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.
University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Public 4 Year
- Kearney, NE
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
UNK is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus is set in the college town of Kearney.
- SAT Range 905-1125
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $16,287
Southwest Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Bolivar, MO
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| 0 reviews
Southwest Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Bolivar in southwest Missouri.
- SAT Range 810-1210
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $21,336
Walsh University
- Private 4 Year
- North Canton, OH
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| 0 reviews
Walsh is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in North Canton near Canton, Ohio.
- SAT Range 1040-1280
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $23,933
Wayne State University
- Public 4 Year
- Detroit, MI
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4.2 | 4 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Wayne State is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, pharmacy, and business. The urban campus is in Midtown Detroit near the city's cultural district.
- SAT Range 1060-1270
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $14,416
University of Wisconsin La Crosse
- Public 4 Year
- La Crosse, WI
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| 0 reviews
UW-La Crosse is a public university known for undergraduate exercise science, biology, and teacher education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River at the base of wooded bluffs.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $14,712
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Private 4 Year
- Mount Vernon, OH
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3.5 | 2 reviews
Mount Vernon Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. Most students live on the residential campus in the small city of Mount Vernon.
- SAT Range 1046-1315
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $22,961
Carroll University
- Private 4 Year
- Waukesha, WI
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| 0 reviews
Carroll is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The residential campus sits in suburban Waukesha west of Milwaukee.
- SAT Range 1040-1270
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $27,031
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
- Public 4 Year
- Eau Claire, WI
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UW-Eau Claire is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The campus sits along the Chippewa River in a western Wisconsin college town.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $15,151
Western Illinois University
- Public 4 Year
- Macomb, IL
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4.0 | 1 reviews
Western Illinois is a public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, education, and agriculture. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Macomb.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $14,208
Olivet Nazarene University
- Private 4 Year
- Bourbonnais, IL
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5.0 | 2 reviews
Olivet Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The residential campus sits in the small town of Bourbonnais south of Chicago.
- SAT Range 950-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 56%
- Net Price $21,281
North Park University
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
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4.0 | 1 reviews
North Park is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and business. The compact urban campus sits in Chicago's North Park neighborhood on the city's North Side.
- SAT Range 890-1162
- Avg GPA 3.14
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $20,372
Northwood University
- Private 4 Year
- Midland, MI
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| 0 reviews
Northwood is a private university known for undergraduate business, management, and automotive marketing. The Midland campus centers on a specialized free-enterprise business curriculum in central Michigan.
- SAT Range 950-1160
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $25,549
Huntington University
- Private 4 Year
- Huntington, IN
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| 0 reviews
Huntington is a private Christian university known for undergraduate education and ministry. Most students live on a residential campus in the small city of Huntington.
- SAT Range 930-1150
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $19,767
Webster University
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Louis, MO
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4.0 | 2 reviews
Webster is a private university known for undergraduate communications, theatre, and media arts. The main campus sits in suburban Webster Groves near St. Louis.
- SAT Range 1110-1310
- Avg GPA 3.64
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $29,503
University of Mount Union
- Private 4 Year
- Alliance, OH
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| 0 reviews
Mount Union is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small city of Alliance in northeastern Ohio.
- SAT Range 910-1240
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $23,616
University of Northwestern St Paul
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Paul, MN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
A private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, communications, and education. The suburban campus sits in Roseville near St. Paul.
- SAT Range 868-1271
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $29,117
Benedictine University
- Private 4 Year
- Lisle, IL
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| 0 reviews
Benedictine is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and biology. The suburban campus is in Lisle in Chicago's western suburbs.
- SAT Range 1050-1280
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $23,139
Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Private 4 Year
- Fayette, MO
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Central Methodist is a private Methodist university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and music. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Fayette.
- SAT Range 960-1045
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $22,929