Best Test-Optional Eastern Colleges
There are 275 test-optional colleges in the East, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.
Princeton University leads East test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University at Buffalo. Also highly ranked: Amherst College, Williams College and Wellesley College.
Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the colleges below. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.
Seton Hall University
- Private 4 Year
- South Orange, NJ
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Seton Hall is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and diplomacy. The suburban campus in South Orange sits a short train ride from New York City.
- SAT Range 1220-1390
- Avg GPA 3.64
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $33,896
Springfield College
- Private 4 Year
- Springfield, MA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Springfield College is a private college known for undergraduate physical education, exercise science, and health sciences. Basketball was invented on its campus, and the school keeps a long focus on sport and human services.
- SAT Range 1080-1330
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $30,039
University of Scranton
- Private 4 Year
- Scranton, PA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Scranton is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate health sciences, physical therapy, and business. The compact urban campus sits in downtown Scranton.
- SAT Range 1160-1318
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $34,234
University at Albany
- Public 4 Year
- Albany, NY
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
University at Albany is a large public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, public policy, and atmospheric science. The campus is in New York's capital, with many programs oriented toward state government.
- SAT Range 1120-1320
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $17,949
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Public 4 Year
- Syracuse, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
ESF is a specialized public college known for undergraduate environmental science, forestry, and landscape architecture. The campus adjoins Syracuse University in Syracuse.
- SAT Range 1130-1300
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $19,814
New York Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Old Westbury, NY
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
NYIT is a private university known for undergraduate architecture, engineering, and computer science. The suburban Old Westbury campus sits on Long Island.
- SAT Range 1190-1420
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $24,688
Manhattan University
- Private 4 Year
- Riverdale, NY
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 31 application deadline
Manhattan University is a private Lasallian Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering. The residential campus is in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
- SAT Range 1180-1358
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $29,717
Pratt Institute Main
- Private 4 Year
- Brooklyn, NY
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 5 application deadline
Pratt is a private college known for undergraduate architecture, art, and design. The compact urban campus occupies a city-block setting in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill.
- SAT Range 1150-1390
- Avg GPA 3.86
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $54,150
Siena College
- Private 4 Year
- Loudonville, NY
-
2.8 | 6 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Siena is a private Franciscan college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. Students live on a residential campus in the Albany suburb of Loudonville.
- SAT Range 1110-1360
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $32,955
Saint Anselm College
- Private 4 Year
- Manchester, NH
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Saint Anselm is a private Catholic liberal arts college known for undergraduate politics and nursing. The Benedictine campus in Manchester has long hosted New Hampshire presidential primary debates.
- SAT Range 1110-1278
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $35,551
Ursinus College
- Private 4 Year
- Collegeville, PA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Ursinus is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, neuroscience, and a required first-year common curriculum. The residential campus sits in suburban Collegeville northwest of Philadelphia.
- SAT Range 1200-1385
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $32,158
Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Public 4 Year
- Mahwah, NJ
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Ramapo is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communication arts. The wooded suburban campus sits in the Ramapo Mountains foothills near the New York border.
- SAT Range 1130-1300
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $17,566
Washington & Jefferson College
- Private 4 Year
- Washington, PA
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Washington & Jefferson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, pre-med, and pre-law. The historic campus is in the small city of Washington near Pittsburgh.
- SAT Range 1010-1250
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $22,702
Bryant University
- Private 4 Year
- Smithfield, RI
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Bryant is a private university known for undergraduate business. The suburban campus sits northwest of Providence.
- SAT Range 1190-1330
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $42,139
Chatham University
- Private 4 Year
- Pittsburgh, PA
-
1.0 | 2 reviews
Chatham is a private university known for undergraduate sustainability, environmental studies, and the health sciences. The historic campus is in Pittsburgh's residential Shadyside neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1070-1295
- Avg GPA 3.86
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $31,280
Rowan University
- Public 4 Year
- Glassboro, NJ
-
2.7 | 6 reviews
Rowan is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and education. Glassboro is a South Jersey college town built around the campus.
- SAT Range 1110-1310
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $23,761
Elizabethtown College
- Private 4 Year
- Elizabethtown, PA
-
| 0 reviews
Elizabethtown is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate occupational therapy, business, and education. The residential campus is in a small central Pennsylvania borough and has historic Church of the Brethren ties.
- SAT Range 1105-1310
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $27,760
Roberts Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Rochester, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 25 application deadline
Roberts Wesleyan is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The suburban campus sits outside Rochester in western New York.
- SAT Range 990-1305
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $23,275