US College Profiles: SAT Scores, Acceptance Rates and Testing Policies
Last updated: October 17, 2026
College comparison frequently begins with two questions: “What SAT score is expected at this university?” and “How tough is the admission?”
These are important questions, but they need to be put into perspective. SAT ranges provided by universities are typically descriptive of a previously enrolled class. Acceptance rates describe admissions decisions made based on a previous batch of applicants. Furthermore, testing requirements vary each year depending on when your child intends to enroll.
This booklet takes care of all that for you. Compare selected U.S. college profiles, get information about SAT and ACT ranges, and find out which testing requirements apply for the year 2027.
For children of Indian origin residing in the United States, this booklet also explains why applicant classification, state residence and financial planning should be in the same list as test scores.
What Information Should You Check in a College Profile?
A useful college profile helps you decide whether a university belongs on your list and what you need to prepare before applying.
| College profile detail | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Entry year | Fall 2027, fall 2028 or later | Test requirements can vary among entering classes |
| SAT and ACT policy | Required, optional, flexible or not considered | It determines whether test scores are required or considered |
| SAT score range | Reporting year and student population | Number of admitted students can differ from number of enrolled students |
| ACT score range | Composite range and reporting group | It will help you understand the meaning of your test score |
| Acceptance rate | Overall, residency-specific or program-specific | University wide percentages can obscure some significant differences |
| Academic requirements | Required courses and program prerequisites | Test scores cannot make up for missing coursework |
| Cost and financial aid | Estimated family cost and eligibility | College must have financial sense of reality |
| Application requirements | Deadlines, recommendations and score reporting | It will help you in making a complete application |
Start with the entry year. A student applying during the 2026–27 application cycle will usually be seeking fall 2027 entry. That is different from applying during 2027–28 for fall 2028 entry.
College SAT and ACT Requirements for Fall 2027
Several universities have announced future testing requirements. Families need to distinguish those announcements from the rules applying to the current admission cycle.
| College or university | Testing policy for fall 2027 entry | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard College | SAT or ACT required | Alternative options are allowed in special cases relating to test availability |
| Stanford University | SAT or ACT required | Self-reported scores will be used for admissions processing |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | SAT or ACT required | Applicable to both first-year and transfer applicants |
| Yale University | SAT or ACT required | AP or IB scores could serve as a complement to the necessary test |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | SAT or ACT required | Testing deadline depends on the selected application period |
| Princeton University | Test optional | SAT or ACT mandatory for fall 2028 applicants |
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | Test optional | SAT or ACT mandatory for fall 2028 applicants |
| Vanderbilt University | Test optional | Optional for fall 2028 applicants; mandatory from fall 2029 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | SAT and ACT not considered for admission | UC does not use these scores in scholarships decisions |
| University of California, Berkeley | SAT and ACT not considered for admission | UC does not use these scores in scholarships decisions |
These policies were checked against official university guidance. Check the relevant institution’s page again before submitting an application.
Selected US College Profiles for Admission Planning
| School | Testing Policy | Policy Details | Applicants | Acceptance Rate | SAT 25th–75th Percentile | ACT 25th–75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | Test Required | Caltech requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application process. It also requires all available AP/IB scores. CalTech does not offer merit-based aid. | 13,847 | 2.57% | — | — |
| Harvard College | Test Required | Harvard requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application process. In exceptional cases when those tests are not accessible, students may submit AP Exam, IB, GCSE/A-Level, or National Leaving Exam Results. | 54,008 | 3.65% | 1510–1580 | 34–36 |
| Stanford University | Test Required | Stanford requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application for admission. | 60,646 | 3.80% | 1520–1570 | 34–36 |
| Princeton University | Test Required | Princeton will require students to submit SAT/ACT scores beginning with the fall 2028 admissions. | 42,303 | 4.42% | 1490–1560 | 34–35 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Test Required | MIT requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 28,232 | 4.55% | 1520–1570 | 34–36 |
| Yale University | Test Required | Yale requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process. Yale does not offer merit-based aid. | 50,264 | 4.75% | 1470–1560 | 33–35 |
| Columbia University | Test Required | Columbia will require students to submit SAT/ACT scores beginning with the fall 2028 admissions. | 59,616 | 4.94% | 1510–1560 | 34–36 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Test Required | JHU requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 49,112 | 5.14% | 1530–1570 | 35 |
| Vanderbilt University | Test Required | Vanderbilt will end their temporary test optional policy with fall 2029 admissions. | 48,196 | 5.38% | 1510–1560 | 34–35 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Test Required | UPenn requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application for admission. | 65,236 | 5.40% | 1510–1570 | 34–36 |
| Dartmouth College | Test Required | Dartmouth requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Dartmouth does not offer merit-based aid. | 28,230 | 6.02% | 1440–1550 | 32–35 |
| Brown University | Test Required | Brown requires students submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their admission application. Brown does not offer merit-based aid. | 42,774 | 6.34% | 1470–1550 | 33–35 |
| Cornell University | Test Required | Cornell requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application for admission. Cornell does not offer merit-based aid. | 72,523 | 8.38% | 1490–1550 | 33–35 |
| United States Naval Academy | Test Required | USNA requires all applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process. | 16,077 | 8.81% | 1210–1430 | 25–32 |
| University of Notre Dame | Test Required | Notre Dame will end their temporary test optional policy with fall 2028 admissions. | 35,401 | 9.38% | 1460–1540 | 33–35 |
| Claremont McKenna College | Test Required | CMC intends to return to testing for students entering in fall 2028. | 6,939 | 9.44% | 1480–1540 | 33–35 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Test Required | CMU requires students to submit test scores as part of their application. The School of Computer Science only allows SAT or ACT scores. Other schools allow AP, IB, A-Level, or French Baccalaureate in the place of SAT/ACT. The College of Fine Arts is the only school that remains test optional, however portfolios or auditions are still required. | 34,867 | 11.07% | 1500–1560 | 34–36 |
| United States Military Academy | Test Required | West Point requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 12,316 | 12.46% | 1210–1420 | 27–33 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Test Required | The University System of Georgia requires students to submit an SAT or ACT test score as part of the application. | 66,881 | 13.34% | 1370–1530 | 31–35 |
| Georgetown University | Test Required | Georgetown requires submission of SAT/ACT scores for admission. Students who apply without scores will be asked to explain why they were unable to take a test. Georgetown does not offer merit-based aid. | 26,822 | 13.49% | 1410–1530 | 32–35 |
| United States Air Force Academy | Test Required | USAFA requires either the SAT or ACT. | 10,187 | 14.00% | 1230–1440 | 26–33 |
| University of Miami | Test Required | University of Miami has reinstated their testing policy for Fall 2026 applicants. | 58,167 | 17.61% | 1350–1450 | 30–33 |
| Florida A&M University | Test Required | FAMU requires either the SAT or ACT. | 26,494 | 18.65% | 1050–1180 | 20–24 |
| The Cooper Union | Test Required | Cooper Union requires applicants to the School of Engineering to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application. The schools of Architecture and Art currently remain test optional. | 1,806 | 20.99% | 1300–1500 | 28–34 |
| University of Texas—Austin | Test Required | UT Austin requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application for admission. | 90,690 | 22.22% | — | — |
| Florida State University | Test Required | Florida State University requires either the SAT or ACT. | 85,469 | 23.83% | 1300–1410 | 29–32 |
| University of Florida | Test Required | The University of Florida requires either the SAT or ACT. | 73,557 | 24.20% | 1330–1470 | 29–33 |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | Test Required | USMMA requires either the SAT or ACT. | 1,367 | 34.02% | 1110–1300 | 22–29 |
| University of Georgia | Test Required | The University System of Georgia requires students to submit an SAT or ACT test score as part of the application. | 47,464 | 34.25% | 1250–1420 | 27–33 |
| University of South Florida | Test Required | University of South Florida requries either the SAT or ACT. | 71,722 | 36.52% | 1160–1340 | 25–29 |
| University of Central Florida | Test Required | University of Central Florida requires either the SAT or ACT. | 59,629 | 42.80% | 1220–1350 | 25–30 |
| Purdue University—West Lafayette | Test Required | Purdue University requires either the SAT or ACT. | 87,220 | 43.43% | 1220–1470 | 28–34 |
| University of Tennessee | Test Required | The University of Tennessee requires SAT/ACT scores as part of the application for admission. | 53,841 | 43.58% | 1280–1380 | 26–31 |
| Auburn University | Test Required | Auburn requires either the SAT or the ACT. | 55,056 | 45.92% | 1260–1380 | 26–31 |
| Ohio State University—Columbus | Test Required | OSU requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application for admission. | 81,392 | 49.20% | 1300–1440 | 27–32 |
| Georgia State | Test Required | The University System of Georgia requires students to submit an SAT or ACT test score as part of the application. | 33,455 | 55.43% | — | — |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Test Required | Florida Institute of Technology requires either the SAT or ACT. | 17,295 | 57.70% | 1130–1310 | 23–28 |
| Florida International | Test Required | Florida International University requires either the SAT or ACT. | 36,113 | 60.85% | 1070–1260 | 22–27 |
| Gallaudet University | Test Required | Gallaudet University requires either the SAT or ACT. | 525 | 65.90% | 760–900 | 14–18 |
| Mercer University | Test Required | Mercer University requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications. | 9,813 | 68.89% | 1170–1330 | 25–31 |
| University of Alabama | Test Required | For the fall 2027 term, Bama will require SAT/ACT scores for applicants whose GPA is lower than 3.0. For the fall 2028 term and beyond, Bama will require a test score from all applicants. | 61,994 | 71.17% | 1100–1360 | 22–31 |
| University of Memphis | Test Required | UM requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their applicants. | 15,084 | 72.03% | 930–1150 | 18–24 |
| New College of Florida | Test Required | The New College of Florida requires either the SAT or ACT. | 1,623 | 73.20% | 1060–1240 | 21–27 |
| Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge | Test Required* | LSU requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of the application process. However, students with a 3.5+ GPA entering in the 2027–28 academic year may apply test optional. | 47,065 | 73.33% | 1180–1320 | 24–30 |
| University of Dallas | Test Required | University of Dallas requires first year applicants to submit offical SAT or ACT scores. | 3,777 | 73.42% | 1160–1380 | 23–30 |
| Kennesaw State University | Test Required | The University System of Georgia requires students to submit an SAT or ACT test score as part of the application. | 33,513 | 79.44% | 1010–1210 | 19–26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Test Required | Thomas Aquinas College requires requires that applicants take the SAT, the ACT, or the CLT. Thomas Aquinas College does not offer merit-based aid. | 272 | 83.09% | 1220–1400 | 28–33 |
| Georgia Southern University | Test Required | The University System of Georgia requires students to submit an SAT or ACT test score as part of the application. | 23,496 | 86.57% | 980–1140 | 18–23 |
| University of Chicago | Test Optional | UChicago offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 43,612 | 4.48% | 1510–1560 | 34–35 |
| Duke University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Duke has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. | 55,541 | 5.24% | 1510–1570 | 3 |
| Northeastern University | Test Optional | Northeastern offers a test optional policy. | 105,256 | 5.62% | 1440–1510 | 33–34 |
| Bowdoin College | Test Optional | Bowdoin College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Bowdoin does not offer merit-based aid. | 14,045 | 6.81% | 1470–1540 | 33–35 |
| Colby College | Test Optional | Colby College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Colby does not offer merit-based aid. | 19,187 | 7.00% | 1460–1550 | 32–34 |
| Pomona College | Test Optional | Pomona College offers a test optional policy which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 12,470 | 7.14% | 1490–1550 | 32–34 |
| Swarthmore College | Test Optional | Swarthmore offers a test optional policy. | 12,995 | 7.52% | 1480–1550 | 33–35 |
| Northwestern University | Test Optional | Northwestern offers a test optional policy. | 49,474 | 7.69% | 1510–1560 | 34–35 |
| Amherst College | Test Optional | Amherst offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 15,819 | 7.72% | 1470–1540 | 33–35 |
| Rice University | Test Optional | Rice recommends, but does not require, that students submit SAT or ACT test scores with their applications. | 36,791 | 8.01% | 1500–1570 | 34–36 |
| Williams College | Test Optional | Williams offers a test optional policy. | 15,520 | 8.61% | 1490–1550 | 33–35 |
| Barnard College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Barnard College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. Barnard College does not offer merit-based aid. | 11,836 | 8.84% | 1480–1540 | 32–34 |
| New York University | Test Optional (Temporary) | NYU has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admission cycle. | 114,125 | 9.06% | 1480–1550 | 34–35 |
| University of California—Los Angeles | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 145,086 | 9.41% | — | — |
| University of Southern California | Test Optional | USC offers a test optional policy. | 82,027 | 9.81% | 1450–1550 | 32–35 |
| Emory University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Emory has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. | 37,561 | 10.30% | 1480–1540 | 33–35 |
| Tufts University | Test Optional | Tufts offers a test optional policy. | 33,415 | 10.81% | 1460–1520 | 33–35 |
| University of California—Berkeley | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 126,864 | 11.45% | — | — |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Test Optional (Temporary) | Washington University in St. Louis offers a test optional policy. | 32,754 | 12.06% | 1500–1570 | 33–35 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Harvey Mudd has extended their temporary test optional policy through 2026. | 5,217 | 12.33% | 1500–1560 | 35–36 |
| Davidson College | Test Optional | Davidson offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission with SAT or ACT scores. Homeschooled students and students who attend non-traditional schools are recommended to submit scores. | 8,933 | 12.62% | 1410–1500 | 32–34 |
| Middlebury College | Test Optional | Middlebury offers a test optional policy | 11,831 | 12.77% | 1460–1530 | 33–35 |
| Boston University | Test Optional (Temporary) | BU has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2027–28 admission cycle. | 76,776 | 12.83% | 1420–1510 | 33–34 |
| Haverford College | Test Optional | Haverford offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission with SAT or ACT scores. Haverford does not offer merit-based aid. | 6,730 | 13.31% | 1460–1530 | 33–35 |
| Washington and Lee University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Washington and Lee has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. | 8,963 | 13.54% | 1430–1530 | 33–34 |
| Hamilton College | Test Optional | Hamilton offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Hamilton does not offer merit-based aid. | 8,904 | 13.59% | 1440–1510 | 33–35 |
| Boston College | Test Optional | Boston College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2024–25 admissions cycle. | 39,686 | 13.85% | 1440–1520 | 33–35 |
| Colgate University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Colgate University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. | 20,682 | 13.88% | 1450–1530 | 33–34 |
| Tulane University | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Tulane currently offers a test optional policy. However, scores are required for admission to the Pathways to Medicine program and preferred for merit scholarships. | 32,942 | 14.46% | 1430–1500 | 32–34 |
| Grinnell College | Test Optional | Grinnell offers a test optional policy. | 9,758 | 14.51% | 1430–1520 | 31–34 |
| Wellesley College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Wellesley College has extended their temporary test optional policy to fall 2027 admission. | 8,506 | 14.79% | 1460–1540 | 33–35 |
| Bates College | Test Optional | Bates offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Bates does not offer merit-based aid. | 9,660 | 14.83% | 1330–1510 | 31–34 |
| University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 66,535 | 15.34% | 1400–1530 | 28–34 |
| University of Michigan—Ann Arbor | Test Optional | The University of Michigan offers a test optional policy. | 98,310 | 15.64% | 1360–1530 | 31–34 |
| University of Virginia | Test Optional (Temporary) | UVA has extended their temporary test optional policy to fall 2027 admissions. | 64,457 | 15.65% | 1410–1510 | 32–34 |
| Berea College | Test Optional | Berea College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,633 | 15.67% | 1190 | 25 |
| Babson College | Test Optional | Babson has adopted a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 10,552 | 16.00% | 1450–1530 | 32–34 |
| Wesleyan University | Test Optional | Wesleyan University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. International students will not be required to submit SAT or ACT scores for the 2020-21 admission cycle. | 14,389 | 16.49% | 1300–1500 | 31–34 |
| College of the Holy Cross | Test Optional | The College of the Holy Cross offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 9,568 | 18.00% | 1240–1410 | 27–32 |
| Denison University | Test Optional | Denison offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 12,202 | 19.55% | 1270–1420 | 28–33 |
| Wake Forest University | Test Optional | Wake Forest offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 19,600 | 20.76% | 1420–1490 | 32–34 |
| Vassar College | Test Optional | Vassar offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Vassar College does not offer merit-based aid. | 11,118 | 20.93% | 1460–1520 | 33–34 |
| Hillsdale College | Test Optional | Hillsdale College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,181 | 21.00% | 1340–1470 | 30–33 |
| Carleton College | Test Optional | Carleton College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 6,796 | 21.78% | 1460–1530 | 32–35 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | Test Required | USCGA requires applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 1,943 | 21.98% | 1240–1400 | 27–32 |
| Colorado College | Test Optional | Colorado College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 8,822 | 22.09% | 1240–1430 | 28–34 |
| University of Richmond | Test Optional (Temporary) | University of Richmond has extended their temporary test optional policy to fall 2027 admissions. | 16,152 | 22.20% | 1430–1510 | 33–35 |
| Smith College | Test Optional | Smith College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 8,102 | 22.41% | 1420–1520 | 32–34 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Test Optional | Rhode Island School of Design offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international and homeschooled students are still required to submit test scores. | 6,561 | 23.38% | — | — |
| Skidmore College | Test Optional | Skidmore College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 12,273 | 23.77% | 1360–1460 | 31–34 |
| Spelman College | Test Optional | Spelman offers a test optional policy. | 11,533 | 23.78% | 1100–1300 | 22–28 |
| Trinity University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Trinity University has extended their test optional policy to the 2025–26 admission cycle. | 11,927 | 24.88% | 1330–1460 | 30–34 |
| Pitzer College | Test Optional | Pitzer has extended their temporary test free policy to fall 2027 admissions, with the intention of returning to test optional for fall 2028. | 3,683 | 26.85% | — | — |
| Macalester College | Test Optional | Macalester College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, Macalester recommends that homeschooled students and students who attend high schools that do not provide grades submit SAT or ACT scores. | 8,819 | 28.13% | 1350–1480 | 30–33 |
| Villanova University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Villanova has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admission cycle. | 25,841 | 28.14% | 1420–1490 | 32–34 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Test Optional | Bryn Mawr offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,260 | 28.15% | 1300–1470 | 29–33 |
| The Citadel | Test Optional | The Citadel is a test optional institution. | 2,989 | 28.47% | 1010–1220 | 21–26 |
| University of California—San Diego | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 136,750 | 28.56% | — | — |
| University of California—Irvine | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 124,231 | 28.95% | — | — |
| Lehigh University | Test Optional | Lehigh offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 19,342 | 28.96% | 1380–1480 | 31–34 |
| Reed College | Test Free (Temporary) | Reed has extended their temporary test free admission policy to the fall 2026 period. | 9,606 | 29.19% | 1320–1490 | 29–34 |
| Trinity College (Hartford) | Test Optional | Trinity offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,273 | 29.53% | 1350–1460 | 31–33 |
| California State Polytechnic University—San Luis Obispo | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 71,309 | 29.96% | 1240–1420 | 28–33 |
| Kenyon College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Kenyon has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2026 semester. | 7,091 | 30.15% | 1400–1500 | 31–34 |
| Lafayette College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Lafayette College extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2028 term. | 10,556 | 31.16% | 1360–1490 | 31–33 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Test Optional | Franklin and Marshall College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. Franklin and Marshall does not offer merit-based aid. | 9,634 | 31.63% | 1310–1470 | 29–32 |
| Bucknell University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Bucknell University adopted a temporary test optional policy for first-year students. However, all students are required to submit scores upon enrollment. Bucknell will use the pilot period to assess the patterns of success for test score submitters and non-submitters. | 11,561 | 32.20% | 1170–1360 | 25–32 |
| Fairfield University | Test Optional | Fairfield University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 18,509 | 33.29% | 1270–1370 | 29–32 |
| Oberlin College | Test Optional | Oberlin College offers a test optional policy. | 10,529 | 34.16% | 1370–1500 | 31–34 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Case Western offers a test optional policy. | 39,332 | 35.31% | 1440–1530 | 32–34 |
| University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign | Test Optional | University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign offers a test optional oplicy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 83,045 | 36.59% | 1390–1520 | 31–34 |
| College of William and Mary | Test Optional | William and Mary offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 16,895 | 36.96% | 1390–1520 | 32–34 |
| Bennington College | Test Optional | Bennington has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 2,709 | 37.21% | 1340–1480 | 33–34 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Test Optional (Temporary) | Hampden-Sydney College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2026 period. | 3,284 | 37.36% | 1050–1310 | 22–29 |
| San Diego State University | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 95,444 | 37.41% | — | — |
| University of California—Santa Barbara | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 110,187 | 38.20% | — | — |
| Mount Holyoke College | Test Optional | Mount Holyoke College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,619 | 38.41% | 1370–1490 | 30–32 |
| Binghamton University—SUNY | Test Optional | The SUNY system offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 53,007 | 38.61% | 1360–1480 | 31–34 |
| Gettysburg College | Test Optional | Gettysburg College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, Gettysburg recommends that both international and homeschooled students submit SAT or ACT scores. | 8,366 | 38.90% | 1270–1460 | 29–32 |
| Connecticut College | Test Optional | Connecticut College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,338 | 39.18% | 1160–1370 | 26–32 |
| Scripps College | Test Optional | Scripps offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,230 | 39.88% | 1430–1500 | 32–34 |
| Whitman College | Test Optional | Whitman College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international and homeschooled students are strongly encouraged to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 6,950 | 40.16% | 1190–1420 | 29–33 |
| Clark University | Test Optional | Clark University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 10,936 | 40.47% | 1270–1410 | 26–32 |
| Howard University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Howard has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admission cycle. | 34,211 | 41.34% | 1050–1250 | 22–28 |
| Dickinson College | Test Optional | Dickinson offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,719 | 41.49% | 1340–1440 | 29–32 |
| North Carolina State University—Raleigh | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 44,109 | 41.67% | 1290–1440 | 25–32 |
| University of Washington—Seattle | Test Optional | The University of Washington—Seattle offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 72,933 | 41.75% | 1320–1500 | 30–34 |
| University of Rochester | Test Optional | The University of Rochester offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 21,609 | 41.91% | 1400–1510 | 30–34 |
| Clemson University | Test Optional | Clemson offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 64,805 | 42.43% | 1250–1400 | 28–32 |
| Millsaps College | Test Optional | Millsaps College offers a test optional policy. | 2,340 | 43.12% | 1030–1150 | 21–28 |
| St. Olaf College | Test Optional | St. Olaf College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,310 | 43.38% | 1320–1440 | 28–32 |
| Union College (NY) | Test Optional | Union College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and those applying for the Leadership in Medicine program or the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program are not eligible for test optional admission. | 9,246 | 43.42% | 1320–1470 | 30–34 |
| Southwestern University | Test Optional | Southwestern University has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 5,879 | 43.48% | 1170–1340 | 24–30 |
| Morehouse College | Test Optional | Morehouse offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,733 | 44.01% | — | 18–25 |
| University of California—Davis | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 102,988 | 44.35% | — | — |
| Occidental College | Test Optional | Oxy offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,490 | 44.85% | 1400–1510 | 31–34 |
| University of Maryland—College Park | Test Optional (Temporary) | UMD has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2027 term. | 67,101 | 45.03% | 1410–1520 | 32–35 |
| University of Wisconsin—Madison | Test Optional (Temporary) | The University of Wisiconsin—Madison has extended its temporary test optional policy to the spring 2028 term. | 65,933 | 45.17% | 1370–1490 | 29–33 |
| Brandeis University | Test Optional | Brandeis University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 9,756 | 45.41% | 1370–1470 | 31–34 |
| California State University—Long Beach | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 88,276 | 45.43% | — | — |
| Syracuse University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Syracuse extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admissions cycle. | 44,480 | 46.00% | 1270–1440 | 29–32 |
| George Washington University | Test Optional* | George Washington University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants applying to the accelerated Seven-Year B.A./M.D. Program, students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter grades, and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 27,034 | 47.13% | 1310–1450 | 31–34 |
| Bentley University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Bentley University currently offers a test optional policy. | 11,403 | 47.29% | 1230–1370 | 29–31 |
| Southern Methodist University | Test Optional | SMU offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 24,053 | 47.64% | 1360–1470 | 31–34 |
| Austin College | Test Optional | Austin College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,826 | 47.68% | 1120–1300 | 22–30 |
| Santa Clara University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Santa Clara University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026 terms. | 20,032 | 47.88% | 1330–1470 | 29–33 |
| CUNY—Baruch College | Test Optional (Temporary) | The CUNY system has extended their temporary test optional policy through Spring 2027. | 28,111 | 48.00% | 1100–1400 | — |
| Texas Christian University | Test Optional (Temporary) | TCU has extended their temporary test optional policy through 2027. | 22,680 | 48.09% | 1110–1330 | 26–31 |
| Centre College | Test Optional | Centre College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scors. | 4,165 | 48.16% | 1200–1410 | 26–31 |
| Stony Brook University—SUNY | Test Optional | The SUNY system offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 64,197 | 48.18% | 1350–1470 | 30–34 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Test Optional | LMU offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 22,798 | 48.21% | 1270–1410 | 28–33 |
| Furman University | Test Optional | Furman University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 9,312 | 48.68% | 1280–1410 | 29–33 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Stevens Institute of Technology has extended their temporary test optional policy, with some exceptions, for Fall 2029. However, students applying to the Pinnacle Scholars Program and Accelerated Pre-Medicine/Pre-Law programs are required to submit scores. | 10,499 | 50.68% | 1370–1470 | 32–34 |
| Providence College | Test Optional | Providence College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 12,521 | 50.89% | 1100–1310 | 25–31 |
| Emerson College | Test Optional | Emerson College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 10,378 | 51.00% | 1270–1420 | 29–32 |
| Rhodes College | Test Optional | Rhodes offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,682 | 51.51% | 1360–1470 | 28–32 |
| Texas A&M University—College Station | Test Optional | Texas A&M offers a test optional policy. | 62,967 | 51.66% | 1160–1390 | 24–32 |
| Bard College | Test Optional | Bard College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,583 | 52.00% | 1270–1450 | 28–32 |
| Baylor University | Test Optional | Baylor offers a test optional policy. However, test scores are encouraged. | 44,924 | 52.22% | 1190–1370 | 26–32 |
| University of Connecticut | Test Optional | UConn offers a test optionall policy. | 55,479 | 52.39% | 1220–1420 | 28–33 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Test Optional | Illinois Wesleyan offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 10,318 | 52.90% | 1120–1340 | 25–30 |
| Rollins College | Test Optional | Rollins offers a test optional policy ("test scores waived option"), which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants to the 3/2 Accelerated Management Program or the Honors Degree Program must submit test scores. | 8,407 | 53.06% | 1210–1340 | 26–30 |
| University of San Diego | Test Free (Temporary) | University of San Diego has extended their temporary test free policy to fall 2028 admission. | 17,468 | 53.58% | — | — |
| CUNY—Hunter | Test Optional (Temporary) | The CUNY system has extended their temporary test optional policy through Spring 2027. | 32,271 | 54.00% | 1100–1420 | — |
| SUNY—Geneseo | Test Optional | SUNY-Geneseo offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 17,033 | 54.42% | 1220–1330 | 26–28 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Virginia Tech has extended their temporary test optional policy through Fall 2028. | 57,755 | 54.57% | 1280–1450 | 28–32 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Test Optional | Illinois Tech offers a test optional policy. | 12,216 | 55.00% | 1180–1440 | 26–32 |
| St. John's College—Annapolis | Test Optional | St. John's College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who will not earn high school diplomas are not eligible for test optional admission. Most international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 849 | 55.01% | 1270–1440 | 27–32 |
| Pennsylvania State University—University Park | Test Optional* | Penn State offers a test optional policy. However, applications to the accelerated premedical program are required to submit scores. | 106,547 | 55.33% | 1280–1410 | 28–32 |
| St. Lawrence University | Test Optional | St. Lawrence offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 5,229 | 55.82% | 1270–1380 | 27–31 |
| DePauw University | Test Optional | DePauw University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who wish to apply for an Honor Scholar or Fellows program are not eligible for test optional admission. | 6,772 | 55.85% | 1170–1390 | 26–32 |
| Yeshiva University | Test Optional* | Yeshiva offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for regular admission without SAT/AC scores. However, honors applicants are required to submit scores. | 1,665 | 55.98% | 1340–1510 | 29–33 |
| Hendrix College | Test Optional | Hendrix College has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students who are native speakers of English are not eligible for test optional admission. | 3,161 | 55.99% | 1120–1350 | 23–31 |
| Marist College | Test Optional | Marist College offers a test optional policy, offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students applying to some programs are not eligible for test optional admission. | 11,274 | 56.51% | 1210–1350 | 25–31 |
| Sewanee: University of the South | Test Optional | Sewanee—The University of the South offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,703 | 57.01% | 1260–1390 | 27–31 |
| Wabash College | Test Optional | Wabash offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 2,496 | 57.05% | 1130–1340 | 24–30 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Test Optional* | Queens University of Charlotte offers a test optional policy, however, applicants to the BSN Direct Admit program are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 5,142 | 57.35% | 1160–1340 | 20–27 |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick | Test Optional | Rutgers—New Brunswick offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 68,614 | 58.00% | 1310–1500 | 28–33 |
| Allegheny College | Test Optional | Allegheny College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 6,151 | 58.77% | 1160–1360 | 21–28 |
| Fordham University | Test Optional | Fordham University offersd a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 43,364 | 59.31% | 1340–1470 | 30–33 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Test Optional (Temporary) | Pitt has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2027–28 admission cycle. | 64,724 | 59.45% | 1280–1450 | 29–33 |
| University of Alaska—Anchorage | Test Free | At UAA, standardized test scores are not used in the admission decision; however, they are used for placement into math and English courses. | 4,184 | 59.58% | 1020–1210 | 17–24 |
| University of Massachusetts—Amherst | Test Optional | UMass Amherst offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 53,117 | 59.89% | 1330–1480 | 30–34 |
| University of South Carolina | Test Optional (Temporary) | The University of South Carolina has extended their temporary test optional policy through Fall 2026 admissions. | 52,703 | 60.15% | 1190–1350 | 26–32 |
| Wofford College | Test Optional | Wofford College has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,425 | 60.18% | — | — |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Test Optional | Gustavus Adolphus College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,294 | 60.99% | — | 24–30 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Test Optional | Mines offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 11,436 | 61.00% | 1320–1480 | 29–33 |
| The College of New Jersey | Test Optional* (Temporary) | TCNJ has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2025–26 admission cycle. However, test scores are required for Nursing students and the Accelerated Seven-Year Medical School opportunities. | 12,793 | 61.48% | 1140–1330 | 25–30 |
| Lake Forest College | Test Optional | Lake Forest College has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Test optional applicants must complete an interview. Homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,711 | 61.60% | 1200–1370 | 27–30 |
| University of San Francisco | Test Optional | University of San Francisco offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 24,888 | 61.71% | 1200–1380 | 25–30 |
| Sarah Lawrence College | Test Optional | Sarah Lawrence College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,617 | 61.73% | 1270–1440 | 28–31 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Test Optional | WPI offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 12,355 | 61.89% | — | — |
| University of Tulsa | Test Optional (Temporary) | University of Tulsa offers a test optional policy through the Fall 2026 term. | 5,121 | 62.00% | 1220–1350 | 25–34 |
| Hampton University | Test Optional* | Hampton University requires either the SAT or ACT, however they will waive this requirement for students with a 3.3+ GPA or who rank in the top 10% of their class. | 17,885 | 62.00% | 790–1090 | 13–22 |
| Kent State | Test Optional | Kent State requires either the SAT or ACT. | 25,526 | 62.74% | 990–1230 | 18–25 |
| Wheaton College (MA) | Test Optional | Wheaton College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, Wheaton encourages students whose first language is not English to submit their SAT or ACT scores along with the required English proficiency testing. | 6,014 | 62.82% | 1220–1370 | 27–32 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Test Optional | The SUNY system offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,745 | 62.99% | — | — |
| New School | Test Optional | The New School offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 9,828 | 63.00% | — | — |
| Concordia College—Moorhead | Test Optional | Concordia College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,763 | 63.01% | — | 21–26 |
| Elon University | Test Optional* | Elon offers a test optional policy. However, students applying to the Nursing, Accelerated Pathways to PA and DPT and the Accelerated 3+1 Business Dual-Degree programs are required to submit scores. Nursing applicants must have a minimum SAT score of 1100 and ACT 22. Home-schooled applicants and students attending U.S. high schools that do not issue letter grades are required to submit standardized test scores for admission and scholarship consideration. | 18,557 | 63.26% | 1190–1340 | 25–31 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Test Optional* (Temporary) | RPI has extended their temporary test optional police to the fall 2027 semester. However, students applying to the Physician-Scientist Program will be required to submit the appropriate testing. | 17,193 | 63.43% | 1390–1500 | 30–34 |
| Agnes Scott College | Test Optional | Agnes Scott College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 2,070 | 63.53% | 1100–1280 | 25–31 |
| University of Texas—Dallas | Test Optional | UTD offers a test optional policy. | 36,353 | 63.58% | 1170–1390 | 24–32 |
| Drake University | Test Optional | Drake University offers a test optional policy, which it refers to as a "test-flexible" plan, which allows students to either write an essay or sit for an interview in lieu of submitting test scores. However, homeschooled students, as well as applicants to certain programs, are not eligible for test optional admission. | 9,873 | 63.85% | 1120–1320 | 24–29 |
| Lawrence University | Test Optional | Lawrence University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,270 | 63.94% | 1240–1420 | 24–31 |
| Berry College | Test Optional | Berry College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without standardized test scores. | 6,544 | 64.00% | 1130–1330 | 22–28 |
| Coe College | Test Optional* | Coe College requires either the SAT or ACT, however, it will waive this requirement if you have a 3.0+ GPA. | 8,633 | 64.00% | 1070–1290 | 23–29 |
| The College of Wooster | Test Optional | The College of Wooster offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,568 | 64.38% | 1250–1440 | 27–32 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Test Optional | Ohio Wesleyan University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,706 | 64.49% | — | — |
| University of North Carolina—Wilmington | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 22,359 | 64.73% | 1240–1350 | 24–29 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Daytona Beach | Test Optional | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a test optional policy, though SAT or ACT they are strongly encouraged. Homeschooled students must provide SAT or ACT scores and show academic strength through AP Exams. | 11,232 | 65.00% | 1160–1360 | 24–30 |
| Presbyterian College (SC) | Test Optional | Presbyterian College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 3,217 | 65.15% | 1160–1240 | 21–26 |
| American University | Test Optional | American University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 20,960 | 65.56% | 1320–1440 | 30–33 |
| Drury University | Test Optional | Drury University offers a test optional policy, which allows domestic students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 2,409 | 65.75% | 1110–1250 | 22–28 |
| Abilene Christian University | Test Optional | ACU offers a test optional policy. However, only students who submit test scores will be considered for the honors college and elligible for some scholarships. | 11,332 | 66.00% | 1070–1270 | 22–28 |
| Stonehill College | Test Free (Temporary) | Stonehill College has has extended their temporary test free policy to spring 2027. | 8,383 | 66.00% | — | — |
| St. John Fisher University | Test Optional | Fisher offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,836 | 66.07% | 1120–1300 | 24–30 |
| Augustana College | Test Optional | Augustana College has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Test optional applicants may be asked to complete an interview. However, homeschooled applicants and international applicants are not eligible for test optional admission. | 7,956 | 66.28% | 1020–1280 | 21–28 |
| University of Dayton | Test Optional | The University of Dayton offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 22,247 | 66.59% | 1210–1350 | 26–31 |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Test Optional | Hobart and William Smith Colleges offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 5,865 | 66.68% | 1190–1380 | 27–32 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Test Optional | Rochester Institute of Technology offers a test optional policy, which allows students applying to most programs to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Students applying to imaging science, motion picture science, and photographic sciences within the College of Art & Design must still provide test scores | 27,892 | 66.98% | 1300–1440 | 27–33 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Test Optional | MSOE offers a test optional policy. | 5,020 | 67.11% | 1210–1380 | 24–30 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Test Optional (Temporary) | NJIT has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2027 term. | 18,170 | 67.37% | 1220–1430 | 28–34 |
| Hollins University | Test Optional | Hollins offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 2,684 | 67.47% | 1110–1250 | 25–28 |
| Lipscomb University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Lipscomb University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2026 term. | 4,257 | 67.77% | 1120–1370 | 21–29 |
| Drew University | Test Optional | Drew University offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,024 | 67.99% | 1100–1340 | 24–30 |
| Brigham Young University—Provo | Test Optional (Temporary) | BYU has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Winter 2028 term. | 12,141 | 68.62% | 1290–1430 | 28–32 |
| James Madison University | Test Optional | James Madison University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 42,595 | 68.79% | 1180–1330 | 24–29 |
| University of the Pacific | Test Optional | University of the Pacific offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 8,656 | 69.05% | 1220–1450 | 26–34 |
| Texas Tech University | Test Optional | Texas Tech offers a test optional policy. | 38,566 | 69.06% | 1110–1260 | 23–28 |
| University of Delaware | Test Optional | University of Delaware offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 39,742 | 69.24% | 1220–1370 | 28–32 |
| University of Arkansas—Fayetteville | Test Optional* | The University of Arkansas requires either the SAT or the ACT. Applicants with a 3.2+ GPA may apply test optional, however, they are required to submit scores for enrollment. | 34,928 | 69.39% | 1020–1210 | 21–28 |
| Pepperdine University | Test Optional | Pepperdine offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 13,445 | 69.40% | 1240–1410 | 28–32 |
| Soka University of America | Test Optional | Soka University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 397 | 69.52% | 1200–1470 | 25–31 |
| Loyola University Maryland | Test Optional | Loyola University Maryland offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 11,850 | 69.86% | 1250–1370 | 29–33 |
| Drexel University | Test Optional* | Drexel offers a test optional policy. However, students applying to the BA/BS+MD Early Assurance Program are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. | 38,030 | 69.90% | 1260–1430 | 28–33 |
| Simmons University | Test Optional | Simmons University offers a test optional policy. | 4,773 | 70.00% | 1220–1390 | 26–34 |
| Ithaca College | Test Optional | Ithaca College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 12,735 | 70.15% | 1240–1370 | 29–32 |
| Beloit College | Test Optional | Beloit offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,674 | 70.39% | 1110–1400 | 26–31 |
| University at Albany—SUNY | Test Optional | The SUNY system offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 35,664 | 70.44% | — | — |
| University of North Texas | Test Optional* | University of North Texas requires either the SAT or ACT. However, they will waive this requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA. | 41,247 | 70.89% | 960–1210 | 19–26 |
| Carroll College | Test Optional* | Carroll College requires either the SAT or ACT, however it will waive this requirement for students with a 2.85+ unweighted GPA. Students who are homeschooled, wish to apply to Direct Entry Nursing, or wish to participate in intercollegiate athletics are not eligible for test optional admission. | 1,854 | 70.98% | 1050–1300 | 21–27 |
| University of La Verne | Test Optional | University of La Verne offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,110 | 71.00% | 990–1230 | 18–25 |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Newark | Test Free* | Rutgers—Newark offers a test free policy, which means they will not consider SAT or ACT scores as part of the admission process. However, applicants to the 7-year BA/MD joint program are required to submit scores. | 36,793 | 71.00% | — | — |
| Lewis & Clark College | Test Free | Lewis and Clark offers a test free policy, which means they will not consider SAT or ACT scores as part of the application. | 5,804 | 71.18% | — | — |
| Stetson University | Test Optional | Stetson University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 11,957 | 71.67% | 950–1190 | 18–27 |
| Muhlenberg College | Test Optional | Muhlenberg College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 4,963 | 71.99% | 1250–1410 | 29–33 |
| Quinnipiac University | Test Optional | Quinnipiac University offers a test optional policy, which allows most students applying to the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communications and School of Engineering to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Homeschooled students must provide test scores. | 23,949 | 72.00% | 1150–1320 | 25–30 |
| Chapman University | Test Optional | Chapman offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who graduate from schools without traditional grades are not eligible for test optional admission. | 14,769 | 72.06% | 1260–1420 | 28–32 |
| Adelphi University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Adelphi University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2027–28 admissions cycle. | 17,232 | 72.15% | 1240 | — |
| University of Rhode Island | Test Optional | University of Rhode Island offers a test optional policy. | 26,987 | 72.16% | 1020–1260 | — |
| University of Puget Sound | Test Optional | Puget Sound offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter grades and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,711 | 72.41% | 1200–1370 | 27–32 |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | Test Optional | Saint Mary's College of Maryland has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants and applicants with non-traditional academic transcripts are not eligible for test optional admission. | 3,504 | 72.55% | 1110–1320 | 23–31 |
| Hofstra University | Test Optional | Hofstra Univeristy offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 21,771 | 72.67% | 1260–1390 | 28–32 |
| University of California—Santa Cruz | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 66,374 | 72.73% | — | — |
| College of Charleston | Test Optional | College of Charleston is test optional. | 32,326 | 73.00% | 1160–1300 | 23–29 |
| Seton Hall University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Seton Hall has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2029 term. | 54,776 | 73.00% | 1220–1390 | 27–32 |
| University of Vermont | Test Optional | University of Vermont offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 25,434 | 73.04% | 1300–1430 | 29–33 |
| Luther College | Test Optional | Luther College offers a test optional policy. However, who do not meet the minimum academic requirements may be asked to provide additional transcripts, test scores, educator references, or essays. | 2,450 | 73.47% | 1190–1390 | 20–29 |
| Taylor University | Test Optional | Taylor University offers a test optional policy, though SAT or ACT scores are preferred. Students who choose not to submit scores may be asked to provide more information or complete proficiency exams. | 2,425 | 73.53% | 1080–1320 | 24–31 |
| Oklahoma State University | Test Optional | Oklahoma State University offers a test optional policy. However, test scores are required for most university scholarships. | 28,024 | 73.67% | 1060–1250 | 20–27 |
| California State Polytechnic University—Pomona | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 48,258 | 73.95% | — | — |
| Virginia Military Institute | Test Optional (Temporary) | VMI currently offers a test optional policy. However, some scholarships require the submission of SAT/ACT scores. | 2,233 | 74.12% | 1090–1280 | 21–28 |
| University of Mary Washington | Test Optional | The University of Mary Washington offers a test optional policy, which allows students to petition to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, students applying for the Pre-Nursing Program or merit based scholarships and homeschooled students are not eligible for test choice. | 5,670 | 74.13% | 1180–1340 | 27–30 |
| Albion College | Test Optional | Albion offers a test optional application policy. | 8,048 | 74.37% | — | — |
| Bradley University | Test Optional | Bradley University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 8,539 | 74.59% | — | — |
| Elmhurst College | Test Optional | Elmhurst offers a test optional policy. Students who choose to apply TO will be required to submit an essay. | 6,743 | 74.91% | 1000–1250 | 23–32 |
| High Point University | Test Optional | High Point University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, students seeking some merit scholarship or those who wish to be placed in the Honors Program need to submit test scores. | 17,572 | 75.00% | 1110–1320 | 24–33 |
| Saint Louis University | Test Optional | Saint Louis University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 15,533 | 75.00% | 1200–1410 | 25–31 |
| Kalamazoo College | Test Optional | Kalamazoo College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,553 | 75.01% | 1170–1380 | 20–29 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Test Optional | Loyola University Chicago offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without standardized test scores. However, students applying for admission to the Bachelor of Nursing and Engineering Science programs will still be required to submit a self-reported test score as part of the requirement for review. | 43,954 | 75.10% | 1220–1390 | 26–31 |
| Miami University—Oxford | Test Optional (Temporary) | Miami Ohio offers a test optional policy. | 39,580 | 75.40% | 1240–1380 | 25–30 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | Test Optional | PLNU does not require an SAT or ACT score for admission. Some merit aid at PLNU does still require a test score to be awarded. | 3,566 | 75.57% | 1140–1350 | 25–31 |
| California Lutheran University | Test Optional | California Lutheran University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission, and test scores are required to qualify for some merit scholarships. | 6,005 | 75.67% | 1120–1330 | 24–31 |
| University of Illinois—Chicago | Test Optional | UIC offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 29,929 | 75.76% | 1030–1300 | 24–31 |
| University of Houston | Test Optional* | University of Houston requires the SAT or ACT. However, they will waive this requirement for students who rank in the top 10% of their class or have a 3.45+ GPA. | 34,729 | 75.76% | 1140–1310 | 22–29 |
| Indiana University—Bloomington | Test Optional | Indiana University—Bloomington offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who attend schools with nontraditional grading systems are not eligible for test optional admission. | 74,077 | 75.89% | 1200–1410 | 28–33 |
| University of Idaho | Test Optional* | The University of Idahos requires either the SAT or the ACT. However, applicants may apply test-optional with a 3.0+ GPA. | 13,443 | 76.00% | 990–1230 | 20–26 |
| John Brown University | Test Optional | JBU offers a test optional admission policy. However, some international students may be required to submit scores. | 1,647 | 76.02% | 1070–1340 | 21–28 |
| University of Colorado—Boulder | Test Optional | University of Colorado—Boulder offers a test optional admission policy. | 68,931 | 76.21% | 1180–1390 | 27–33 |
| St. Mary's College (IN) | Test Optional | Saint Mary's College has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 2,573 | 76.41% | 1080–1240 | 26–30 |
| Seattle University | Test Optional | Seattle University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants are not elligible for test optional admission. | 8,468 | 77.00% | 1200–1430 | 23–30 |
| University of North Dakota | Test Optional | University of North Dakota offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. | 8,261 | 77.00% | — | — |
| Willamette University | Test Optional | Willamette University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,832 | 77.01% | 1240–1440 | 28–33 |
| Westmont College | Test Optional | Westmont College offers a test otional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 2,483 | 77.04% | 1220–1430 | 25–32 |
| Knox College | Test Optional | Knox College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,469 | 77.20% | 1150–1410 | 26–31 |
| University of Akron | Test Optional | The University of Akron offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scors. | 13,503 | 77.22% | 960–1200 | 17–25 |
| West Virginia University | Test Optional | WVU has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 20,150 | 77.27% | 1010–1210 | 20–26 |
| Oregon State University | Test Optional | Oregon State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 30,293 | 77.30% | 1160–1390 | 24–31 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Test Optional | Baldwin Wallace University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. However, home schooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 4,406 | 77.39% | 1080–1260 | 24–28 |
| University of Oklahoma | Test Optional | University of Oklahoma offers a test optional policy. | 29,195 | 77.62% | 1160–1310 | 23–28 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Test Optional* | Eastern Michigan University requires SAT or ACT scores as part of the application. However, student with a 2.75+ GPA are permitted to apply test optional. | 18,548 | 77.72% | 920–1160 | 18–25 |
| Marquette University | Test Optional | Marquette University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores, to both domestic and international applicants. | 20,002 | 78.02% | 1230–1360 | 26–30 |
| Biola University | Test Optional | Biola University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,656 | 78.17% | 1150–1390 | 23–30 |
| University of Missouri | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Mizzou has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2027 term. Homeschooled students and students from non-accredited high schools are not eligible for test optional admissions. | 24,490 | 78.47% | 1150–1330 | 23–30 |
| Missouri University of Science & Technology | Test Optional (Temporary) | Missouri S&T has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2026 term. | 8,330 | 78.63% | 1220–1380 | 25–31 |
| University of Minnesota—Twin Cities | Test Optional (Temporary) | University of Minnesota—Twin Cities has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2027 term. | 43,929 | 78.87% | 1310–1460 | 26–32 |
| Earlham College | Test Optional | Earlham offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 2,128 | 79.04% | 1080–1270 | 24–30 |
| University of North Carolina—Charlotte | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 23,887 | 79.60% | 1150–1320 | 21–28 |
| Gonzaga University | Test Optional | Gonzaga University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. | 8,906 | 79.62% | 1230–1380 | 29–32 |
| Cornell College | Test Optional | Cornell College has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Students who apply test optional are expected to respond to two additional written prompts on their applications, and to submit portfolios. | 2,522 | 79.90% | 1130–1260 | 23–30 |
| University of Iowa | Test Optional | University of Iowa is test optional, which means eligible students can apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 31,454 | 79.90% | 1130–1320 | 21–28 |
| University of New Mexico | Test Optional | UNM offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. However, home-schooled and non-traditional students are not eligible for TO admission. Scores are also necessary for some scholarships. | 13,589 | 79.96% | 920–1170 | 20–26 |
| Ripon College | Test Optional | Ripon College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 1,974 | 79.99% | 980–1270 | 21–27 |
| University of Texas—Arlington | Test Optional | UTA is test score optional for admission. However, test scores can help in determining admissions decisions, scholarship opportunities, and Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exemptions. | 24,623 | 80.00% | 1010–1240 | 19–27 |
| San Jose State University | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 37,124 | 80.39% | 1010–1270 | 17–27 |
| Towson University | Test Optional | Towson offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 20,772 | 80.57% | 920–1230 | 20–27 |
| University at Buffalo—SUNY | Test Optional | The SUNY system offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 45,637 | 80.59% | 1220–1390 | 27–31 |
| Washington and Jefferson College | Test Free | Washington and Jefferson College has a test free policy, which means they do not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if they are submitted. | 3,947 | 80.64% | 1030–1260 | 20–30 |
| Susquehanna University | Test Optional | Susquehanna University offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 5,513 | 81.01% | 1100–1300 | 21–29 |
| Goucher College | Test Optional | Goucher College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 2,808 | 81.91% | 1100–1320 | 27–30 |
| Butler University | Test Optional | Butler University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants who major in Pre-Pharmacy, Health Sciences, and Healthcare and Business programs, students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter grades, homeschooled students, and transfer applicants who have completed fewer than 20 college credits are not eligible for test optional admission. | 11,139 | 82.09% | 1160–1330 | 26–31 |
| Samford University | Test Optional (Temporary) | Samford University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 application cycle. | 4,559 | 82.36% | 1080–1240 | 22–28 |
| Clarkson University | Test Optional | Clarkson University offers a test optional policy. | 4,948 | 82.50% | 1190–1360 | 26–31 |
| University of Redlands | Test Optional | University of Redlands offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 3,766 | 82.71% | 1110–1350 | 21–28 |
| St. John's University (NY) | Test Optional | St. John's University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students, some international students, students applying for several specific majors, and prospective student athletes are not eligible for test optional admission. | 24,208 | 83.00% | 1150–1340 | 24–29 |
| The Catholic University of America | Test Free | The Catholic University of America has adopted a test free policy, which means they will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission. | 6,714 | 83.01% | — | — |
| Michigan State University | Test Optional | Michigan State offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 62,965 | 83.24% | 1100–1310 | 25–31 |
| University of Arizona | Test Optional | University of Arizona offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants to the UA Honors College, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Nursing, the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, and College of Engineering and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 56,376 | 83.51% | 1090–1320 | 20–28 |
| Duquesne University | Test Optional | Duquesne offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 12,893 | 83.56% | 1170–1330 | 25–31 |
| Wayne State University | Test Optional (Temporary) | WSU has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2026 term. | 17,263 | 83.59% | 1060–1290 | 23–28 |
| Mississippi State University | Test Optional | Mississippi State offers a test optional policy. While SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission, they are recommended for scholarship consideration. | 27,333 | 83.63% | 1100–1230 | 21–29 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Test Optional | Virginia Commonwealth University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. However, submission of test scores remains a requirement for all Guaranteed Admission Programs in the Honors College. All first-year applicants will be considered for scholarships as long as other scholarship consideration requirements are met. | 24,804 | 83.73% | 1010–1260 | 22–30 |
| Boise State | Test Free | Boise State offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who attend non-accredited high schools are required to submit test scores. | 17,582 | 83.89% | — | — |
| University of Nevada—Las Vegas | Test Optional* | UNLV requires either the SAT or ACT, however, they will waive the requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA. | 15,271 | 83.95% | 1030–1240 | 18–24 |
| Hanover College | Test Optional | Hanover College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 2,889 | 84.01% | 1110–1280 | 23–29 |
| Truman State University | Test Optional* | Truman State offers a test optional policy. However, students applying to the nursing major must submit scores. | 2,883 | 84.01% | 1170–1370 | 25–31 |
| Goshen College | Test Optional | Goshen offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/AC scores. | 1,576 | 84.01% | 880–1110 | — |
| University of St. Thomas (MN) | Test Optional | The University of St. Thomas offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 9,774 | 85.00% | 1170–1360 | 23–29 |
| Western Michigan University | Test Optional | WMU offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 20,927 | 85.31% | 960–1200 | 21–28 |
| University of Denver | Test Optional | University of Denver offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 16,637 | 85.38% | 1160–1360 | 27–32 |
| Michigan Technological University | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Michigan Tech has extended their temporary test optional policy to the fall 2026 semester for students whose GPA is 3.0+. | 10,359 | 85.46% | 1120–1330 | 25–32 |
| Whittier College | Test Free | Whittier has a test free policy, which means the college does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 4,276 | 85.71% | — | — |
| Portland State | Test Optional* | Portland State offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, students who attended homeschool, or a non-accredited, non-standard high school are required to submit test scores. | 11,037 | 85.86% | 1080–1330 | 20–28 |
| Xavier University | Test Optional | Xavier University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 14,631 | 86.00% | 1100–1310 | 22–29 |
| Christopher Newport University | Test Optional* | Christopher Newport University requires either the SAT or ACT, however they will waive this requirement for students with a 3.5+ GPA or who rank in the top 10% of their class. For students applying in the 2020-21 admission cycle, there is no minimum GPA for test optional admission. | 7,341 | 86.04% | — | — |
| University of California—Riverside | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 61,184 | 86.09% | — | — |
| Washington State University | Test Free | WSU offers a test free policy, which means they do not consider SAT/ACT scores as part of the admissions process. | 26,403 | 86.10% | — | — |
| Temple University | Test Optional | Temple University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, home-schooled applicants, recruited student athletes, and international applicants are not eligible for test optional admission. | 42,824 | 86.22% | 1030–1310 | 23–30 |
| Ball State | Test Optional | Ball State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students whose high schools do not provide grades are not eligible for test optional admission. | 22,193 | 86.25% | 1090–1240 | 23–27 |
| Pratt Institute | Test Optional | Pratt offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 7,579 | 86.38% | 1140–1380 | 22–25 |
| University of Washington—Bothell | Test Optional | The University of Washington—Bothell offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores. | 5,616 | 86.40% | 1030–1360 | 24–31 |
| George Mason University | Test Optional | George Mason University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, students who major in computer science and engineering majors, home-schooled applicants, and students seeking to become a member of one of George Mason's NCAA intercollegiate athletics teams are not eligible for test optional admission. The Volgenau School of Engineering entering classes of 2020 and 2021 are exempt from the 550 SAT Math/24 ACT Math requirement. | 26,014 | 86.47% | 1180–1360 | 25–31 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Test Optional | Pacific Lutheran University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants from schools with written evaluations rather than grades and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. Applicants to the nursing program, students interested in teaching, and international applicants strongly encouraged to submit scores. | 5,306 | 86.60% | — | — |
| Randolph-Macon College | Test Optional | Randolph-Macon College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores. Homeschooled students who were schooled through family-based homeschooling are required to submit ACT or SAT test scores. | 3,242 | 86.61% | 990–1220 | 21–27 |
| University of Texas, San Antonio | Test Optional | University of Texas, San Antonio offers a test optional policy, which allows studenrs to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 25,422 | 86.79% | 1010–1210 | 19–25 |
| Ohio University | Test Optional | Ohio University has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 25,126 | 86.89% | 1130–1300 | 23–28 |
| Transylvania University | Test Optional | Transylvania University has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, test optional applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the Transylvania campus for an in-depth interview. | 1,851 | 86.98% | 1120–1380 | 24–30 |
| Wheaton College (IL) | Test Optional* | Wheaton offers a test optional policy, but strongly encourages applicants to submit scores. Students applying from non-accredited schools and homeschooled students are required to submit scores. | 2,040 | 87.01% | 1260–1470 | 28–32 |
| Hope College | Test Optional | Hope College offers a test optional policy. | 4,844 | 87.12% | 1090–1310 | 25–31 |
| University of Oregon | Test Optional | The University of Oregon offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants from nonaccredited schools and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 41,368 | 87.38% | 1050–1320 | 22–29 |
| University of Nebraska—Lincoln | Test Optional* | The University of Nebraska-Lincoln requires either the SAT or the ACT. However, it will waive this requriement for students with a 3.0+ GPA or who rank in the top half of their class. | 17,841 | 87.49% | 1100–1310 | 22–28 |
| Kansas State University | Test Optional* | Kansas State requires either the SAT or ACT. However, they will waive the requirement for students with a 3.25+ GPA. | 15,591 | 87.50% | 1040–1260 | 20–27 |
| DePaul University | Test Optional | DePaul University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 27,462 | 87.80% | 1150–1330 | 26–31 |
| Iowa State University | Test Optional | Iowa State is test optional, which means eligible students can apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 24,625 | 87.93% | 1150–1360 | 21–28 |
| University of Hawai'i at M∆í√Önoa | Test Optional | University of Hawai'i offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scors. However, please note that scholarships or department direct entry programs may require test scores for consideration. | 17,389 | 87.97% | — | — |
| University of Cincinnati | Test Optional (Temporary) | The University of Cincinnati has extended its temporary test optional policy through fall 2026. | 33,750 | 88.04% | 1160–1340 | 24–30 |
| California State University—Fullerton | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 55,289 | 88.11% | — | — |
| Illinois State | Test Optional | Illinois State offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without standardized test scores. | 21,573 | 88.15% | 1010–1210 | 21–27 |
| Arizona State University | Test Optional* | ASU requires either the SAT or ACT, however, it will waive this requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA or who rank in the top 25% of their class. | 69,617 | 88.39% | — | — |
| St. Mary's College of California | Test Optional | St. Mary's offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. However, student-athletes, homeschooled students, and students attending schools that don't give grades must provide test scores. | 4,310 | 88.54% | — | — |
| Colorado State University | Test Optional | Colorado State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 38,365 | 88.63% | — | — |
| University of Toledo | Test Optional | University of Toledo offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students whose high schools do not provide grades are not eligible for test optional admission. | 10,571 | 88.89% | 980–1250 | 20–26 |
| University of New Hampshire | Test Optional | The University of New Hampshire offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, all Division 1 athletic recruits are required to submit standardized test scores. | 21,567 | 89.14% | 1120–1310 | 26–30 |
| Montclair State University | Test Optional | Montclair State offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 26,224 | 89.40% | 850–1160 | — |
| Siena College | Test Optional | Siena College offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants must meet certain academic requirements to apply test optional. Additionally, applicants to select programs are not eligible for test optional admission. | 8,048 | 89.41% | 1140–1430 | 29–34 |
| Northern Arizona University | Test Optional | Northern Arizona University offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, scores required to receive merit-based scholarships. | 39,685 | 89.61% | 1010–1280 | 19–26 |
| St. Michael's College | Test Optional | St. Michael's College has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants are not eligible for test optional admission. | 1,748 | 89.76% | 1240–1290 | — |
| Missouri State University | Test Optional* | Missouri State University requires either the SAT or ACT, however, it will waive the requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA. | 11,946 | 89.76% | — | — |
| Central Michigan University | Test Optional* | CMU offers a test optional policy. However, homeschooled students or students whose high schools do not provide grades are required to submit SAT/ACT scores. | 21,969 | 89.82% | 970–1200 | 21–27 |
| Valparaiso University | Test Optional | Valparaiso offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scors. | 4,704 | 89.94% | — | — |
| East Carolina | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 29,319 | 89.96% | — | — |
| University of Utah | Test Optional | The University of Utah offers a test optional admission policy, which allows students to apply without SAT or ACT scores. Homeschooled students and students with GEDs are required to submit scores. | 30,036 | 90.15% | 1120–1320 | 22–29 |
| San Francisco State University | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 28,200 | 90.25% | — | — |
| California State University—Los Angeles | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 36,694 | 90.50% | — | — |
| Loyola University New Orleans | Test Optional | Loyola NOLA offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission with SAT or ACT scores. | 6,080 | 90.58% | 1090–1290 | 20–26 |
| University of North Carolina—Greensboro | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 18,683 | 91.01% | 1130–1310 | 21–26 |
| California State University—Chico | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 22,542 | 91.07% | 940–1170 | 19–26 |
| Texas State University | Test Optional* | Texas State offers a test optional policy for students in the top 75% of their graduating class. All students ranked in the fourth quartile of their class must submit scores that meet assured admission standards for admission. | 44,436 | 91.18% | 960–1180 | 19–25 |
| Old Dominion University | Test Free | ODU does not consider SAT or ACT scores when reviewing admission applications. | 15,024 | 91.35% | 1120–1270 | 22–27 |
| Western Kentucky University | Test Optional* | WKU requires either the SAT or ACT. However, it will waive this requirement for students who have a 2.5+ GPA. | 9,692 | 91.45% | 930–1130 | 18–25 |
| California State University—Northridge | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 33,297 | 91.76% | — | — |
| University of Portland | Test Optional (Temporary) | University of Portland has extended their temporary test optional policy to fall 2026. | 7,686 | 91.78% | 1210–1330 | 28–33 |
| College of St. Benedict | Test Optional | The College of Saint Benedict offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students, students who attend schools with nontraditional grading systems, and applicants to the Nursing Early Admission Program are not eligible for test optional admission. | 1,840 | 92.01% | 1050–1230 | 20–27 |
| Creighton University | Test Optional | Creighton offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants to the nursing program and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. | 6,389 | 92.16% | 1280–1410 | 26–31 |
| Utah State | Test Optional | USU offers a test optional policy. While SAT or ACT scores are not required for application, they are recommended for scholarship consideration. | 20,871 | 92.47% | 1070–1290 | 20–28 |
| University of Kansas | Test Optional* | The University of Kansas requires either the SAT or the ACT. However, they will waive the requirement for students with a 3.4+ GPA. | 22,187 | 92.58% | 1080–1280 | 20–28 |
| Ursinus College | Test Optional | Ursinus College has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants and applicants with narrative-style transcripts are not eligible for test optional admission. | 2,867 | 92.85% | — | — |
| University of Kentucky | Test Optional (Temporary) | UK has extended their temporary test optional policy to students entering in the 2028–29 academic year. | 31,517 | 92.94% | 1070–1270 | 21–28 |
| Humboldt State University | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 15,032 | 93.01% | 840–1120 | 17–26 |
| California State University—Sacramento | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 26,342 | 93.57% | — | — |
| Washington College | Test Optional | Washington College has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants and internantional applicants are not eligible for test optional admission. | 3,512 | 93.79% | 1080–1310 | 22–30 |
| Appalachian State University | Test Optional* | The UNC System requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher are able to apply test optional. | 22,184 | 93.88% | 1110–1270 | 20–27 |
| University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley | Test Optional (Temporary) | UTRGV has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2026–27 admission cycle. | 18,377 | 94.00% | 860–1090 | 15–21 |
| California State University—San Bernardino | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 14,947 | 94.30% | 890–1130 | 17–26 |
| University of California—Merced | Test Free | The UC system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT/ACT scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. | 49,140 | 94.81% | — | — |
| University of Montana | Test Optional | University of Montana offers a test optional policy for students with a 2.5+ GPA or who are in the top 50% of their class. | 9,464 | 95.60% | 1110–1280 | 19–26 |
| Texas Lutheran University | Test Optional | TLU offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. | 2,306 | 95.71% | — | — |
| California State University—Fresno | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 20,920 | 95.87% | — | — |
| University of North Georgia | Test Optional* (Temporary) | The University System of Georgia requires SAT or ACT test scores. However, students applying to UNG with a 3.0+ GPA may be considered without scores. | 10,089 | 96.18% | 1010–1200 | 18–25 |
| University of Maine | Test Optional | University of Maine offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores. | 14,044 | 96.64% | 1060–1280 | 21–30 |
| California State University—Monterey Bay | Test Free | The Cal State system offers a test free policy, meaning they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. | 14,088 | 96.84% | — | — |
| University of Wyoming | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Test scores are not currently required for undergraduate admission decisions to the University of Wyoming. Though not required, scores are recommended for financial assistance. Students who have earned their GED and are under 21 years old must submit SAT or ACT scores. | 6,167 | 96.95% | 1040–1280 | 20–27 |
| University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee | Test Optional (Temporary) | The University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee has extended its temporary test optional policy to the spring 2028 term. | 15,059 | 97.11% | — | — |
| University of Mississippi | Test Optional* (Temporary) | Ole Miss has extended their temporary test optional policy for students with a 3.2+ GPA. Although they are not requiring a standardized test score for admission for the 2025–26 application cycle, ACT/SAT scores are still very important for scholarships, some aid programs and for academic placement. | 37,621 | 97.38% | 990–1180 | 21–29 |
| University of South Dakota | Test Optional* | University of South Dakota requires either the SAT or ACT. However, they will waive this requirement for students who have a 2.6+ GPA, rank in the top 50% of their class, or achieve a 3 or higher on the English Language Arts and Mathematics Smarter Balanced Assessments. | 5,965 | 98.78% | 1150–1260 | 19–25 |
| University of Texas—El Paso | Test Optional* | UTEP requires either the SAT or ACT. However, it will waive this requirement for students who rank in the top 25% of their class. | 11,996 | 99.92% | 860–1080 | 17–22 |
| Weber State University | Test Optional | Weber State University offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, scores are recommended to help determine scholarship eligibility and Math & English placement. | 9,599 | 100.00% | — | 17–24 |
How to Read College SAT Score Ranges
A college’s middle 50% SAT range runs from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile of the reported student group.
Consider an illustrative college with a published SAT range of 1300–1450.
| Student’s SAT score | Position relative to the example range | Useful next question |
|---|---|---|
| 1250 | Below the 25th percentile | Is there any need for testing, and what is the rest of the student's record? |
| 1370 | Within the middle 50% | Do the section scores make sense for the intended course of study? |
| 1500 | Above the 75th percentile | Do the section scores make sense for the intended course of study? |
The range does not mean that all admitted students have scored in this range.
It also does not provide the minimum admissions score. The college can have its own minimum score requirements; however, this is a different figure.
Before comparing colleges, one should find out whether the range refers to:
- Applicants.
- Admitted students.
- Enrolled students.
- Students opting to submit their scores.
The comparison of different groups as the same will create a distorted list of colleges.
Test Required, Test Optional and Test Blind Explained
Testing labels describe different application rules.
| Testing policy | What it generally means | What applicants should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Test required | Applicants generally must submit the specified test | Exception, deadlines and methods of reporting |
| Test optional | Applicants can generally choose whether scores are considered | The entering year, guidelines of the program, scholarship criteria |
| Test flexible | Specified alternatives can satisfy a testing requirement | Which particular tests will count |
| Test blind or test free | SAT and ACT scores are not considered for the stated purpose | If it is an admission policy or a scholarship policy or both |
A test-optional policy still requires careful academic preparation. Students should review course requirements, grades, recommendations and other application components alongside their testing decision.
Should You Submit SAT Scores to a Test-Optional College?
Make the decision separately for each college.
1. Confirm That the Policy Applies to You
Confirm the test year, college of application, program of interest, and student applicant group. Exceptions can be part of a university’s broader policy on the matter.
2. Read the University’s Own Advice
Begin with the official information from the university regarding its use of the score and the no-score application.
3. Compare the Correct Figures
Find a current score scale with a specified group of students. Consider the section scores along with the total score.
4. Consider What the Score Adds
See if this score offers useful academic information in addition to the transcript and courses taken.
5. Check Scholarship Requirements
Do this before deciding to submit scores. The admissions and scholarship process can be separate.
A score below the 25th percentile score in the published scale doesn’t mean withholding scores is better. A score above the 75th percentile doesn’t make admission easy either.
When considering retaking the test, see what other study needs to take place. There’s senior year classes and incomplete applications.
Why Acceptance Rates Do Not Predict Individual Admission Chances
An acceptance rate is an indicator of the result that came out of previous applicants.
Before assigning a likelihood label based on percentages, ask the following questions:
- Is the statistic specific to the right campus and the right college?
- Is there a breakdown based on residency status?
- Is there a special admission process for the student’s desired major?
- Is the statistic a composite of admissions for multiple rounds?
- Does the student satisfy the academic requirements published by the college?
- Would the college be affordable to the student?
The Georgia Tech 2025 profile can serve as an example.
It lists a Georgia admission rate of 30%, while the non-Georgia admission rate is only 9%. There is no way that one figure will work equally well for both sets of applicants.
Use acceptance rates to get a sense of selectivity and evaluate the student’s situation more thoroughly after that.
College Profile Checks for Indian-Origin Families in the USA
A U.S. home address does not answer every applicant-classification question.
Keep these details separate when researching colleges:
| Family detail | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Citizenship or immigration status | How does the university categorize the applicant? |
| High school location | Which records and course details are needed? |
| State residency | What are the residency requirements for admissions or tuition? |
| Financial circumstances | What financial aid programs does the student qualify for? |
| Language of instruction | Is there a requirement for an English proficiency test? |
Review the definition provided for each statistic.
For instance, in the geographic composition of the Harvard Class of 2029, the term "international" is defined based on permanent address at time of application and not citizenship. The "international" group is not synonymous with the number of non-U.S. citizens.
The important issue is: Is this statistic relevant to my child’s case?
How to Build a Balanced College List
A useful college list includes ambitious choices and realistic, affordable options.
Treat the categories below as planning judgments rather than admission predictions.
| College category | How to assess it |
|---|---|
| Reach | Access is very uncertain because of selectivity or the student's academic standing |
| Target | The academic performance conforms to available data reasonably well, with significant uncertainty |
| Likely | The student satisfies all the requirements and has good evidence of being admitted |
| Affordable option | The family has considered likely expenses and is able to afford them realistically |
A viable college would need to provide both an appropriate curriculum and an acceptable financial payoff.
For every decision you make, write one sentence about the reason why you want to go there. If the only reasons are its name or ranking, then you need to learn more about its academics.
Frequently Asked Questions About College Profiles
What Is a College Profile?
College profiles compile data on a school and its applicants or enrolled students. When planning admissions, relevant data include testing policy, admission requirements, score ranges from previous years, admission rates, expenses, and deadlines.
Are College SAT Ranges Admission Cutoffs?
A middle 50% score range is a descriptive statistic. Separate publication of a minimum requirement, in case of a college having one, performs a different function.
Does a 1500 SAT Guarantee Admission?
No. Stanford makes it clear that there is no guarantee of admission based on test scores. The scores must be interpreted within the context of the institution’s application process.
Is Princeton Test Optional for Fall 2027?
Yes. Princeton remains test optional for fall 2027 applications. Testing of SAT or ACT will become mandatory for fall 2028 applications under its noted exceptions.
When Does Vanderbilt Require Testing Again?
The required policy of Vanderbilt applies from fall 2029 intake. Its test policy is optional for fall 2027 and fall 2028 intake.
Do UCLA and Berkeley Consider SAT Scores?
The UC does not use SAT or ACT scores for admission and scholarship decisions. It provides guidelines on limited uses of the scores, including placement post-enrollment.
How Often Should Families Check College Admission Profiles?
Check this at the time of making the college list, while deciding on the testing schedule, and finally, before submission of applications. Mention the date along with the policy link on the worksheet.
Plan Your SAT Preparation Around Your College List
Prior to setting a target score for yourself, determine the colleges that mandate test scores, those that recommend it, and those that don’t consider test scores in admissions.
Go through your recent score report and take note of the areas that need improvement along with preparation timelines in light of your studies and applications process.
Carry your score report and a limited list of colleges to the SAT Planning discussion session at TestPrepKart.