Best Test-Optional Mid Atlantic Colleges
There are 195 test-optional colleges in the Mid Atlantic, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.
Princeton University leads Mid Atlantic test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University at Buffalo. Also highly ranked: Columbia University in the City of New York, Hamilton College and Colgate University.
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.
Syracuse University
- Private 4 Year
- Syracuse, NY
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
- Jan 1 application deadline
Syracuse is a private university known for undergraduate communications, journalism, and architecture. The residential campus sits on a hill overlooking the city of Syracuse.
- SAT Range 1270-1440
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $48,215
Ithaca College
- Private 4 Year
- Ithaca, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Ithaca College is a private college known for undergraduate communications, journalism, and music. The hillside campus overlooks Cayuga Lake in the college town of Ithaca.
- SAT Range 1230-1390
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $35,253
The New School
- Private 4 Year
- New York, NY
-
3.3 | 3 reviews
The New School is a private university known for undergraduate fashion, design, and the performing arts. Students attend classes on an urban campus in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.
- SAT Range 1140-1360
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $67,224
Nazareth University
- Private 4 Year
- Rochester, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Nazareth is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and music. The suburban campus sits in Pittsford just outside Rochester.
- SAT Range 1070-1320
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $30,785
Rutgers University Camden
- Public 4 Year
- Camden, NJ
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Rutgers-Camden is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and biology. The urban campus sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
- SAT Range 1050-1300
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $19,821
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia
- Private 4 Year
- Philadelphia, PA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Saint Joseph's is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and food marketing. The residential campus sits in western Philadelphia's Overbrook neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1170-1350
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $31,205
Rochester Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Rochester, NY
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
RIT is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, computing, and photography. The suburban campus near Rochester includes the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
- SAT Range 1300-1460
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $39,534
The College of New Jersey
- Public 4 Year
- Ewing, NJ
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
TCNJ is a public college known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The suburban Ewing campus is primarily residential.
- SAT Range 1140-1340
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $25,580
Marist University
- Private 4 Year
- Poughkeepsie, NY
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Marist is a private university known for undergraduate communications, media studies, and fashion. The campus sits along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie.
- SAT Range 1190-1340
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $42,508
Adelphi University
- Private 4 Year
- Garden City, NY
-
3.0 | 3 reviews
Adelphi is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, psychology, and the performing arts. The suburban Garden City campus sits on Long Island outside New York City.
- SAT Range 1120-1340
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $31,303
Bard College
- Private 4 Year
- Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 1 application deadline
Bard is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate arts, music, and literature. The campus overlooks the Hudson River in New York's Hudson Valley.
- SAT Range 1270-1450
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $29,320
Penn State Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- University Park, PA
-
4.2 | 12 reviews
Penn State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and communications. The University Park campus anchors the college town of State College in central Pennsylvania.
- SAT Range 1240-1420
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 61%
- Net Price $27,889
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- Public 4 Year
- New York, NY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Baruch is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate business, finance, and accounting. The compact urban campus sits in Midtown Manhattan.
- SAT Range 1100-1400
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 48%
- Net Price $4,326
Rutgers University Newark
- Public 4 Year
- Newark, NJ
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Rutgers-Newark is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in downtown Newark.
- SAT Range 1030-1270
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $18,276
Clarkson University
- Private 4 Year
- Potsdam, NY
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Clarkson is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and the sciences. The residential campus is in the small college town of Potsdam in northern New York.
- SAT Range 1200-1390
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $32,406
Duquesne University
- Private 4 Year
- Pittsburgh, PA
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Duquesne is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The urban campus sits on a bluff overlooking downtown Pittsburgh.
- SAT Range 1180-1340
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $37,917
Allegheny College
- Private 4 Year
- Meadville, PA
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Allegheny is a private liberal arts college known for requiring a major and minor in different fields and a senior comprehensive project. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Meadville in northwestern Pennsylvania.
- SAT Range 1173-1358
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $26,420
Hofstra University
- Private 4 Year
- Hempstead, NY
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
Hofstra is a private university known for undergraduate communications, journalism, and business. The suburban Long Island campus sits in Hempstead near New York City.
- SAT Range 1230-1400
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $35,792