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.
Marietta College
- Private 4 Year
- Marietta, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Marietta is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and environmental science. The campus sits in a historic town along the Ohio River.
- SAT Range 1040-1200
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $22,007
Capital University
- Private 4 Year
- Columbus, OH
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Capital is a private university known for undergraduate music through its conservatory, plus nursing and education. The residential campus sits in Bexley, a suburb of Columbus.
- SAT Range 910-1180
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 70%
- Net Price $22,395
Northern Illinois University
- Public 4 Year
- Dekalb, IL
-
3.2 | 5 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
NIU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, education, and the visual arts. The residential campus is in the college town of DeKalb west of Chicago.
- SAT Range 940-1170
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 70%
- Net Price $14,243
Dominican University
- Private 4 Year
- River Forest, IL
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 31 application deadline
Dominican is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The suburban River Forest campus sits just west of Chicago.
- SAT Range 880-1100
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $13,402
Illinois State University
- Public 4 Year
- Normal, IL
-
4.8 | 4 reviews
- Apr 1 application deadline
Illinois State is a large public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Normal, next to Bloomington.
- SAT Range 990-1210
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $21,369
Millikin University
- Private 4 Year
- Decatur, IL
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
Millikin is a private university known for undergraduate music, theatre, and business. The residential campus is in Decatur in central Illinois.
- SAT Range 860-1130
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $22,813
Central College
- Private 4 Year
- Pella, IA
-
| 0 reviews
Central is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, education, and study abroad. Most undergrads live on a residential campus in the small college town of Pella.
- SAT Range 1056-1120
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $23,848
Wartburg College
- Private 4 Year
- Waverly, IA
-
| 0 reviews
Wartburg is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music, education, and biology. Most students live on the residential campus in the small Iowa town of Waverly, with long ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
- SAT Range 930-1200
- Avg GPA 3.48
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $24,031
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Public 4 Year
- Edwardsville, IL
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
SIUE is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The large wooded campus sits in the St. Louis metro area.
- SAT Range 950-1190
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $17,115
Ohio University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Athens, OH
-
4.5 | 4 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Ohio University is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism and communications. Athens is a classic college town built around the residential campus.
- SAT Range 1090-1290
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $21,907
Winona State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winona, MN
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Winona State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in Minnesota's bluff country.
- SAT Range 980-1250
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $18,289
Drury University
- Private 4 Year
- Springfield, MO
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 30 application deadline
Drury is a private university known for undergraduate architecture and business. The urban campus is in Springfield in southwest Missouri.
- SAT Range 1130-1290
- Avg GPA 3.79
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $21,903
Spring Arbor University
- Private 4 Year
- Spring Arbor, MI
-
3.2 | 4 reviews
Spring Arbor is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The residential campus sits in the small village of Spring Arbor in south-central Michigan.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $21,067
Maryville University of Saint Louis
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Louis, MO
-
3.3 | 3 reviews
Maryville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and business. The suburban campus is in Town and Country in the St. Louis area.
- SAT Range 1000-1230
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $22,983
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Public 4 Year
- Carbondale, IL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
SIU Carbondale is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, journalism, and forestry. The wooded campus anchors the college town of Carbondale in southern Illinois.
- SAT Range 900-1160
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $13,473
University of Toledo
- Public 4 Year
- Toledo, OH
-
| 0 reviews
University of Toledo is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and pharmacy. The main campus sits in a residential section of Toledo.
- SAT Range 1100-1300
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $17,844
Otterbein University
- Private 4 Year
- Westerville, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Otterbein is a private university known for undergraduate theatre, musical theatre, and nursing. The historic campus sits in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus.
- SAT Range 1035-1260
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $20,457
University of Minnesota Duluth
- Public 4 Year
- Duluth, MN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UMD is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and the natural sciences. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Superior above the city of Duluth.
- SAT Range 1180-1350
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $20,128