The list below is just a sampling of the more than 815 four-year colleges that do not require the SAT or ACT. I have, however, included all of the highly selective schools that don't require scores. To see a complete list, visit the FairTest website . Also be sure to check out my list of 20 Great Colleges for Students with Low SAT Scores.
Colleges don't use test scores for many reasons. Some technical schools, music schools and art schools don't see the ACT and SAT as good measures of the types of skills they require. Other schools recognize that the SAT and ACT limit their applicant pools and give unfair advantage to students from schools or families that can afford test prep courses. You will also find on the FairTest list that many schools with strong religious affiliations do not require standardized tests.
Admissions policies change frequently, so check with each school for the latest testing guidelines. Also, realize that some of the schools below are test-optional only for students who meet certain GPA or class rank requirements.
Schools that don't require the ACT or SAT for some or all applicants
- Alabama State University at Montgomery
- Arizona State University at Tempe
- Arkansas State University
- Austin Peay State University
- Bard College
- Bates College
- Bowdoin College
- California State University at Bakersfield, Chico, Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Marcos, and Stanislaus
- College of the Atlantic
- Concordia University
- Denison University
- Dickinson College
- Drew University
- Franklin and Marshall College
- George Mason University
- Gettysburg College
- Goddard College
- Goucher College
- Hampshire College
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges
- Kansas State University (scores required for out-of-state applicants)
- Knox College
- Lake Forest College
- Lewis & Clark College
- Loyola College in Maryland
- Middlebury College (SAT2 required if SAT1 is not used)
- Mount Holyoke College
- Muhlenberg College
- Nazareth College
- New School (scores required for some programs)
- Northern Arizona University
- Ohio State University at ATI Wooster, Mansfield, Marion, Newark (scores required for out-of-state applicants)
- Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City
- Pitzer College
- Rollins College
- St. John's College (Annapolis and Sante Fe)
- Sarah Lawrence College
- Sewanee: The University of the South
- Smith College
- South Dakota State University
- Susquehanna University
- University of Alaska at Anchorage, Fairbanks and Southeast
- University of Arkansas at Fortsmith, Little Rock, Monticello and Pine Bluff
- University of Idaho at Moscow
- University of Iowa at Iowa City
- University of Kansas at Lawrence
- University of Maine at Augusta, Farminton, Ft. Kent and Preque Isle
- University of Minnesota at Crookston, Duluth and Morris
- University of Mississippi
- University of Montana at Missoula and Western
- University of Nebraska at Kearney and Lincoln
- University of Nevada at Las Vegas and Reno
- University of Texas at Arlington, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Pan American, San Antonio and Tyler
- Ursinus College
- Wake Forest University
- Washington College
- Western Kentucky University
- Wheaton College
- Wittenberg University
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
When applying to schools, be sure to read their policies carefully. Some state schools on the list do require scores from out-of-state applicants. Other schools don't require scores for admissions, but they do use the scores for awarding academic scholarships.
