Best Test-Optional U.S. Colleges
CollegeSimply ranks 976 four-year colleges that do not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. These are the highest-ranked test-optional schools in the U.S., sorted by academic quality and student outcomes. Policies can vary by applicant and year, so confirm requirements on each school's website before applying.
Princeton University leads our 2027 test-optional rankings, ranked #1 nationally. The top rated public option is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also highly ranked: Duke University, University of Chicago and Rice University.
Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the full list below. Filter by state or sort by selectivity to build your list. You can also explore matches by GPA on our college search by GPA. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.
SUNY at Purchase College
- Public 4 Year
- Purchase, NY
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Purchase is a public college known for undergraduate performing arts, visual arts, and film. The suburban Westchester campus sits near New York City.
- SAT Range 1185-1380
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $18,211
Salisbury University
- Public 4 Year
- Salisbury, MD
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Salisbury is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small city on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
- SAT Range 1180-1320
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $18,760
San Diego State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
SDSU is a large public university known for undergraduate international business, hospitality management, and communications. The urban campus sits in San Diego's College Area with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 36%
- Net Price $14,704
Colorado State University Fort Collins
- Public 4 Year
- Fort Collins, CO
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Colorado State is a large public university known for undergraduate natural resources, agriculture, and engineering. The campus sits in the college town of Fort Collins near the Rocky Mountain foothills.
- SAT Range 1080-1290
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $21,011
University of St Francis
- Private 4 Year
- Joliet, IL
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
University of St. Francis is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The campus sits in Joliet, a suburban city southwest of Chicago.
- SAT Range 1030-1220
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $14,045
Drew University
- Private 4 Year
- Madison, NJ
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Drew is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate theater, political science, and the humanities. The forested campus sits in suburban Madison near New York City.
- SAT Range 1103-1338
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $28,425
Pace University
- Private 4 Year
- New York, NY
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Pace is a private university known for undergraduate business and performing arts. The urban Manhattan campus sits near New York City's financial district.
- SAT Range 1180-1340
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $34,791
Otis College of Art and Design
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
1.0 | 1 reviews
Otis is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fashion design, graphic design, and digital media. The urban campus is in Los Angeles's Westchester neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1265-1395
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $54,295
College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Private 4 Year
- Chicopee, MA
-
3.5 | 4 reviews
Elms College is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The small campus is in Chicopee in western Massachusetts.
- SAT Range 1150-1320
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $19,870
Saint Edward's University
- Private 4 Year
- Austin, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Saint Edward's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate liberal arts, business, and education. The hilltop campus in South Austin overlooks the downtown skyline.
- SAT Range 970-1240
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $28,766
Taylor University
- Private 4 Year
- Upland, IN
-
4.0 | 4 reviews
Taylor is a private Christian university known for undergraduate education, business, and nursing. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Upland.
- SAT Range 1070-1330
- Avg GPA 3.87
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $26,178
Western Washington University
- Public 4 Year
- Bellingham, WA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 31 application deadline
Western Washington is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science and education. The hillside campus overlooks Bellingham Bay near the Cascade Mountains.
- SAT Range 1150-1390
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $24,338
Beloit College
- Private 4 Year
- Beloit, WI
-
5.0 | 4 reviews
Beloit is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate anthropology and the sciences. The historic residential campus overlooks the Rock River in southern Wisconsin.
- SAT Range 1200-1430
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $24,455
Eckerd College
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Petersburg, FL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Eckerd is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine science and environmental studies. The waterfront campus borders Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg.
- SAT Range 1160-1330
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $43,884
Monmouth University
- Private 4 Year
- West Long Branch, NJ
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Monmouth is a private university known for undergraduate business, communication, and education. The suburban campus sits a short drive from the Atlantic beaches on the New Jersey shore.
- SAT Range 1140-1310
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $34,072
Gannon University
- Private 4 Year
- Erie, PA
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Gannon is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and the health sciences. The urban campus sits in downtown Erie near Lake Erie.
- SAT Range 990-1250
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $23,123
The College of Idaho
- Private 4 Year
- Caldwell, ID
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
The College of Idaho is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and a PEAK curriculum that pairs a major with three minors. The residential campus sits in the small city of Caldwell west of Boise.
- SAT Range 1070-1280
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 49%
- Net Price $21,686
Meredith College
- Private 4 Year
- Raleigh, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Meredith is a private women's college known for undergraduate business, education, and design. The residential campus sits in Raleigh near the state's government district.
- SAT Range 1098-1348
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $24,323