Best Test-Optional Southwestern Colleges
There are 68 test-optional colleges in the Southwest, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.
Rice University leads Southwest test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is Texas A&M University College Station. Also highly ranked: Trinity University, Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian 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.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Public 4 Year
- Durant, OK
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| 0 reviews
Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.
- SAT Range 980-1186
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $9,075
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Public 4 Year
- Edinburg, TX
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
UTRGV is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. Campuses span the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $5,282
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Public 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UTSA is a large public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity and business. The main campus sits in northwest San Antonio near the Texas Hill Country.
- SAT Range 1000-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $10,959
Angelo State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Angelo, TX
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4.0 | 1 reviews
Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $14,048
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
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
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
Arizona Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Glendale, AZ
-
| 0 reviews
Arizona Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and education. The suburban campus sits in Glendale in the Phoenix metro area.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $32,514
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Portales, NM
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 24 application deadline
ENMU is a public university known for undergraduate aviation and teacher education. The campus is in the small college town of Portales on New Mexico's eastern plains.
- SAT Range 830-1060
- Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $6,416
Texas Southern University
- Public 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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3.0 | 3 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Texas Southern is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in Houston's Third Ward.
- SAT Range 800-1000
- Avg GPA 3.0
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $13,584
Northeastern State University
- Public 4 Year
- Tahlequah, OK
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4.5 | 2 reviews
Northeastern State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and Native American studies. The Tahlequah campus sits in the capital of the Cherokee Nation.
- SAT Range 866-1136
- Avg GPA 3.49
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,410
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- Public 4 Year
- Weatherford, OK
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4.0 | 1 reviews
SWOSU is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and education. The campus is in the small college town of Weatherford in western Oklahoma.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,410
Our Lady of the Lake University
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
-
| 0 reviews
Our Lady of the Lake is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate social work and education. The urban San Antonio campus is a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
- SAT Range 890-1070
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,999
The University of Texas at El Paso
- Public 4 Year
- El Paso, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTEP is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering. The campus features distinctive Bhutanese-style architecture in El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 860-1080
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,305