The Best Test Optional Colleges in America

Apply to colleges without SAT or ACT scores

These colleges don't require students to submit SAT or ACT test scores with their applications. This is good news if you didn't take the test or received a low score. Remember, your GPA, high school activities, letters of recommendation and essays are even more important admission factors when you don't submit test scores.


850 results nationwide

Princeton University
P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,478enrollment
  • $18,685net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Stanford University
S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,680enrollment
  • $20,023net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Harvard University
H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,345enrollment
  • $18,037net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1580SAT range
  • 33-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 14,567enrollment
  • $17,511net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 31

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,832enrollment
  • $36,584net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,934enrollment
  • $19,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Rice University
R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,285enrollment
  • $19,215net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Johns Hopkins University
J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 32,049enrollment
  • $25,241net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Brown University
B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 10,696enrollment
  • $27,659net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,761enrollment
  • $24,525net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $28,344net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,971enrollment
  • $18,832net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Vanderbilt University
V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,796enrollment
  • $25,804net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,038enrollment
  • $24,167net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Cornell University
C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 25,582enrollment
  • $27,522net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,422enrollment
  • $22,004net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,764enrollment
  • $30,392net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

Washington University in St Louis
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,973enrollment
  • $27,233net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15