Best Test-Optional New York Colleges

New York has 93 ranked test-optional colleges, part of our national test-optional list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application, ranked by academic quality and outcomes.

Columbia University in the City of New York tops our 2027 test-optional rankings in New York. The top rated public option is University at Buffalo. Also highly ranked: Hamilton College, Colgate University and Barnard College.

Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the colleges below. Sort by tuition or acceptance rate to find schools that fit your profile. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.

93 Results
Sort:
New York Test Optional Public Private 4 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Buffalo State is a public SUNY university known for undergraduate teacher education, design, and the arts. The urban campus in Buffalo includes the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

#24 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1240
  • Avg GPA 2.84
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $12,023
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • | 0 reviews

D'Youville is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The compact urban campus sits on Buffalo's west side near the Peace Bridge.

#51 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 995-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $20,690
Details
Dominican University New York Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orangeburg, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Dominican University New York is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus in Orangeburg sits in Rockland County north of New York City.

#52 Best Private Colleges in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1095-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.09
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $33,972
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bronx, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Lehman is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and health sciences. Students attend a tree-lined campus in the northwest Bronx.

#25 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1150
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $3,961
Details
Keuka College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Keuka Park, NY
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

Keuka is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy, and education. The campus sits on Keuka Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region.

#53 Best Private Colleges in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1008-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $24,628
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

John Jay is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate criminal justice, forensic science, and public administration. The urban Midtown Manhattan campus sits near Lincoln Center.

#26 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $4,082
Details
Utica University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Utica, NY
  • 3.9 | 9 reviews

Utica is a private university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, economic crime investigation, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small city of Utica in central New York.

#54 Best Private Colleges in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $20,295
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Staten Island, NY
  • | 0 reviews

College of Staten Island is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. Its large Staten Island campus is one of New York City's most spacious college grounds.

#27 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $6,525
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Delhi, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Delhi is a public college of technology known for undergraduate veterinary science technology, hospitality management, and architectural technology. The residential campus sits in a small village in New York's Catskill Mountains region.

#28 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $16,371
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bronx, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Saint Vincent is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The Riverdale campus overlooks the Hudson River in the Bronx.

#55 Best Private Colleges in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1011-1178
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $22,808
Details
SUNY Old Westbury Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Old Westbury, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Old Westbury is a public university known for undergraduate business, teacher education, and the biological sciences. The suburban Long Island campus occupies wooded grounds of a former estate in Nassau County.

#29 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1206
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $10,944
Details
SUNY Morrisville Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Morrisville, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

SUNY Morrisville is a public college known for undergraduate agriculture, equine studies, and applied technology. The rural campus is set in the village of Morrisville in central New York.

#30 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1230
  • Avg GPA 2.7
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $15,960
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jamaica, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

York College is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and aviation. The urban campus sits in Jamaica, Queens.

#31 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-960
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.15
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $5,131
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Medgar Evers is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The urban campus is located in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood.

#32 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1020
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $6,273
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

City Tech is a public CUNY college of technology known for undergraduate architecture, engineering technology, and hospitality management. The urban campus is in Downtown Brooklyn.

#33 Best Public Universities in New York 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $5,794
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cobleskill, NY
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

SUNY Cobleskill is a public college of agriculture and technology known for undergraduate animal science, agriculture, and culinary arts. The rural campus in upstate New York includes working farms and agricultural facilities.

#34 Best Public Universities in New York 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $18,140
Details
St. Thomas Aquinas College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sparkill, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

St. Thomas Aquinas is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The suburban campus sits in Sparkill just north of New York City.

#56 Best Private Colleges in New York 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1085
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $21,187
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Mercy is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and business. The Dobbs Ferry campus overlooks the Hudson River in suburban Westchester County.

#57 Best Private Colleges in New York 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $15,200
Details