Best Test-Optional U.S. Colleges

CollegeSimply ranks 1045 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, Stanford University and Harvard 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.

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Test Optional Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Wisconsin Lutheran is a private Lutheran liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus sits on Milwaukee's west side.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $24,095
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tempe, AZ
  • 3.3 | 6 reviews

ASU is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and sustainability. The Tempe campus sits in the Phoenix metro area.

#3 Best Colleges in Arizona 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $17,779
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Jacksonville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, aviation, and marine science. The campus sits along the St. Johns River.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $24,238
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews

Western New England is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and pharmacy. The residential campus sits in Springfield in western Massachusetts.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $27,056
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Wentworth is a private institute of technology known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and design. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#26 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $35,604
Details
Lewis University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Romeoville, IL
  • | 0 reviews

Lewis is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate aviation and nursing. The suburban Romeoville campus includes its own airport used for flight training.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,959
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Durham, NH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UNH is a large public university known for undergraduate marine science, environmental studies, and business. Durham is a classic New England college town built around the campus near the seacoast.

#1 Best Public Universities in New Hampshire 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $24,999
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Pullman, WA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 31 application deadline

WSU is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and communications. Pullman is a classic college town set in the Palouse region of eastern Washington.

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,171
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Augsburg is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The urban campus is in Minneapolis's Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1188-1376
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.27
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $24,561
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lexington, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Transylvania is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate pre-medicine and the sciences. The historic campus occupies several blocks in downtown Lexington.

#3 Best Colleges in Kentucky 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $25,442
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sioux Center, IA
  • | 0 reviews

Dordt is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and education. The residential campus sits in the small town of Sioux Center in northwest Iowa.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $28,486
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

UofL is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. Most undergraduates study on the urban Belknap Campus in Louisville.

#1 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $19,785
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 15 application deadline

IU Indianapolis is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and philanthropic studies. The urban campus is located in downtown Indianapolis.

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $12,228
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bismarck, ND
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 30 application deadline

University of Mary is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River.

#1 Best Value in North Dakota 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $20,156
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

USF is a large public university known for undergraduate public health, business, and engineering. The main campus is a large urban site in Tampa near Tampa Bay.

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1320
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $11,579
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • 4.2 | 6 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UCF is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, aerospace engineering, and digital media. The large suburban campus sits in east Orlando near the region's tourism industry.

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $13,351
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, OH
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Wittenberg is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education, biology, and business. The residential campus in Springfield has longstanding Lutheran ties.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1275
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $23,537
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Wilkes is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, engineering, and pharmacy. The urban campus is located in Wilkes-Barre in northeastern Pennsylvania.

#33 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $28,511
Details