Best Test-Optional New England Colleges

There are 80 test-optional colleges in the New England, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.

Amherst College leads New England test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University of Connecticut. Also highly ranked: Williams College, Wellesley College and Middlebury College.

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.

80 Results
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New England Test Optional Public Private 4 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Storrs, CT
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UConn is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Storrs.

#16 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1440
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $25,310
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waltham, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bentley is a private university known for undergraduate business, accounting, and finance. The suburban campus sits in Waltham just west of Boston.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1430
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $45,802
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley, MA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Babson is a private college known for undergraduate entrepreneurship and business. The suburban campus is in Wellesley near Boston.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1390-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 17%
  • Net Price $32,019
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Simmons is a private women's university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $28,691
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Providence College is a private Dominican Catholic college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in a Providence neighborhood.

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $48,618
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • 4.7 | 6 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Northeastern is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1440-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.91
  • Acceptance Rate 5%
  • Net Price $34,207
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fairfield, CT
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Fairfield is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The suburban campus is in coastal Connecticut near Long Island Sound.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 33%
  • Net Price $49,958
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Clark is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and geography. The compact urban campus sits in Worcester, west of Boston.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1288-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $33,865
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Norton, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Wheaton is a private liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary Connections curriculum and frequent dual majors. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Norton southeast of Boston.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $30,701
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Amherst, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UMass Amherst is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, business, and engineering. Students can cross-register at nearby colleges through the Five College Consortium in the Pioneer Valley.

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $22,948
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews

MCPHS is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Longwood Medical Area.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1416
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $41,506
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hamden, CT
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Quinnipiac is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and communications. The suburban campus sits at the base of Sleeping Giant in Hamden.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $40,632
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Burlington, VT
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UVM is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, natural resources, and nursing. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Champlain in Burlington.

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $20,084
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 20 application deadline

Emerson is a private college known for undergraduate journalism, film, and performing arts. The urban campus sits in Boston's Theater District near Boston Common.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $53,432
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Springfield College is a private college known for undergraduate physical education, exercise science, and health sciences. Basketball was invented on its campus, and the school keeps a long focus on sport and human services.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $30,039
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Manchester, NH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Saint Anselm is a private Catholic liberal arts college known for undergraduate politics and nursing. The Benedictine campus in Manchester has long hosted New Hampshire presidential primary debates.

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1278
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $35,551
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Smithfield, RI
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Bryant is a private university known for undergraduate business. The suburban campus sits northwest of Providence.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $42,139
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newport, RI
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Salve Regina is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and historic preservation. The Newport campus overlooks the Atlantic and incorporates several Gilded Age mansions.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $38,307
Details