Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: Test-optional colleges let you decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. Submit scores at or above a school’s middle 50% range, and consider applying without them if they fall below. Many highly selective schools, including MIT, Harvard, and Dartmouth, now require testing again, so confirm each college’s current policy every year.
If testing is not your best format, or your SAT or ACT scores do not reflect your abilities, you may have heard about applying to test-optional colleges. [1] This can feel overwhelming, especially if you are already busy finalizing essays, recommendation letters, and application forms. So what are test-optional colleges, and how do they fit into your application strategy?
To help you understand, we will define what test-optional colleges are, look at which schools fall into this category, explain test-flexible policies, go over when you should or should not submit scores, and review the reasons schools have adopted these policies in the first place.
What Is a Test-Optional College?
As admissions policies evolve, more schools have reduced the weight of standardized testing. At test-optional colleges, applicants can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you believe your scores improve your profile, you can include them. If not, you can withhold them without penalty.
Today, many top liberal arts colleges and national universities offer test-optional admissions. Some, like Bowdoin and Smith, have been test-optional for decades. Others adopted the policy more recently, especially in response to COVID disruptions. [2] A smaller group of institutions is blind, meaning they will not consider standardized test scores at all, even if you submit them.
Liberal Arts Colleges With Test-Optional Policies
| School | Testing policy (as of fall 2026) |
|---|---|
| Williams College | Test-optional |
| Amherst College | Test-optional |
| Pomona College | Test-optional |
| Bowdoin College | Test-optional |
| Wellesley College | Test-optional for fall 2027 entry |
| Claremont McKenna College | Test-optional through fall 2027 entry; testing required again for fall 2028 |
| Vassar College | Test-optional |
| Harvey Mudd College | Test-optional pilot extended through 2027 |
These schools illustrate how standard test-optional policies have become prevalent in the liberal arts. Bowdoin was the first in the country to adopt the approach, and now it is the standard among many highly ranked colleges. [3]
National Universities With Test-Optional Policies
| School | Testing policy (as of fall 2026) |
|---|---|
| Princeton University | Test-optional for fall 2027 entry; testing required again for fall 2028 entry |
| Duke University | Test-optional for fall 2027 entry |
| Columbia University | Test-optional for fall 2027 entry; testing required for applications starting August 2027 |
| UCLA | Does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission |
| Rice University | Scores recommended but not required for fall 2027 entry |
| Vanderbilt University | Test-optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry; testing required for fall 2029 entry |
Note that several Ivy League universities now require testing again (see the list later in this guide), while the University of California system does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all. This means scores are not considered even if you submit them.
Test-Optional Colleges After COVID
The pandemic accelerated the test-optional movement. In 2020, many colleges dropped their SAT and ACT requirements for practical reasons, since test dates were canceled worldwide. Some schools implemented temporary one- or three-year pilots, while others made the decision permanent. Since then, the picture has split: many colleges remain test-optional or do not consider scores at all, while a growing group of highly selective universities has returned to required testing.
What Are Test Flexible Schools?
Test flexible schools allow applicants to fulfill testing requirements in different ways. Instead of requiring an SAT or ACT score, they may accept AP, IB, or A-Level exam results, or even a graded research paper.
Examples include:
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New York University: Has allowed applicants to submit AP, IB, or other international exam results in place of the SAT or ACT, so check its current policy before you apply.
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University of Rochester: Accepts SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or A-Level scores.
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Colorado College: Requires one quantitative test, one verbal test, and one additional exam, which can be AP, IB, TOEFL, or SAT/ACT.
This flexibility benefits students who may perform better on subject-specific or international exams than on the general SAT or ACT.
Test-Optional vs. Test-Blind
Test-optional and test-blind policies sound similar but work differently. At test-optional colleges, any scores you choose to submit become part of your file and can support your application. At a test-blind college, the admissions office will not use scores in its decision even if you send them, so your time is better spent on coursework, essays, and activities. The University of California campuses are the best-known example of this approach. Some schools that ignore scores in admissions may still use them for other purposes after you enroll, such as course placement, so read each policy carefully. For a closer look at how selective schools are rethinking these policies, see the new Ivies and the truth about test-optional.
When Should You Submit Test Scores?
Even if a school is test-optional, deciding whether to submit your scores is strategic. Look at the school’s middle 50% SAT/ACT range. If your scores fall within or above the range, submit them to improve your application. If they are below the range, it may be better to withhold them and let your GPA, coursework, and essays do the heavy lifting.
For example, consider these schools:
| School | Data year | SAT middle 50% |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Fall 2025 CDS, enrolled first-years | 1500–1560 |
| Colby College | Class of 2030 | 1430–1520 |
| Wesleyan University | Class of 2029, admitted students | 730–770 ERW, 730–790 Math |
| Bates College | Class of 2030, score submitters | 690–750 ERW, 710–760 Math |
Submitting a high score can help you get noticed in a competitive pool. On the other hand, if your GPA, recommendations, and activities are excellent, a lower test score might only weaken your profile, which is why the decision deserves a careful look at each school.
A Quick Checklist Before You Decide
- Find each college’s most recent middle 50% SAT or ACT range in its admitted student profile or Common Data Set.
- Compare your best score, or your superscore if the school accepts it, with that range. If you took both tests, an ACT to SAT conversion helps you compare.
- Check whether your intended program has its own expectations. Some majors, especially in STEM, may weigh math preparation more heavily.
- Look at the rest of your file. If your grades and course rigor already show academic readiness, a below-range score adds little.
For a deeper walkthrough, read our guide on whether to submit your SAT score to test-optional schools.
Why Do Colleges Go Test-Optional?
There are several reasons schools adopt test-optional policies:
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Equity: Standardized tests often reflect access to resources like tutoring and multiple test attempts. Removing the requirement broadens access for lower-income and first-generation students.
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Diversity: Test-optional policies can help schools attract a broader range of applicants from diverse races, geographies, and backgrounds.
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Rankings: Higher average test scores among those who submit can boost a school’s profile in ranking systems.
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Holistic admissions: Schools want to evaluate students beyond a single test, focusing on essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and personal qualities.
Research has shown that high school GPA is a better predictor of college success than standardized test scores. [4] That has encouraged more institutions to rethink how much weight they place on the SAT and ACT.
How to Plan Your Application Strategy
If you are targeting test-optional colleges, do not assume this means you can skip testing altogether. Some schools on your list may still require scores. Plan to take at least one standardized test so you can submit. If your results are solid, use them. If not, focus on building the other pieces of your application, challenging courses, effective essays, leadership in extracurriculars, and compelling recommendations.
Remember, test scores are just one piece of the puzzle. Your overall academic record, intellectual curiosity, and character will matter just as much, if not more.
Colleges That Now Require Test Scores
The biggest change in recent years is that a growing group of highly selective universities has moved away from test-optional admissions. MIT states plainly that it requires the SAT or ACT for first-year and transfer applicants. [5] Harvard requires the SAT or ACT, with alternatives such as AP or IB results only for students who face real obstacles to testing. [6] Dartmouth also requires standardized testing for undergraduate admission. [7]
Other schools have announced changes with a start date. Princeton remains test-optional for students applying to enroll in fall 2027 and will reinstate its testing requirement beginning with the following year’s applicants. [8] Columbia College and Columbia Engineering will require test results from first-year and transfer applicants starting in August 2027, with waivers available for documented hardship. [9]
Because these policies keep shifting, build a simple spreadsheet with each college’s current testing policy and the date you checked it. Our overview of testing policies at top U.S. universities is a helpful starting point, but always confirm on each school’s admissions website before you apply.
Take the Next Step
Your testing strategy should be part of a larger admissions plan. Our Former Admissions Officers can help you decide whether to submit your scores, improve your essays, and build a competitive profile for selective test-optional colleges.
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