Best Test-Optional Southern Colleges
There are 307 test-optional colleges in the South, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.
Duke University leads South test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: Rice University, Vanderbilt University and Emory University.
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.
Shorter University
- Private 4 Year
- Rome, GA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 25 application deadline
Shorter is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The campus sits in the small city of Rome in northwest Georgia.
- SAT Range 1040-1200
- Avg GPA 3.25
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $16,821
Lamar University
- Public 4 Year
- Beaumont, TX
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1.7 | 3 reviews
Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.
- SAT Range 930-1140
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $9,814
Columbia College
- Private 4 Year
- Columbia, SC
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| 0 reviews
Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.
- SAT Range 850-1140
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $18,790
University of Houston Downtown
- Public 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.
- SAT Range 940-1110
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $10,832
Winston Salem State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winston-Salem, NC
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| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.
- SAT Range 830-1020
- Avg GPA 3.01
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,989
St. Thomas University
- Private 4 Year
- Miami Gardens, FL
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1.0 | 1 reviews
St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.
- SAT Range 860-1060
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $27,844
Midway University
- Private 4 Year
- Midway, KY
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| 0 reviews
Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.
- SAT Range 1100-1170
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $30,679
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Public 4 Year
- Pembroke, NC
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UNC Pembroke is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus was founded to serve Native American students and remains closely tied to the Lumbee community.
- SAT Range 970-1200
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $9,723
Troy University
- Public 4 Year
- Troy, AL
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5.0 | 4 reviews
Troy is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The main campus is a residential college-town setting in southeastern Alabama.
- SAT Range 940-1210
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $12,842
Concordia University Texas
- Private 4 Year
- Austin, TX
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4.0 | 2 reviews
Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.
- SAT Range 860-1100
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $24,723
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Public 4 Year
- Princess Anne, MD
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| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UMES is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, aviation science, and hospitality management. The rural campus is located in the small town of Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
- SAT Range 840-1010
- Avg GPA 3.07
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $13,311
Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Petersburg, VA
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| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.
- SAT Range 840-1070
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,840
University of Mount Olive
- Private 4 Year
- Mount Olive, NC
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| 0 reviews
Mount Olive is a private Christian university known for undergraduate agriculture and business. The residential campus is in the small town of Mount Olive in eastern North Carolina.
- SAT Range 990-1150
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $18,853
Charleston Southern University
- Private 4 Year
- Charleston, SC
-
| 0 reviews
Charleston Southern is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus sits in North Charleston in the greater Charleston area.
- SAT Range 930-1160
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $21,080
Delaware State University
- Public 4 Year
- Dover, DE
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| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Delaware State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aviation and agriculture. The main campus is in Dover, Delaware's capital city.
- SAT Range 800-1020
- Avg GPA 3.09
- Acceptance Rate 47%
- Net Price $13,953
North Carolina A & T State University
- Public 4 Year
- Greensboro, NC
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
NC A&T is a large public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. The urban campus is in Greensboro.
- SAT Range 1020-1190
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 50%
- Net Price $10,097
Point University
- Private 4 Year
- West Point, GA
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| 0 reviews
Point is a small private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of West Point on the Georgia-Alabama border.
- SAT Range 972-1237
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 44%
- Net Price $19,545
Barton College
- Private 4 Year
- Wilson, NC
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Barton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in the small city of Wilson in eastern North Carolina.
- SAT Range 970-1150
- Avg GPA 3.25
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $23,962