2022 Test Optional Colleges: Changes in Light of COVID-19

Padya Paramita

2022 Test Optional Colleges: Changes in Light of COVID-19

As the pandemic continues, many colleges have decided to step up and remove standardized test scores from their requirements for at least the upcoming admissions cycle. We have a comprehensive list of the 2022 test optional colleges for you.

If you have an SAT score already, great! If you haven’t taken the exam yet, it’s important to think about the bigger picture and keep a few of the 2022 test optional colleges on your list in case the situation prevents you from taking the SAT. To help you review the options, I have included the full list of schools that have made the decision to go test optional next year, and added more updates from the College Board to consider as you plan your road to the next four years.

List of 2022 Test Optional Colleges

As you look through the list of 2022 test optional colleges, you’ll notice that some schools have implemented test optional routes for more than just the upcoming cycle to be fair to all students in high school that could be impacted by this, regardless of which grade they are in right now. The following table includes institutions that have made changes to their standardized testing policies as a result of the disruptions. We will update the list as more colleges make announcements of changes.

Table Key

  • School: Name of the college which has gone test optional
  • Application Cycles Impacted: How long the change will be applicable
  • Additional Notes: Further details on schools that have alternate requirements in place of test score submission
School Application Years Impacted Additional Notes
Amherst College 2022-23
Babson College 2022-23
Barnard College 2022-23
Baylor University 2022-23
Bentley University 2022-23
Boston College 2022-23
Boston University 2022-2023
Brown University 2022-2023
Bucknell University 2022-23, 2023-24
California Insitute of Technology 2022-23 Test blind, i.e., not considering test scores at all
California State University Permanently Test blind (not accepting SAT/ACT)
Case Western University 2022-203
Catholic University Test Blind (not accepting SAT/ACT)
Chapman University 2022-23
Claremont McKenna College 2022-23; 2023-24
Clarkson University 2022-23
Clemson University 2022-23
Colgate University 2022-23
College of Charleston 2022-23
Columbia University 2022-23; 2023-24
Cornell University 2022-23, 2023-24 (Optional for Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Human Ecology, & Industrial/Labor; Blind for Ag & Life Sciences, Architecture, and School of Business)
Cooper Union 2022-23
Dartmouth College 2022-23
Davidson College Permanently test optional
Drexel University 2022-23
Elon University 2022-23
Emory University 2022-23
Fordham University 2022-23
George Washington University Completely test optional
Grinnell College 2022-23
Hamilton College 2022-23
Harvard University 2022-23; 2023-24; 2024-25; 2025-26
Harvey Mudd College 2022-23
Haverford College 2022-23
Johns Hopkins University 2022-23; 2023-24; 2024-25; 2025-26
Kenyon College 2022-23
Indiana University — Bloomington Completely test optional
Michigan State 2023-24; 2024-25; 2025-26
Middlebury College 2022-23
New York University 2022-23
Northeastern University 2022-23; 2023-24; 2024-25; 2025-26
Northwestern University 2022-23
Oberlin College 2022-23
Ohio State University 2022-23
Olin College of Engineering 2022-23
Oregon State University Completely test optional
Pitzer College 2022-23; 2023-2024 (Test blind - not accepting SAT/ACT)
Pomona College 2022-2023
Princeton University 2022-23
Reed College 2022-23; Test blind - not accepting SAT/ACT
Rhodes College 2022-23
Rice University 2022-23
Rochester Institute of Technology Completely test optional
Rutgers University 2022-23; 2023-24
Santa Clara University 2022-23; 2023-24
Stanford University 2022-2023
State University of New York 2022-23
Syracuse University 2022-23
Texas Christian University 2022-23
Tufts University 2022-23
Tulane University 2022-23
University of California (all schools) Permanently test-blind
University of Chicago 2022-23
University of Colorado-Boulder 2022-23
University of Connecticut 2022-23; 2023-2024; 2024-2025; 2025-2026
University of Illinois (all schools) 2022-23
University of Maryland - College Park 2022-23
University of Massachusetts—Amherst 2022-23
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities 2022-23
University of North Carolina (all schools) 2022-23; 2023-24
University of Notre Dame 2022-23
University of Oregon Completely test optional
University of Pennsylvania 2022-23
University of Pittsburgh 2022-23
University of Richmond 2022-23
University of San Diego 2022-23 (Test blind-not accepting the SAT/ACT)
University of South Carolina 2022-23
University of Southern California 2022-23
University of Texas — Austin 2022-23
University of Toronto 2022-23
University of Virginia 2022-23
University of Washington — Seattle Completely test optional
University of Wisconsin — Madison 2022-2023; 2023-2024
Vanderbilt University 2022-23
Vassar College 2022-23
Villanova University 2022-23
Virginia Tech 2022-23; 2023-24
Washington and Lee University 2022-23
Washington University in St. Louis 2022-23, 2023-24
Wellesley College 2022-23; 2023-24
William and Mary 2022-23
Williams College 2022-23
Yale University 2022-23

Most colleges have only implemented the change in policy for one year, although a handful of schools are running three-year pilot programs. It should be interesting to note how the addition of this new protocol impacts incoming classes — how many students submit their scores, what the median numbers are, and whether colleges choose to expand this policy beyond just this upcoming cycle.

Shoshannah Feinberg, a Former Admissions Officer from Northwestern, discusses how these new policies will influence your admissions chances in this podcast episode:

Colleges that are Not Test Optional

On the flip side of the chart that we've included, at some colleges and universities, SAT and ACT scores are still mandatory. This list of schools includes:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Georgetown University
  • United States Military Academy
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • University of Florida
  • Florida State University

Other Changes in Testing by the College Board 

On the 19th of January 2021, the College Board announced that it will no longer offer SAT subject tests. Reflecting on a year of COVID-19 impacting the testing landscape in various ways, the Board said that the pandemic ““accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to reduce and simplify demands on students.” The timeline of this announcement is simple: The “SAT subject tests canceled” headline goes into effect immediately for all test centers in the US and after the May and June 2021 administrations for tests given internationally (including Canada). In addition, in light of the pandemic, the College Board will be working on a more flexible and streamlined version of the SAT that can be digitally delivered. There is not yet any official timeline for this change and the College Board will share more information about this later in the spring. The organization is also cancelling the optional Essay on the SAT after the June 2021 session.

Understandably, the list of 2022 test optional colleges is ever expanding. If you’re a student who hasn’t had the chance to take the exam — or aren’t sure if you’ll be able to do so in the fall — take advantage of the changes and consider applying to these institutions and other test optional colleges. Expect more universities to announce adjustments in their testing policies as states make changes regarding lockdown timelines in the upcoming months, but at the same time, continue leaving time to practice for the SAT, as most top schools haven’t made any changes so far. Good luck!

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