Best Test-Optional Midwestern Colleges
There are 249 test-optional colleges in the Midwest, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.
University of Chicago leads Midwest test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also highly ranked: Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis and University of Notre Dame.
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.
Evangel University
- Private 4 Year
- Springfield, MO
-
3.5 | 4 reviews
Evangel is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, music, and education. It is the national university of the Assemblies of God.
- SAT Range 1040-1260
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $19,261
Mount Marty University
- Private 4 Year
- Yankton, SD
-
| 0 reviews
Mount Marty is a small private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus sits along the Missouri River in Yankton.
- SAT Range 810-1050
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $22,242
Missouri State University Springfield
- Public 4 Year
- Springfield, MO
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
Missouri State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, education, and health professions. The Springfield campus lies in the Ozarks region of southwest Missouri.
- SAT Range 1020-1270
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $17,181
University of Wisconsin Stout
- Public 4 Year
- Menomonie, WI
-
| 0 reviews
- Sep 1 application deadline
UW-Stout is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate industrial design, packaging, and engineering technology. The campus is in Menomonie, a small city in western Wisconsin.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $15,673
University of Wisconsin Platteville
- Public 4 Year
- Platteville, WI
-
3.0 | 4 reviews
UW-Platteville is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Platteville.
- SAT Range -
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $16,266
Aquinas College
- Private 4 Year
- Grand Rapids, MI
-
| 0 reviews
Aquinas is a private Dominican liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and business. The wooded campus sits in a residential neighborhood of Grand Rapids.
- SAT Range 910-1140
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $18,018
Bemidji State University
- Public 4 Year
- Bemidji, MN
-
| 0 reviews
Bemidji State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus sits on the shore of Lake Bemidji in northern Minnesota.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 56%
- Net Price $14,859
Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Public 4 Year
- Fort Wayne, IN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Purdue Fort Wayne is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, technology, and business. The urban campus is set in Indiana's second-largest city.
- SAT Range 970-1220
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $14,735
Concordia University Chicago
- Private 4 Year
- River Forest, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Concordia Chicago is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate education and teacher preparation. The suburban campus sits in River Forest just west of Chicago.
- SAT Range 990-1180
- Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $19,073
Oakland University
- Public 4 Year
- Rochester Hills, MI
-
| 0 reviews
Oakland University is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Rochester Hills northeast of Detroit.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $12,208
University of Wisconsin River Falls
- Public 4 Year
- River Falls, WI
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
UW-River Falls is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and teacher education. The campus is in the small city of River Falls near the Twin Cities.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $14,769
Ferris State University
- Public 4 Year
- Big Rapids, MI
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Ferris State is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, optometry, and applied technology programs. The main campus is in the small city of Big Rapids in western Michigan.
- SAT Range 890-1120
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $10,825
Grace College and Theological Seminary
- Private 4 Year
- Winona Lake, IN
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Grace College is a private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies and ministry. The campus sits beside Winona Lake in northern Indiana.
- SAT Range 1000-1200
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $21,065
Concordia University Nebraska
- Private 4 Year
- Seward, NE
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Concordia Nebraska is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and theology. Students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Seward.
- SAT Range 1040-1235
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $24,158
Eastern Michigan University
- Public 4 Year
- Ypsilanti, MI
-
4.8 | 4 reviews
EMU is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The campus is in Ypsilanti, just east of Ann Arbor.
- SAT Range 920-1170
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $15,742
Central Michigan University
- Public 4 Year
- Mount Pleasant, MI
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
Central Michigan is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and health professions. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Mount Pleasant.
- SAT Range 960-1200
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $17,575
Cleveland State University
- Public 4 Year
- Cleveland, OH
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Cleveland State is a public university known for undergraduate urban affairs, engineering, and business. The urban campus sits in downtown Cleveland.
- SAT Range 880-1130
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $16,230
Marian University
- Private 4 Year
- Fond Du Lac, WI
-
| 0 reviews
Marian is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The small campus lies in Fond du Lac at the southern end of Lake Winnebago.
- SAT Range 800-1080
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $22,697