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.
Minnesota State University Mankato
- Public 4 Year
- Mankato, MN
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
Minnesota State Mankato is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River valley in southern Minnesota.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $18,861
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
- Public 4 Year
- Oshkosh, WI
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
UW Oshkosh is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus borders Lake Winnebago in a mid-sized Wisconsin city.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $12,500
Adrian College
- Private 4 Year
- Adrian, MI
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Adrian is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and exercise science. The residential campus sits in the small city of Adrian in southeast Michigan.
- SAT Range 873-1140
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $25,922
Cleary University
- Private 4 Year
- Howell, MI
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Cleary is a private university known for undergraduate business and management programs. The campus is in Howell, a smaller city in southeastern Michigan.
- SAT Range 950-1170
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.17
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $23,705
Kent State University at Kent
- Public 4 Year
- Kent, OH
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Kent State is a large public university known for undergraduate fashion design, journalism, and education. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Kent.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $21,278
Chicago State University
- Public 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Chicago State is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The urban campus is located on Chicago's South Side.
- SAT Range 750-963
- Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $10,441
University of Akron Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Akron, OH
-
3.5 | 4 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
University of Akron is a large public university known for undergraduate polymer science and engineering. The urban campus sits near downtown Akron.
- SAT Range 900-1190
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $14,693
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
- Public 4 Year
- Milwaukee, WI
-
| 0 reviews
- Sep 1 application deadline
UWM is a large public university known for undergraduate architecture, nursing, and freshwater sciences. The urban East Side campus sits near Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $16,263
Indiana University Southeast
- Public 4 Year
- New Albany, IN
-
| 0 reviews
IU Southeast is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The New Albany campus sits across the Ohio River from Louisville.
- SAT Range 970-1180
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $9,102
Wright State University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Dayton, OH
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- Aug 23 application deadline
Wright State is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and computer science. The suburban campus sits near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton area.
- SAT Range 913-1230
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $15,254
Rockford University
- Private 4 Year
- Rockford, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Rockford is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the liberal arts. The residential campus sits in the mid-sized city of Rockford in northern Illinois.
- SAT Range 850-1070
- Avg GPA 3.25
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $23,642
University of Southern Indiana
- Public 4 Year
- Evansville, IN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
University of Southern Indiana is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits on the west side of Evansville near the Ohio River.
- SAT Range 1030-1240
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $14,722
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
- Public 4 Year
- Whitewater, WI
-
| 0 reviews
UW-Whitewater is a public university known for undergraduate business and education. The campus is set in the small college town of Whitewater in southeastern Wisconsin.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $12,709
Bethel University
- Private 4 Year
- Mishawaka, IN
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Bethel is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The Mishawaka campus is affiliated with the Missionary Church.
- SAT Range 900-1150
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $19,494
University of Wisconsin Green Bay
- Public 4 Year
- Green Bay, WI
-
| 0 reviews
UW-Green Bay is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science and business. The wooded campus borders Green Bay and includes a large arboretum with trails.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $11,429
Heidelberg University
- Private 4 Year
- Tiffin, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Heidelberg is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and business. The residential campus is in the small city of Tiffin in northwest Ohio.
- SAT Range 1030-1162
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $19,447
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
- Public 4 Year
- Stevens Point, WI
-
2.5 | 2 reviews
- Sep 1 application deadline
UW-Stevens Point is a public university known for undergraduate natural resources, forestry, and paper science. The campus sits in the college town of Stevens Point in central Wisconsin.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.27
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $14,883
Saginaw Valley State University
- Public 4 Year
- University Center, MI
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Saginaw Valley State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus is in University Center between Saginaw and Bay City.
- SAT Range 920-1170
- Avg GPA 3.48
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $11,546