27 great schools that don't require SAT or ACT scores

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  • The SAT and ACT are two of the most common metrics schools use to determine who they allow in. 
  • But many students suffer from crippling test anxiety, which can impact scores and impact their choice in college.
  • Recent studies suggest that standardized tests disproportionately favor white and wealthy students.
  • Here are 30 universities that don't require SAT or ACT scores. 
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For many prospective college students, taking the SATs and ACTs is a nerve-wracking, anxiety-producing experience. While the SAT can certainly help some students by potentially acting as a type of equalizer for those with lower high school grades, a growing body of research shows that placing so much weight in these types of exams can cause crippling anxiety.

In 2018, Jennifer Heissel, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School, studied stress levels from a group of New Orleans elementary school students before and after they took a standardized test. The findings did not bode well for the exams. The test increased the children's cortisol (a stress hormone) levels, which in turn led to poor results.

"We found that the kids who had large responses in changes in their cortisol performed worse on high-stakes test," Heissel told Insider.

While Heissel notes that these are early findings and encouraged more testing to be done, the results appear to confirm something many high school students preparing for college intuitively understand: high-stakes tests can send some people over the edge. 

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 Test scores were originally meant to create a level playing field, but a strict reliance on them may be having the opposite effect. A report released this week from Georgetown University found that  if students were admitted only on the basis of their test scores at 200 of the nation's most selective colleges, only 53% of the incoming students would gain admission. The report also concluded that if colleges were to admit only those students with the highest scores, the student body would be noticeably wealthier and less diverse. 

Even though most universities place some degree of importance on standardized exams, there are still plenty of great schools that do not require students to take either the SAT or ACT. Here are 27 great universities that don't require SAT or ACT scores. 

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27. Colorado College does not require SAT or ACT scores.

Colorado College
A student working on a project at Colorado College. Facebook/Colorado College

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the school has just over 2,000 undergraduates. Colorado College is unique in that it utilizes what they call a block plan. Under this, students take one class every three and a half weeks.

Students interested in applying to Colorado College should fill out the Common App, where they will need to include a personal statement, pay a $60 application fee, send their high school transcript, and try to get multiple letters of recommendation. 

Apply Here

Source: Colorado College 

 

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26. Ithaca College lets you choose whether or not to send test scores.

Ithaca Colelge View
Ithaca College. Ithaca College

Ithaca college began as a small conservatory in 1892 in Ithaca, New York. Since then, it's grown to an enrollment of 6,200 undergraduates studying across five schools and 120 majors.

Ithaca College doesn't require standardized tests scores for admission consideration. Interested students will need to submit the Common App and submit supporting documentation. 

Ithaca College does require home-schooled students and students who do not receive numerical grades in high school to submit and SAT or ACT score.

Apply Here 

Source: Ithaca College 

 

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25. St. John's University allows you to send an essay instead of test scores.

Peter J. Tobin School of Business at St. John's
The Peter J. Tobin School of Business at St. John's University. St. John's University

St. John's University is located in Queens, New York and has 21,346 undergraduate students.

Students can apply to St. John's University using either the Common App or the St. John's Application. For those who want to avoid submitting SAT and ACT scores, St. John's requires an additional personal essay and encourages letters of recommendation.

Apply Here

Source: St. John's University 

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24. University of Puget Sound will let your write essays in lieu of test scores.

University of Puget Sound campus
University of Puget Sound's campus. Joe Mabel/Wikimedia

Puget Sound was founded in 1888 by the United Methodist Church. Today, about 2,400 undergraduates attend the small liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington. Puget Sound says they are one of only two independent colleges in Washington State.

Interested students will need to fill out the Common App, pay a $60 application fee, and send their transcript, a letter of recommendation and an additional essay. Students who choose not to submit standardized test scores are instead asked to answer two short essay questions. 

 

Apply Here 

 

Source: University of Puget Sound 

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23. Smith College does not require applicants to submit test scores.

Smith College Campus
Smith College's campus. Getty

Smith College was founded in 1871, and is one of the nation's most prestigious women's colleges.

Smith College' admissions website emphasizes the importance of factors outside test scores.

"Smith doesn't rely solely on grades and test scores to select new students; we choose people, not statistical profiles," the school's website says. Standardized testing is optional for US citizens and permanent residents, but the school heavily encourages hopeful students to schedule an interview with the admissions department.  

Apply Here 

Source: Smith College 

 

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22. College of the Holy Cross values grades over tests.

College of the Holy Cross Library
The College of the Holy Cross library. College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross was founded in 1843 in Worcester, Massachusetts, and has a student body of just over 3,000 people. The most popular majors there are economics, psychology, and political science. 

The college's website encourages students to take rigorous classes and claims to analyze each applicant individually, to see how their performance matches up with the school. College of the Holy Cross says they do not disadvantage any applicants that chose not to submit test scores.

Apply Here 

Source: College of the Holy Cross 

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21. Bowdoin College does not require test scores for most students.

Bowdoin College 2
Bowdoin College's campus. Bowdoin College/Facebook

Bowdoin is one of the top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country. Located in the small town of Brunswick, Maine, Bowdoin comes out at number five on US News and World Report's ranking of liberal arts colleges. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin was a men's-only college until 1971. Now, the college has an enrollment nearing 2,000 students. 

Bowdoin College does not require the SAT or ACT results from most of its incoming students. Students interested in applying to the university should send an application, a supplemental essay, a counselor recommendation, teacher recommendation, and a high school transcript. 

Apply Here 

Source: Bowdoin College, U.S. News and World Report 

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20. Marist College cares more about high school performance than test scores.

Marist college campus
Marist College's campus. Getty

Marist College boasts an undergraduate population of 6,474 and is located in Dutchess County, New York. Marist offers 47 bachelor's programs, Division I sports, and more than 80 clubs and organizations. 

Marist makes a point on their website to say that it places the greatest amount of weight on high school transcripts when considering applicants. Students are not required to send test scores

Apply Here 

Source: Marist College 

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19. Connecticut College does not require tests to apply.

Connecticut College Campus
Connecticut College's campus. https://www.conncoll.edu/media/header-images/campus-and-community/beautiful-campus-photos-nature-architecture-studen/campus-aerial.jpg

Connecticut College is located in New London, Connecticut, and has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,865 students. According to the school's website, 92% of Connecticut College's undergraduates ranked in the top 20% of their high school class.

The submission of standardized test scores is optional, but the university says you should send test scores, "if you feel they are representative of your achievement and will enhance your application."  

Apply Here:

Source: Connecticut College

 

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18. The University of Evansville does not require most students to submit SAT or ACT scores.

University of Evansville campus
The University of Evansville's campus. Avontbone/Wikimedia

Founded in 1854, the University of Evansville is located on 75 acres of land in Evansville, Illinois. The university says it, "values academic achievement, character, and initiative," and does not require most students to submit standardized test scores. 

Apply Here 

Souce: University of Evansville 

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17. The University of South Dakota does not require SAT or ACT scores.

University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota's campus. University of South Dakota

The university refers to itself as its state's "flagship" university. The school is located in Vermillion and has around 10,000 students. The school's website says its top fields of study are nursing, business, health sciences, and elementary education.

While you're welcome to submit test scores, you can also gain admittance by having at least a 2.6 GPA, a score of three or higher on the English Language Arts and Mathematics Smarter Balanced Assessments, or by finishing in the top 50% of your graduating class.

Apply Here

Source: University of South Dakota  

 

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16. California State University Fullerton does not require test scores from high performing students.

Cal State Fullerton mascot with students
California State-Fullerton's mascot poses with students. Getty

Located in Fullerton, California, the university has nearly 40,000 undergraduate students. Diversity is valued at CSF: Students from nearly 80 nations attend.

California State-Fullerton normally requires SAT and ACT scores, but California residents can avoid this if they have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Out of state students interested in avoiding standardized test will need a GPA of at least 3.6. 

Apply Here 

Source: California State University Fullerton 

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15. Texas Tech University will automatically admit you if you’re in the top 10% of your class.

texas tech lubbock texas
The Texas Tech campus at sunset. Flickr / Kimberly Vardeman

Located in the town of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a large research university known for its campus life and sports programs. According to the school's website, 40 of its  faculty members have received Fulbright Scholar recognition in the past 10 years.  

Texas residents who finish in the top 10% of their graduating school can avoid submitting standardized tests altogether. These students will need to send in an application and pay a $75 application fee. 

 

Apply Here 

 

Source: Texas Tech University 

 

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14. James Madison University no longer requires standardized test scores.

college sleeping james madison university
Students on the green at James Madison University. taberandrew via http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewbain/535171926/in/photolist-PhTYb-2bmrwh-2DGV2m-2Jswc3-36nJCn-3Wsbzw-3Y6PJW-48YFKZ-4g1n84-4HZFfy-4KH5Si-4MpGor-4U4K6U-4VQ9L9-52a86E-5infaN-5zm1Pu-5Ak9C8-5MjggP-5RNNVT-624iae-67aTsX-6ndQYp-6ndUpM-6ne4Mv-6pgWz8-6JT7uX-6UmjrP-6UqmKu-72ETR3-75tsaF-bBbpTB-auAmYf-8dcyPZ-aahSNy-aaf4uB-aahS3w-aaf4wR-9qTy99-7Tipq6-8SUpiM-cjuCiw-ckTokC-cjuLqG-cjuKEs-cjuLL3-cjuE75-cjuL1N-cjuEUu-cjuEvu-cjuDAb/ creative commons

James Madison University has a total undergraduate population of 19,974 and is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, only a few hours from Washington, D.C. Some of the most popular majors at the university include community health services and counseling, communication, and liberal arts and humanities, according to Niche

James Madison University does not require standardized test scores from applicants, and instead focuses primarily on high school grades. It encourages interested students to take rigorous, college level and AP courses. 

 

Apply Here 

 

Source: James Madison University 

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13. Loyola University Chicago has a test-optional policy.

Oregon State v Loyola Chicago college basketball
Marquise Kennedy #12 of the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers attempts a diving shot against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Loyola University is a private Catholic university located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has 17,007 enrolled students and is passionate about their Division I sports. According to the school's website, the school ranks seventh in female STEM graduates

Applicants who opt in for the university's test-optional policy do not have to submit SAT or ACT but are required to submit an additional essay or a letter or recommendation. 

Apply Here

Source: Loyola University Chicago

 

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12. George Mason University offers a ‘score optional’ program for select students.

George Mason University campus
George Mason University campus Getty

Founded in 1972, this relatively new university is located in Fairfax, Virginia and has a total enrollment of 37,316. George Mason offers 211 academic programs. Some of the most popular majors offered include, psychology, criminal justice, and political science.

Students can apply to George Mason using either the Common App or Mason's Exclusive Online Application. George Mason says students applying for its Score Optional program, "should demonstrate evidence of consistent, strong performance in a challenging academic curriculum by having taken a robust selection of college preparatory, honors, advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses."

 

Apply Here 

 

Source: George Mason University  

 

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11. University of Arizona lets you decide whether or not to submit test scores.

University of Arizona mascot and fans
The University of Arizona mascot with fans. Getty

The University of Arizona is located in the heart of Tucson and has an undergraduate enrollment of 35,123. The school is known for its competitive Division I sports team and some of the most popular majors include, business, management, marketing biological and biomedical sciences. 

While SAT and ACT scores are not required for admittance, students will need them in order to be considered for merit scholarships or for admission to the honors program. Homeschoolers are also required to submit scores. 

 

Apply Here 

 

 Source: University of Arizona 



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10. American University has a test-optional plan.

American University
American University's campus. Via Flickr

American University is minutes away from the nation's capital and as such, tends to attract some of the most politically active students. The schools has over 12,000 students from all 50 US states and 124 international countries

Students interested in American University will need to submit an application on the Common App or Coalition App. Pay a $75 application fee, and provide a high school transcript and letter of recommendation. Students can opt for the "test-optional" policy if they want to avoid the SAT and ACT. American University says that, "While tests help to predict your potential for success in college, your academic performance in the classroom is the most important factor in our review of your application." 

Apply Here

Source: American University 

 

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9. University of Texas Austin has a top 6% rule.

University of Texas at Austin
Facebook/University of Texas at Austin

According to World Atlas, the University of Texas ranks as the seventh largest student body in the United States. Over 51,000 students are enrolled at the school which is spread across the center of Austin, Texas. UT is known for strong academics, great nightlife, and passionate sports scene. 

Students interested in the University of Texas can apply using either Apply Texas or The Coalition for College Application. While the university typically requires SAT and ACT scores, Texas residents who are among the top 6% of their school's graduating class are guaranteed automatic admission by state law, and are not required to submit test scores. 

Apply Here 

Source: University of Texas  World Atlas 

 

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8. Wesleyan University has a ‘test optional’ option.

Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University. Wikimedia Commons

Wesleyan was founded in 1831 in Middletown, Connecticut, and is one of the top liberal arts schools in the country. Just about 3,00 students attend Wesleyan, with some of the most popular majors being economics, area studies, general English literature, and political science and government.

Wesleyan does not require standardized test scores and says: "We believe that students should have the power to decide how best to present themselves to the admissions committee and whether—or not—their standardized test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential." The University also allows you to suppress test scores or only submit your highest critical reading, writing and math scores from each test you take. 

Apply Here 

Source: Wesleyan University  College Factual 

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7. University of Delaware does not require test scores for in-state applicants.

University of Delaware football fans
Students cheering on University of Delaware football team. Getty

The University of Delaware was founded in 1743 in Newark, Delaware and currently enrolls 24,120 students. According to the university's website, Delaware's first graduating class included, "three signers of the Declaration of Independence and a signer of the Constitution." 

While most students will still have to submit an SAT or ACT score to gain admittance to U of D, in-state high school students do not. To apply, you will need to send a transcript, pay a $75 application fee, and submit an additional essay.  

Apply Here 

Source: University of Delaware  

 

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6. Rollins College has a ‘test score waived' option.

Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College
Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College. Getty

Rollins college is located in Winter Park, Florida, just minutes away from the coast. The school was established in 1885 and now has just over 3,000 students enrolled.

Rollins says about 10 percent of their application pool each year chooses not to submit standardized test scores. The university recommends the Test Score Waived Option for students, "who perform well in the classroom but whose academic strength is not reflected in their standardized test scores."

Apply Here

Source: Rollins College

 

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5. Wake Forest University says ‘numbers rarely tell the whole story.’

Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University's campus. Shutterstock/ Bryan Pollard

Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest is a renowned private university with just over 8,000 students. The school offers 45 majors, with some of the most popular including social sciences, business, management, marketing, and journalism.

Wake Forest University stopped requiring SAT and ACT submissions in 2008 and they say the following year undergraduate ethnic diversity increased by 90 percent. Prospective students will need to complete an application and send their high school transcripts. Interested students are strongly encouraged to schedule an interview with Wake Forest Admissions. 

Apply Here

Source: Wake Forest University, U.S. News and World Report 

 

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4. George Washington University is test-optional.

George Washington University best colleges
Instagram/George Washington University

George Washington is the second school on this list located in the US capital city. Over 26,000 students attend GW, which is known for its strong academics, Division I sports, and access to DC internships. George Washington University's test optional policy went into place in 2015, and since then, they've places a greater emphasis on what a student does in class versus the results of a single test.

"The best indication of whether a student will be successful at GW is their performance in high school—the grades they earn and the rigor of their coursework," the university says on its website. "This has always been the most important part of the application process at GW and this will not change, regardless of whether you choose to submit scores."

Apply Here 

Source: George Washington University

 

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3. Brandeis University has a ‘test-optional’ policy.

Brandeis University in the snow
Brandeis University in the snow Brandeis University

Brandies University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and has 3,639 students. Some of the most popular majors at Brandeis include, economics, general, biology, and business and communications.

Brandeis says they have a, "holistic, student-centered review, that "takes into account your academic performance and potential and your out-of-class activities." Prospective students will need to complete the Common App, pay a $80 application fee, a mid-year senior report, and furnish a letter of recommendation.  Students who do not want to submit SAT or ACT scores can submit three of these approved documents or they can provide "a graded analytical writing sample," from 11th or 12th grade.  

Apply Here 

Sources: Brandeis University U.S. News and World Report 

 

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2. New York University has “one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university.”

nyu, new york university
Washington Square, near New York University's campus. Flickr/Doc Searls

Located in the dense heart of downtown  Manhattan, New York University is an ultra-urban campus with over 50,000 students. While many of these students are based in the New York campus, NYU also has numerous study abroad locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. 

NYU requires all incoming first-year students complete the Common App and pay an $80 application fee. The university claims it has "one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university." While you can submit SAT or ACT scores, you can also show them an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, thee SAT subject test scores, three AP exam scores, three IB higher-level exam scores, or a variety of international examinations.

 

Apply Here

Source: New York University 

 

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1. The University of Chicago does not require SAT or ACT scores.

Obama at University of Chicago
Former president Barack Obama at the University of Chicago. Getty

The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller and is considered one of the most academically rigorous universities in the country. The school currently has 6,286 undergraduates studying across 52 majors. 

University of Chicago says they use a "holistic review" process and that no one piece of information alone determines whether or not a student will gain admittance. The university accepts both the Common App and the Coalition Application and requires a personal statement and supplemental essays. Students are encouraged to discuss their extracurricular activities. 

Apply Here 

Source: The University of Chicago 

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