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.
Lake Erie College
- Private 4 Year
- Painesville, OH
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Lake Erie is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate equestrian studies and business. The compact campus sits in Painesville, a small city east of Cleveland.
- SAT Range 945-1115
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
- Acceptance Rate 70%
- Net Price $22,892
Indiana University Kokomo
- Public 4 Year
- Kokomo, IN
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| 0 reviews
IU Kokomo is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. Most students study on a compact campus in the midsize city of Kokomo.
- SAT Range 960-1150
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $3,880
Midland University
- Private 4 Year
- Fremont, NE
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| 0 reviews
Midland is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in Fremont, northwest of Omaha.
- SAT Range 963-1170
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $26,643
Indiana University Northwest
- Public 4 Year
- Gary, IN
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| 0 reviews
IU Northwest is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The urban Gary campus primarily serves commuting students from Northwest Indiana.
- SAT Range 910-1180
- Avg GPA 3.14
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $5,745
University of Wisconsin Superior
- Public 4 Year
- Superior, WI
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UW-Superior is a small public university known for undergraduate education, business, and transportation and logistics. The lakeside campus sits on the shore of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.32
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $13,215
Saint Mary of the Woods College
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
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| 0 reviews
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate music therapy, nursing, and equine studies. The wooded campus near Terre Haute is the historic home of the Sisters of Providence.
- SAT Range 875-1070
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $20,451
Wilmington College
- Private 4 Year
- Wilmington, OH
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1.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
A private Quaker liberal arts college known for undergraduate agriculture and peace studies. Students live on a residential campus in the small city of Wilmington in southwestern Ohio.
- SAT Range 850-1220
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $26,548
Cornerstone University
- Private 4 Year
- Grand Rapids, MI
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| 0 reviews
Cornerstone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and business. Students live on a compact residential campus in Grand Rapids.
- SAT Range 970-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.28
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $21,335
Baker College
- Private 4 Year
- Owosso, MI
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 10 application deadline
Baker is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The Owosso campus sits in a small city in central Michigan.
- SAT Range 960-1160
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $13,616
Crown College
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Bonifacius, MN
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| 0 reviews
Crown College is a private Christian college known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and nursing. The campus is in the small town of St. Bonifacius west of the Twin Cities.
- SAT Range 960-1150
- Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 23%
- Net Price $27,332
Northwest Missouri State University
- Public 4 Year
- Maryville, MO
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| 0 reviews
Northwest Missouri State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agriculture. The residential campus is in the small college town of Maryville.
- SAT Range 976-1193
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $16,790
Southwest Minnesota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Marshall, MN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 18 application deadline
SMSU is a public university known for undergraduate culinology, education, and business. The campus sits in the small city of Marshall in rural southwestern Minnesota.
- SAT Range 935-1102
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $15,547
Grand View University
- Private 4 Year
- Des Moines, IA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Grand View is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The urban campus sits in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city.
- SAT Range 920-1080
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $22,319
Muskingum University
- Private 4 Year
- New Concord, OH
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| 0 reviews
Muskingum is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and the sciences. Most students live on a residential campus in the small town of New Concord.
- SAT Range 910-1105
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $19,695
William Penn University
- Private 4 Year
- Oskaloosa, IA
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| 0 reviews
William Penn is a private Quaker-affiliated university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Oskaloosa.
- SAT Range 880-1110
- Avg GPA 3.0
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $22,740
Indiana University East
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, IN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 18 application deadline
IU East is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in Richmond near Indiana's border with Ohio.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $8,718
Northern State University
- Public 4 Year
- Aberdeen, SD
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| 0 reviews
Northern State is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and fine arts. The campus is in Aberdeen, a small city in northeastern South Dakota.
- SAT Range 980-1160
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $15,990
Concordia University Ann Arbor
- Private 4 Year
- Ann Arbor, MI
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| 0 reviews
Concordia Ann Arbor is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus sits along the Huron River in Ann Arbor.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.19
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $31,080