in admissions cannot be blamed solely on historic discrimination when billions have been poured into public education.

Credentialism vs. Competence: The Core Debate

The clash centers on two competing values: access to the privileged credential of a college degree, and the pursuit of academic excellence. Critics argue that the current system prioritizes the former, allowing students who may lack foundational skills to graduate simply because they possess the diploma. As one commentator put it, “The credential is absolutely everything.”

Supporters counter that the primary mission of public universities is to democratize opportunity, especially in an era of “obscene wealth and inequality.” They contend that the SAT does not teach math; it merely measures whether a student already knows it, and that the real issue lies in K‑12 education, where basic math literacy is failing.

Policy Implications and the Path Forward

California’s experience raises broader questions for higher education nationwide. Should standardized tests be reinstated to safeguard academic standards, or does doing so re‑introduce barriers that perpetuate inequity? The debate reflects a tension between preserving institutional reputation and fulfilling a public service mandate.

Policymakers might consider hybrid approaches: maintaining open‑door policies while bolstering remedial programs, investing in K‑12 math curricula, and creating transparent pathways for students to demonstrate competency beyond grades. Such solutions could address faculty concerns without rolling back progress on access.

Why It Matters Beyond Campus Walls

The outcome of this debate will shape the future workforce. Employers rely on college graduates for skilled positions, and a dilution of academic rigor could impact economic competitiveness. Conversely, expanding access without support may leave graduates underprepared for the demands of modern careers, perpetuating cycles of underemployment.

As the conversation continues, the central question remains: can America achieve both broad access to higher education and maintain the standards that ensure graduates are truly prepared for the challenges ahead?

The full episode of The Andrew Branca Show is available on OBBM Network TV.