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
California State University Long Beach Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Long Beach, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Cal State Long Beach is a large public university known for undergraduate art and design, nursing, and business. The campus sits near the Pacific coast in the Los Angeles metro area.

#11 Best Public Universities in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 46%
  • Net Price $10,607
Details
St Bonaventure University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Bonaventure, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 30 application deadline

St. Bonaventure is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate journalism, communication, and business. The rural campus sits in southwestern New York near Olean.

#49 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $27,373
Details
Christian Brothers University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Christian Brothers is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The urban campus sits in midtown Memphis.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $16,754
Details
University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Johnstown, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Pitt-Johnstown is a public regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The residential campus sits on a wooded hillside in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands.

#6 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 985-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $18,452
Details
Arcadia University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Glenside, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Arcadia is a private university known for undergraduate study abroad and international education. The suburban Glenside campus is anchored by Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark.

#41 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1265
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $30,037
Details
Shenandoah University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Winchester, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $27,181
Details
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UNC Charlotte is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and architecture. The suburban campus sits in North Carolina's largest city.

#6 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $15,045
Details
Mount Saint Mary College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Newburgh, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Saint Mary is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus overlooks the Hudson River in Newburgh.

#50 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1255
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $26,896
Details
Montana Technological University Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Butte, MT
  • | 0 reviews

Montana Tech is a public university known for undergraduate mining, petroleum, and geological engineering. The campus sits in the historic mining city of Butte.

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $16,665
Details
Fresno Pacific University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fresno Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is located in Fresno in California's Central Valley.

#27 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $15,261
Details
Framingham State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Framingham, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Framingham State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nutrition, and fashion design. The suburban campus sits in the MetroWest area west of Boston.

#6 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $16,114
Details
Spring Arbor University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spring Arbor, MI
  • 3.2 | 4 reviews

Spring Arbor is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The residential campus sits in the small village of Spring Arbor in south-central Michigan.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $21,067
Details
Mississippi College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Clinton, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Mississippi College is a private Baptist college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in Clinton just west of Jackson.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1260
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $28,559
Details
Maryville University of Saint Louis Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Maryville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and business. The suburban campus is in Town and Country in the St. Louis area.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $22,983
Details
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Carbondale, IL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

SIU Carbondale is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, journalism, and forestry. The wooded campus anchors the college town of Carbondale in southern Illinois.

#7 Best Public Universities in Illinois 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $13,473
Details
Cedar Crest College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Allentown, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Cedar Crest is a private women's college known for undergraduate nursing and forensic science. The suburban campus sits in Allentown in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

#42 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $23,691
Details
University of North Florida Campus

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

UNF is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and coastal biology. The suburban Jacksonville campus includes lakes and a large nature preserve with trails.

#5 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $11,135
Details
University of Toledo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Toledo, OH
  • | 0 reviews

University of Toledo is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and pharmacy. The main campus sits in a residential section of Toledo.

#5 Best Public Universities in Ohio
  • SAT Range 1100-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $17,844
Details