Updated February 3, 2026
Over 900 Test-Optional Colleges in 2026
Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s 35 College Essays that Worked
For many high school students getting ready to apply to college, taking the SAT or ACT can feel like a major hurdle.
Between test anxiety, extra studying on top of a packed school schedule, and the pressure to get a top score, the experience is rarely fun, even for well-prepared students.
Luckily, you don’t always have to take the SAT or ACT to get into a great school.
We’ve made an overview of over 900 private and public universities and liberal arts colleges that have test-optional admissions policies.
Although these schools don’t require standardized tests, many do still require applicants to write at least one application essay–and if you’re not submitting test scores, the essay is an even more important part of your application.
As you start brainstorming, take a look at our free resource collecting 35 real college essays that got students into schools like Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and more. Grab your copy at the button below.
Then keep reading to learn about the different types of test-optional admissions and find out where you can apply without standardized test scores.
Jump to section:
What kinds of “test-optional” policies are there?
25 top test-optional colleges in 2026
900+ test-optional colleges in 2026
When should you submit test scores?
When should you not submit test scores?
How to boost your application without test scores
Next steps
What kinds of “test-optional” policies are there?
Test-optional policies sound pretty straightforward: you can choose to submit standardized test scores if you want to, but they’re not required.
In fact, it’s not quite that simple. Colleges and universities that get grouped together as “test-optional schools” use a range of testing policies, which we’ll break down here.
Test-optional policy for all applicants
At schools that maintain test-optional policies for all applicants, you’re not required to submit standardized test scores, but you’re welcome to if you think it would strengthen your application.
That means that if you have strong scores on the SAT or ACT that you think would help your application, you’re welcome to share that information, and the college or university will consider your score for admissions.
If you’re not a strong test-taker, or if your results are below the average scores for admitted students at a school you’re applying to, you can simply apply without submitting your scores.
Selective test-optional policy for some applicants
Other schools generally do require standardized test scores, but they waive the requirement for applicants who meet certain criteria. For example, some colleges maintain test-optional policies for students who are at or near the top of their high school class rank, or for students who have a certain GPA.
If you’re applying to a school with a selective optional testing policy and you meet the requirements to be exempt, double-check that this policy also holds for any specific program you’re applying to. Some specialized programs might still ask for scores for admission (like programs that combine a bachelor’s and a master’s degree).
Test-blind policy
Test-blind schools don’t use standardized testing in the admissions process at all. Even if you submit an SAT or ACT score with your application, it won’t be factored into your admissions decision.
This can be beneficial for students who don’t tend to do well on standardized tests. On the other hand, if you do have a strong score that you want to submit to boost your application, you won’t be able to use that score for admissions.
Flexible testing policy
Finally, some schools have a flexible standardized testing policy. That means that they do require testing, but not necessarily SAT or ACT scores.
Students who don’t want to take the SAT or ACT, or who don’t want to submit their scores, can substitute other exams to fulfill the standardized testing requirements. You might be able to use Advanced Placement (AP) scores or grades from the International Baccalaureate (IB). (If you’re planning to use AP scores, you might want to check out our guides to the easiest and hardest AP tests to help you choose.)
This isn’t a common application policy, but if you’re applying to any test-flexible schools, confirm which exam scores you’ll be able to use in place of the SAT or ACT.
25 Top Test-Optional Colleges in 2026
Colleges and universities at every level of selectivity are test-optional. But if you’re aiming at a top school and want to know where you can apply without submitting standardized test scores, you might want to consider one of these top-ranked options.
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA |
| Pomona College | Claremont, CA |
| Colby College | Waterville, ME |
| Duke University | Durham, NC |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL |
| Rice University | Houston, TX |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME |
| Barnard College | New York, NY |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| New York University | New York, NY |
| Amherst College | Amherst, MA |
| Williams College | Williamstown, MA |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA |
| Middlebury College | Middlebury, VT |
| Boston University | Boston, MA |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, CA |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| Hamilton College | Clinton, NY |
| Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| Washington University in St Louis | St Louis, MO |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN |
900+ Test-Optional Colleges in 2026
These 900+ colleges and universities currently maintain some form of test-optional admissions policy. Many schools have reinstated their testing requirements in the last couple of years, though, so always make sure to check the requirements for any colleges on your application list.
Remember that there are different kinds of test-optional, test-blind, and test-flexible policies, so make sure to double-check the specific policy for each school you’re applying to. Some schools also have different policies for first-year and transfer admissions, so if you’re applying as a transfer student, make sure that any test-optional policy applies to you too.
If you’re looking for test-optional schools that also don’t require essays, we’ve put together lists of colleges with no supplemental essay requirement, and even colleges with no essay requirement at all. As you put together your college list, also keep in mind where you can apply without paying an application fee.
Abilene Christian University – Ave Maria University
Babson College – Butler University
Cairn University – Curry College
D’Youville University – Duquesne University
| D’Youville University | Buffalo, NY |
| Daemen University | Amherst, NY |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, SD |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Davidson College | Davidson, NC |
| Dean College | Franklin, MA |
| Defiance College | Defiance, OH |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE |
| Delaware Valley University | Doylestown, PA |
| Denison University | Granville, OH |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL |
| DePauw University | Greencastle, IN |
| DeSales University | Center Valley, PA |
| Dharma Realm Buddhist University | Ukiah, CA |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle, PA |
| Dillard University | New Orleans, LA |
| Dominican University | River Forest, IL |
| Dominican University New York | Orangeburg, NY |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA |
| Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
| Drew University | Madison, NJ |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA |
| Drury University | Springfield, MO |
| Duke University | Durham, NC |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
Earlham College – Evangel University
| Earlham College | Richmond, IN |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC |
| East Central University | Ada, OK |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg, PA |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
| Eastern Oregon University | La Grande, OR |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney, WA |
| Eckerd College | St Petersburg, FL |
| Edgewood College | Madison, WI |
| Elim Bible Institute and College | Lima, NY |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, NC |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL |
| Elmira College | Elmira, NY |
| Elms College | Chicopee, MA |
| Elon University | Elon, NC |
| Emerson College | Boston, MA |
| Emmanuel College | Boston, MA |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory, VA |
| Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| Eureka College | Eureka, IL |
| Evangel University | Springfield, MO |
Fairfield University – Furman University
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Teaneck/Madison, NJ |
| Felician University | Rutherford, NJ |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum, VA |
| Fisher College | Boston, MA |
| Fisk University | Nashville, TN |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA |
| Flagler College | St. Augustine, FL |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, FL |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL |
| Fordham University | Bronx, NY |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO |
| Framingham State University | Framingham, MA |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA |
| Franklin College | Franklin, IN |
| Franklin Pierce University | Rindge, NH |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno, CA |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg, MD |
| Furman University | Greenville, SC |
Gannon University – Gwynedd Mercy University
| Gannon University | Erie, PA |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC |
| Generations College | Chicago, IL |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls, PA |
| George Fox University | Newberg, OR |
| George Mason University | Fairfax, VA |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA |
| Georgian Court University | Lakewood Township, NJ |
| Goldey-Beacom College | Wilmington, DE |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| Gordon College | Wenham, MA |
| Goshen College | Goshen, IN |
| Goucher College | Baltimore, MD |
| Governors State University | University Park, IL |
| Grace College | Winona Lake, IN |
| Graceland University | Lamoni, IA |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro, NC |
| Greenville University | Greenville, IL |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA |
| Guilford College | Greensboro, NC |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, MN |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley, PA |
Hamilton College – Husson University
Illinois College – Ithaca College
| Illinois College | Jacksonville, IL |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, IL |
| Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL |
| Immaculata University | Malvern, PA |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute, IN |
| Indiana Tech | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Indiana University | Multiple locations, IN |
| Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, IN |
| Iona University | New Rochelle, NY |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca, NY |
Jackson State University – Juniata College
| Jackson State University | Jackson, MS |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, OH |
| Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence, RI |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte, NC |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon, PA |
Kalamazoo College – Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
| Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo, MI |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS |
| Kean University | Union, NJ |
| Keene State College | Keene, NH |
| Keiser University Flagship Campus | West Palm Beach, FL |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA |
| Kent State University | Kent, OH |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro, KY |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH |
| Kettering University | Flint, MI |
| Keuka College | Keuka Park, NY |
| Keystone College | La Plume, PA |
| King’s College | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Knox College | Galesburg, IL |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, PA |
La Roche University – Lyon College
Macalester College – Muskingum University
Naropa University – Nova Southeastern University
Oakland University – Otterbein University
| Oakland University | Rochester, MI |
| Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus, OH |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH |
| Ohio University | Athens, OH |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, OH |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee, OK |
| Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, OK |
| Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| Oral Roberts University | Tulsa, OK |
| Oregon State University | Corvalis, OR |
| Oregon Tech | Klamath Falls, OR |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, OH |
Pace University – Purchase College
| Pace University | New York City & Pleasantville, NY |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, WA |
| Pacific University Oregon | Forest Grove, OR |
| Paine College | Augusta, GA |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach, FL |
| Park University | Parkville, MO |
| Paul Smith’s College | Paul Smiths, NY |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamport, PA |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California, PA |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer, NC |
| Piedmont University | Demorest, GA |
| Pitzer College | Claremont, CA |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth, NH |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Pomona College | Claremont, CA |
| Portland State University | Portland, OR |
| Pratt Institute | Brooklyn, NY |
| Presbyterian College | Clinton, SC |
| Prescott College | Prescott, AZ |
| Principia College | Elsah, IL |
| Providence College | Providence, RI |
| Purchase College, SUNY | Purchase, NY |
Queens University of Charlotte – Quinnipiac University
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| Quincy University | Quincy, IL |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT |
Radford University – Rutgers University
| Radford University | Radford, VA |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | Mahwah, NJ |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg, VA |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland, VA |
| Reed College | Portland, OR |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Regis College | Weston, MA |
| Regis University | Denver, CO |
| Reinhardt University | Waleska, GA |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY |
| Rhode Island College | Providence, RI |
| Rhodes College | Memphis, TN |
| Rice University | Houston, TX |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville, NJ |
| Ripon College | Ripon, WI |
| Rivier University | Nashua, NH |
| Roanoke College | Salem, VA |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | Rochester, NY |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL |
| Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol, RI |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN |
| Rosemont College | Rosemont, PA |
| Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ |
| Russell Sage College | Troy, NY |
| Rutgers University | Piscataway, NJ |
Sacred Heart University – Syracuse University
Talladega College – Tuskegee University
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Utica University
Valparaiso University – Viterbo University
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY |
| Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | Flushing, NY |
| Vermont State University | Multiple locations, VT |
| Villa Maria College | Buffalo, NY |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes, IN |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, VA |
| Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse, WI |
Wabash College – Wright State University
Xavier University
| Xavier University – Ohio | Cincinnati, OH |
| Xavier University – Louisiana | New Orleans, LA |
York College of Pennsylvania – Youngstown State University
| York College of Pennsylvania | York, PA |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
Zaytuna College
| Zaytuna College | Berkeley, CA |
When should you submit test scores?
Even if it’s not required, submitting standardized test scores can add to your application. You might want to submit test scores if:
- Your SAT or ACT score is above average for admitted students at your goal school, meaning that it could make you a more competitive applicant. (You can find the score ranges for hundreds of colleges and universities using the College Board’s search tool.)
- Your GPA is on the low side for a school you’re applying to, and you want to use a strong SAT or ACT score to demonstrate your academic ability despite a lower GPA.
- You want your application to stand out. When not all applicants are submitting test scores, applying with a strong score can give you an edge.
- You want to use test scores to qualify for merit aid, which can be significant. At some schools, applicants with an SAT or ACT score above a certain level automatically qualify for tuition discounts. These can range up to the full cost of tuition for near-perfect scores – and even if you’re not in that range, you can be awarded smaller merit aid grants starting from much lower test scores.
When should you not submit test scores?
Sometimes, submitting standardized test scores will not help your application–and might even take away from it. It’s probably not a good idea to submit test scores if:
- You’re applying to a school with a test-blind application policy. (The admissions office won’t even consider your test score, so there’s no point submitting it.)
- Your scores are below the average test scores for a school you’re applying to. (You can find the score ranges for hundreds of colleges and universities using the College Board’s search tool and use this to determine your goal score based on your college list.)
How to boost your application without test scores
If you’re not planning to submit test scores, the other components of your application become even more important.
Without standardized test scores, you’ll want to find other ways to demonstrate your academic achievement and potential. That might be through a high GPA, but you can also choose to take AP exams or other qualifications. You can also get creative and consider less traditional ways to showcase an academic talent. For example, you could participate in a subject-specific olympiad or fair.
Your admissions essay is also a key part of the application process. For most schools, you’ll write at least one personal essay. Some colleges and universities also require school-specific supplemental essays.
Especially if you’re applying without test scores, these admissions essays are an important way to make your application stand out. We’ve been working with students going through the college admissions process for over 20 years, so feel free to reach out for essay advice and support.
And to see the essays that got our tutors and students into top schools, check out our free collection of real, successful college essays below.
Next Steps
Ready to get started on your applications? Read our guide to making your college list, keeping in mind where you’ll be able to apply without submitting test scores.
Then, once you’re ready to start writing, read through our free collection of real Common App personal essays to see examples of successful applications to top schools.
If you’re feeling stuck on a stage of the process, whether brainstorming or finalizing your draft, contact us to get paired with a college essay expert. Our tutors aren’t just experienced essay coaches – as recent graduates, they also know what it’s like to be in your shoes.
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Ro
Rosamond graduated summa cum laude from Princeton. During college, she worked as a peer tutor for Italian, French, Greek, and academic writing. Since graduation, she’s continued to tutor students of all ages in French, Italian, Latin, English, and math, some of them for several years. She’s currently a graduate student studying the relationship between religion and secular law, and she works as a freelance journalist and translator.