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.

195 Results
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Mid Atlantic Test Optional Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Houghton, NY
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews

Houghton is a private Christian liberal arts university known for undergraduate music and the liberal arts. The rural residential campus sits in a small village in western New York.

#43 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1375
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $21,274
Details
Caldwell University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Caldwell, NJ
  • | 0 reviews

Caldwell is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus in northern New Jersey has Dominican roots and a primarily residential feel.

#8 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $21,875
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Oswego, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

SUNY Oswego is a public university known for undergraduate meteorology, broadcasting, and education. The campus sits on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

#20 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,853
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • York, PA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

York College of Pennsylvania is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The campus is in the city of York in south-central Pennsylvania.

#34 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $20,096
Details

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

Marywood is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate architecture, art and design, and social work. The residential campus sits in Scranton in northeastern Pennsylvania.

#35 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 61%
  • Net Price $26,217
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Farmingdale, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Farmingdale State is a public college of technology known for undergraduate aviation, engineering technology, and applied sciences. The suburban campus sits on Long Island.

#21 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $9,655
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Rochelle, NY
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Iona is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and communications. The suburban New Rochelle campus sits a short distance north of New York City.

#44 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $29,978
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Marymount Manhattan is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate theater, dance, and communication arts. The urban campus sits on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

#45 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1105-1323
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $38,376
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Alfred, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Alfred State is a public college of technology known for undergraduate architecture, engineering technology, and construction management. The rural campus sits in the small college town of Alfred in western New York.

#22 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $15,283
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Purchase, NY
  • 4.4 | 25 reviews

Manhattanville is a private university known for undergraduate education and the liberal arts. The suburban campus occupies a historic estate in Purchase.

#46 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $21,690
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Plattsburgh, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Plattsburgh is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and Canadian studies. The campus sits beside Lake Champlain in northern New York near the Adirondacks.

#23 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.11
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $15,412
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Niagara University, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 30 application deadline

Niagara is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate hospitality and tourism management, education, and nursing. The suburban campus sits near Niagara Falls in western New York.

#47 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $16,613
Details

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

La Salle is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The urban campus sits in northwest Philadelphia.

#36 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1268
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $18,069
Details

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

Penn State Behrend is a public college campus of Penn State known for undergraduate engineering, plastics engineering, and business. The wooded campus sits on a former estate outside downtown Erie.

#3 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1310
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $23,764
Details

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

King's is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate business and physician assistant studies. The urban campus occupies several blocks in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

#37 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $23,689
Details

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

Saint Francis is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and health sciences. The rural campus sits in the Allegheny Mountains town of Loretto.

#38 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $28,326
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • West Chester, PA
  • | 0 reviews

West Chester is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, music, and nursing. The campus sits in the historic borough of West Chester near Philadelphia.

#4 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,546
Details

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

Pitt-Bradford is a public regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh known for undergraduate nursing, biology, and business. The rural campus lies near the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania.

#5 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,830
Details