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 Moorhead
- Public 4 Year
- Moorhead, MN
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| 0 reviews
Minnesota State Moorhead is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, fine arts, and mass communications. The campus sits in Moorhead across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota.
- SAT Range 1080-1290
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 59%
- Net Price $18,221
Roosevelt University
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
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| 0 reviews
Roosevelt is a private university known for undergraduate performing arts and business. The urban campus includes the historic Auditorium Building in downtown Chicago.
- SAT Range 895-1175
- Avg GPA 3.13
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $22,366
Graceland University Lamoni
- Private 4 Year
- Lamoni, IA
-
| 0 reviews
Graceland is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and education. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Lamoni.
- SAT Range 880-1120
- Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $19,574
University of South Dakota
- Public 4 Year
- Vermillion, SD
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| 0 reviews
USD is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and fine arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Vermillion.
- SAT Range 1125-1315
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $19,133
University of Indianapolis
- Private 4 Year
- Indianapolis, IN
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4.0 | 2 reviews
University of Indianapolis is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, physical therapy, and education. The compact campus sits on a wooded site on Indianapolis's south side.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $22,662
South Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Brookings, SD
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| 0 reviews
South Dakota State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and pharmacy. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Brookings.
- SAT Range 1060-1240
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $19,932
McKendree University
- Private 4 Year
- Lebanon, IL
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| 0 reviews
McKendree is a small private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The historic campus in Lebanon is Illinois's oldest college and sits near the St. Louis metro area.
- SAT Range 871-1277
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $22,444
Ashland University
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Ashland is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college city of Ashland in north-central Ohio.
- SAT Range 1035-1208
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $22,610
Ball State University
- Public 4 Year
- Muncie, IN
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4.6 | 5 reviews
Ball State is a public university known for undergraduate architecture, education, and telecommunications. The college-town campus is in Muncie.
- SAT Range 1080-1260
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $13,599
Hiram College
- Private 4 Year
- Hiram, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Hiram is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and biomedical humanities. Students follow the Hiram Plan of 12-week terms paired with intensive three-week courses.
- SAT Range 890-1100
- Avg GPA 3.28
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $21,868
Anderson University
- Private 4 Year
- Anderson, IN
-
| 0 reviews
Anderson University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music, nursing, and business. Most students live on its residential campus in Anderson, northeast of Indianapolis.
- SAT Range 900-1150
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $25,332
Northwestern College
- Private 4 Year
- Orange City, IA
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4.0 | 2 reviews
Northwestern College is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. The campus sits in the small town of Orange City in northwest Iowa.
- SAT Range 940-1240
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $26,347
Quincy University
- Private 4 Year
- Quincy, IL
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2.3 | 3 reviews
Quincy is a small private Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The residential campus is in the Mississippi River city of Quincy.
- SAT Range 1000-1200
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $19,477
Western Michigan University
- Public 4 Year
- Kalamazoo, MI
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5.0 | 3 reviews
Western Michigan is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, engineering, and education. The residential campus sits on a hillside overlooking Kalamazoo in southwestern Michigan.
- SAT Range 990-1220
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $17,331
Malone University
- Private 4 Year
- Canton, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Malone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Canton in northeastern Ohio.
- SAT Range 930-1180
- Avg GPA 3.49
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $22,390
Carthage College
- Private 4 Year
- Kenosha, WI
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4.5 | 4 reviews
Carthage is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
- SAT Range 1000-1205
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $27,066
Northeastern Illinois University
- Public 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Northeastern Illinois is a public university known for undergraduate education and business programs. The urban campus sits on Chicago's Northwest Side.
- SAT Range 810-1010
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $14,140
University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
- Private 4 Year
- Fort Wayne, IN
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3.0 | 2 reviews
University of Saint Francis is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The residential campus in Fort Wayne centers Catholic and Franciscan campus life.
- SAT Range 870-1070
- Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $18,654