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.
Marymount Manhattan College
- Private 4 Year
- New York, NY
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Marymount Manhattan is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate theater, dance, and communication arts. The urban campus sits on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
- SAT Range 1105-1323
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $38,376
Covenant College
- Private 4 Year
- Lookout Mountain, GA
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| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Covenant is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs taught from a Reformed theological perspective. The mountaintop campus on Lookout Mountain overlooks the Chattanooga valley.
- SAT Range 1160-1380
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $27,926
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
- Public 4 Year
- Alfred, NY
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| 0 reviews
Alfred State is a public college of technology known for undergraduate architecture, engineering technology, and construction management. The rural campus sits in the small college town of Alfred in western New York.
- SAT Range 990-1200
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $15,283
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, VA
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3.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 18 application deadline
VCU is a large public university known for undergraduate fine arts, design, and health professions. The urban campus stretches across downtown Richmond.
- SAT Range 1010-1270
- Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $26,836
Manhattanville University
- Private 4 Year
- Purchase, NY
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4.4 | 25 reviews
Manhattanville is a private university known for undergraduate education and the liberal arts. The suburban campus occupies a historic estate in Purchase.
- SAT Range 1020-1230
- Avg GPA 3.19
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $21,690
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
- Public 4 Year
- Plattsburgh, NY
-
| 0 reviews
SUNY Plattsburgh is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and Canadian studies. The campus sits beside Lake Champlain in northern New York near the Adirondacks.
- SAT Range 1080-1250
- Avg GPA 3.11
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $15,412
Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Lincoln, NE
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5.0 | 2 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Nebraska Wesleyan is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in Lincoln.
- SAT Range 1020-1290
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $21,122
Asbury University
- Private 4 Year
- Wilmore, KY
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Asbury is a private Christian university known for undergraduate media communications and equestrian studies. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Wilmore.
- SAT Range 1080-1320
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $23,033
University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Public 4 Year
- Huntsville, AL
-
| 0 reviews
UAH is a public university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, engineering, and the sciences. The Huntsville campus sits near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a major aerospace industry hub.
- SAT Range 1210-1410
- Avg GPA 3.81
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $19,396
William Jessup University
- Private 4 Year
- Rocklin, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Jessup is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits in Rocklin in the greater Sacramento area.
- SAT Range 1041-1228
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $29,679
Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Private 4 Year
- Steubenville, OH
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Franciscan is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and catechetics. The hillside campus overlooks the Ohio River in Steubenville.
- SAT Range 1110-1350
- Avg GPA 3.78
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $23,086
University of Illinois Springfield
- Public 4 Year
- Springfield, IL
-
| 0 reviews
UIS is a public university known for undergraduate public affairs, political science, and computer science. The campus is in Springfield, Illinois's state capital.
- SAT Range 940-1200
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $10,809
Niagara University
- Private 4 Year
- Niagara University, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 30 application deadline
Niagara is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate hospitality and tourism management, education, and nursing. The suburban campus sits near Niagara Falls in western New York.
- SAT Range 1060-1235
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $16,613
University of Saint Joseph
- Private 4 Year
- West Hartford, CT
-
| 0 reviews
University of Saint Joseph is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and pharmacy. Founded as a women's college by the Sisters of Mercy, the West Hartford campus is now fully coeducational.
- SAT Range 850-1170
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $29,300
Old Dominion University
- Public 4 Year
- Norfolk, VA
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,419
Campbell University
- Private 4 Year
- Buies Creek, NC
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Campbell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate health sciences, business, and PGA golf management. The rural campus anchors the small town of Buies Creek.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $25,736
University of Northern Iowa
- Public 4 Year
- Cedar Falls, IA
-
3.5 | 4 reviews
UNI is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Cedar Falls.
- SAT Range 1020-1280
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $16,437
La Salle University
- Private 4 Year
- Philadelphia, PA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
La Salle is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The urban campus sits in northwest Philadelphia.
- SAT Range 1050-1268
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $18,069