Full List of 1,000+ Colleges That Don’t Require ACT Scores

Applying to college usually means writing some essays, asking for letters of recommendation, and submitting your transcripts. But what about the ACT and SAT? Is the ACT required for college? The answer is, not necessarily!

In this guide, we explain what test-optional colleges are and give you the complete list of 1,000+ colleges that don’t require ACT scores from applicants. We also offer a few tips for what to do with these ACT-optional college lists.

Note: for a list of schools temporarily not requiring test scores due to COVID-19, read this article instead. Otherwise, read on to see which schools are always test-optional, test-flexible, or test-blind.

 

Is the ACT Required for College? Not Necessarily

First off, is the ACT required for college in the United States? Or not?

Though many four-year colleges and universities in the United States require ACT or SAT scores for admission, these days, many do not. Colleges that don’t require ACT scores are known as “test-optional” schools. This means that you do not have to send in any ACT/SAT scores with your application but may if you want to. In the end, it’s your choice whether you submit test scores or not.

A test-optional policy gives you more control over how you present yourself in your college applications. For example, if you didn’t do particularly well on the ACT, then you could choose not to submit your scores, thereby preventing them from negatively impacting your chances of getting in.

But not all colleges have the same exact test-optional policy. Below, we look at the various policies schools have regarding optional ACT scores.

 

Test Optional

With this policy, ACT and SAT scores are entirely optional, meaning you can choose whether to send them in. In other words, you get to decide how you want to present yourself to colleges.

For instance, if your ACT scores are on the lower end, you might withhold them and instead focus on strengthening other parts of your application, such as your personal statement. This way your low scores won’t count against you in the admissions process.

Here are some examples of popular ACT-optional colleges:

 

Test Flexible

A test-flexible school is a little different from a purely test-optional school. At these schools, you still need to send in test scores; however, you can submit scores from other tests in place of the ACT/SAT. Usually these can be scores from AP tests, IB tests, and other school-administered exams.

Popular test-flexible schools include the following:

 

Class Rank/GPA Substitution

Some schools, primarily large state universities, will waive the ACT/SAT score requirement only if you meet a certain class rank and/or GPA minimum. You’ll also be automatically admitted to that school! But if you do not meet these requirements, you’ll have to send in your ACT/SAT scores like everyone else.

Requirements vary depending on the university, but typically you’ll need a class rank in at least the top 10% and/or at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA.

Here are some popular schools that offer this substitution policy:

 

Test Blind

The last type of test-optional policy is test blind. With this policy, you are not supposed to submit any ACT/SAT scores. So if you decided to include ACT scores in your application, they would not be considered in the admissions process—even if you got a perfect score!

Test blind schools include the University of California schools (at least through 2025), Hampshire College, and Washington State University. The number of test blind schools is growing; however, it’s still a very rare policy.

 

Now that we’ve gone over the four different kinds of test-optional policies, let’s take a look at some of the best colleges and universities that don’t require ACT scores.

 

 

350+ Top-Tier Colleges That Don’t Require ACT Scores

Below are 350+ top-tier colleges that don’t require ACT scores for admission. Some schools are purely test optional, whereas others are test flexible or offer applicants guaranteed admission if they meet a certain minimum class rank and/or GPA requirement.

For these lists, we’re defining “top-tier” as any school ranked within the top 250 spots on its respective US News 2022 ranking list. US News sorts schools into several categories, such as National Liberal Arts Colleges, National Universities, Regional Universities North, etc. We kept these categorizations and sorted the schools alphabetically within them.

Skim these lists to see whether there are any ACT-optional colleges that interest you. If you’re looking for a particular school, use ctrl + f on your keyboard to search for it.

 

National Liberal Arts Colleges

School Name	State
Agnes Scott College	GA
Allegheny College	PA
Augustana College	IL
Austin College	TX
Bard College	NY
Bates College	ME
Beloit College	WI
Bennington College	VT
Birmingham-Southern College	AL
Bowdoin College	ME
Bryn Mawr College	PA
Bucknell University	PA
Colby College	ME
College of the Atlantic	ME
College of Idaho	ID
College of the Holy Cross	MA
Colorado College	CO
Connecticut College	CT
Cornell College	IA
Denison University	OH
DePauw University	IN
Dickinson College	PA
Drew University	NJ
Earlham College	IN
Elizabethtown College	PA
Franklin and Marshall College	PA
Furman University	SC
Gettysburg College	PA
Goucher College	MD
Guilford College	NC
Gustavus Adolphus College	MN
Hamilton College “Test Flexible”	NY
Hanover College	IN
Hartwick College	NY
Hendrix College	AR
Hobart and William Smith Colleges	NY
Hollins University	VA
Houghton College	NY
Illinois College	IL
Juniata College	PA
Kalamazoo College	MI
Knox College	IL
Lake Forest College	IL
Lawrence University	WI
Lewis & Clark College	OR
Linfield College	OR
Lycoming College	PA
Marlboro College	VT
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts	MA
Middlebury College	VT
Monmouth College	IL
Moravian College	PA
Mount Holyoke College	MA
Muhlenberg College	PA
Ohio Wesleyan University	OH
Pitzer College	CA
Presbyterian College	SC
Randolph-Macon College	VA
Ripon College	WI
Roanoke College	VA
Sarah Lawrence College	NY
Sewanee – University of the South	TN
Simpson College	IA
Skidmore College	NY
Smith College	MA
Southwestern University	TX
St. Anselm College	NH
St. Lawrence University	NY
St. John’s College	MD
St. John’s College	NM
St. Mary’s College	IN
St. Michael’s College	VT
Stonehill College	MA
Susquehanna University	PA
Sweet Briar College	VA
Transylvania University	KY
Trinity College	CT
Union College	NY
University of Puget Sound	WA
Ursinus College	PA
Warren Wilson College	NC
Washington College	MD
Washington & Jefferson College	PA
Wells College	NY
Wesleyan University	CT
Wheaton College	MA
Whitman College	WA
Whittier College	CA
Willamette University	OR
Wittenberg University	OH
Wofford College	SC

 

National Universities

School Name	State
American University	DC
Arizona State University	AZ
Azusa Pacific University	CA
Ball State University	IN
Brandeis University	MA
California State University, Fresno	CA
Chatham University	PA
Clark University	MA
Creighton University	NE
DePaul University	IL
Drake University	IA
Drexel University	PA
Duquesne University	PA
George Mason University	VA
George Washington University	DC
Hampton University	VA
Hofstra University	NY
Immaculata University	PA
Indiana University Bloomington	IN
Kansas State University	KS
Lesley University	MA
Maryville University of St. Louis	MO
Marquette University	WI
Mississippi State University	MS
Montclair State University	NJ
New School	NY
New York University	NY
Pace University	NY
Quinnipiac University	CT
Rowan University	NJ
Sacred Heart University	CT
Seattle Pacific University	WA
Seattle University	WA
Simmons University	MA
St. John’s University	NY
Temple University	PA
Texas A&M University	TX
Texas Tech University	TX
The Catholic University of America	DC
The Sage Colleges	NY
University of Arizona	AZ
University of California–Berkeley	CA
University of California–Davis	CA
University of California–Irvine	CA
University of California–Los Angeles	CA
University of California–Merced	CA
University of California–Riverside	CA
University of California–San Diego	CA
University of California–Santa Barbara	CA
University of California–Santa Cruz	CA
University of Chicago	IL
University of Delaware	DE
University of Denver	CO
University of Hartford	CT
University of Houston	TX
University of La Verne	CA
University of Massachusetts Boston	MA
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	MA
University of Massachusetts Lowell	MA
University of Mississippi	MS
University of Nevada, Reno	NV
University of New England	MA
University of New Hampshire	NH
University of Rochester	NY
University of San Francisco	CA
University of Saint Joseph	CT
University of Texas at Austin	TX
University of Texas at Dallas	TX
Virginia Commonwealth University	VA
Wake Forest University	NC
Washington State University	WA
Western New England University	MA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	MA

 

Regional Universities North

School Name	State
Albertus Magnus College	CT
Assumption College	MA
Bay Path University	MA
Bridgewater State University	MA
Bryant University	RI
Cabrini University	PA
Champlain College	VT
College of Saint Rose	NY
Daemen College	NY
Delaware Valley University	PA
DeSales University	PA
Eastern Connecticut State University	CT
Eastern University	PA
Elms College	MA
Emerson College	MA
Endicott College	MA
Fairfield University	CT
Fairleigh Dickinson University	NJ
Fitchburg State University	MA
Framingham State University	MA
Hood College	MD
Iona College	NY
Ithaca College	NY
Johnson & Wales University	RI
King’s College	PA
Keuka College	NY
La Salle University	PA
Lasell College	MA
Lebanon Valley College	PA
Le Moyne College	NY
Loyola University Maryland	MD
Manhattanville College	NY
Marist College	NY
McDaniel College	MD
Mercyhurst University	PA
Merrimack College	MA
Millersville University of Pennsylvania	PA
Monroe College	NY
Mount St. Mary’s University	MD
Nazareth College	NY
Niagara University	NY
Notre Dame of Maryland University	MD
Norwich University	VT
Point Park University	PA
Providence College	RI
Plymouth State University	NH
Rider University	NJ
Roberts Wesleyan College	NY
Roger Williams University	RI
Saint Joseph’s University	PA
Saint Peter’s University	NJ
Salem State University	MA
Salisbury University	MD
Salve Regina University	RI
Seton Hill University	PA
Siena College	NY
Southern New Hampshire University	NH
Springfield College	MA
Stockton University	NJ
SUNY Potsdam	NY
University of Scranton	PA
University of New Haven	CT
Utica University	NY
Vermont Technical College	VT
Wagner College	NY
Wentworth Institute of Technology	MA
William Paterson University	NJ
Worcester State University	MA

 

Regional Universities South

School Name	State
Arkansas Tech University	AR
Asbury University	KY
Brenau University	GA
Christopher Newport University	VA
Columbia College	SC
Converse College	SC
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	FL
Jacksonville University	FL
James Madison University	VA
King University	TN
Lynn University	FL
Marymount University	VA
Mississippi University for Women	MS
Pfeiffer University	NC
Queens University of Charlotte	NC
Radford University	VA
Rollins College	FL
Saint Leo University	FL
Stetson University	FL
St. Thomas University	FL
University of Holy Cross	LA
University of Mary Washington	VA
Virginia State University	VA

 

Regional Universities Midwest

School Name	State
Augsburg University	MN
Augustana University	SD
Baldwin-Wallace College	OH
Columbia College Chicago	IL
Concordia University	MN
Dakota State University	SD
Drury University	MO
Emporia State University	KS
Hamline University	MN
Lake Erie College	OH
McKendree University	IL
MidAmerica Nazarene University	KS
Nebraska Wesleyan University	NE
Northern State University	SD
Northwest Missouri State University	MO
Ohio Dominican University	OH
Robert Morris University	IL
Rockhurst University	MO
Siena Heights University	MI
Southeast Missouri State University	MO
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College	IN
Tiffin University	OH
University of Evansville	IN
University of Northwestern–St. Paul	MN
Walsh University	OH
Wayne State College	NE
Western Illinois University	IL
William Jewell College	MO
Xavier University	OH

 

Regional Universities West

School Name	State
Alaska Pacific University	AK
Cal Poly Pomona	CA
California State University, Bakersfield	CA
California State University, Channel Islands	CA
California State University, Chico	CA
California State University, Dominguez Hills	CA
California State University, Fullerton	CA
California State University, Long Beach	CA
California State University, Los Angeles	CA
California State University, Monterey Bay	CA
California State University, Northridge	CA
California State University, Sacramento	CA
California State University, San Bernardino	CA
California State University, San Marcos	CA
California State University, Stanislaus	CA
Dominican University of California	CA
Eastern Washington University	WA
Evergreen State College	WA
Hardin-Simmons University	TX
Hawaii Pacific University	HI
Humboldt State University	CA
La Sierra University	CA
Midwestern State University	TX
Northwest Nazarene University	ID
Oklahoma Wesleyan University	OK
Pacific Lutheran University	WA
San Jose State University	CA
Sonoma State University	CA
St. Edward’s University	TX
St. Martin’s University	WA
Tarleton State University	TX
Texas A&M International University	TX
Texas A&M University – Texarkana	TX
University of Alaska Anchorage	AK
University of North Texas at Dallas	TX
University of St. Thomas	TX
University of Texas of the Permian Basin	TX
Walla Walla University	WA
Weber State University	UT
Western Oregon University	OR
West Texas A&M University	TX
Whitworth University	WA
Woodbury University	CA

 

Regional Colleges North

School Name	State
Bard College at Simon’s Rock	MA
Cazenovia College	NY
Colby-Sawyer College	NH
CUNY New York City College of Tech	NY
Dean College	MA
Elmira College	NY
Keene State College	NH
Keystone College	PA
Landmark College	VT
Mount Aloysius College	PA
Paul Smith’s College	NY
Pennsylvania College of Technology	PA
St. Francis College	NY
SUNY Delhi	NY
Unity College	ME
University of Maine at Farmington	ME
University of Maine at Fort Kent	ME
University of Maine at Presque Isle	ME
University of Valley Forge	PA
Vermont Technical College	VT

 

Regional Colleges South

School Name	State
Atlanta Metropolitan State College	GA
Averett University	VA
Belmont Abbey College	NC
Brevard College	NC
Catawba College	NC
Flagler College	FL
Florida Memorial University	FL
Georgia Gwinnett College	GA
High Point University	NC
Lees-McRae College	NC
Pensacola State College	FL
Point University	GA
South Florida State College	FL
University of the Ozarks	AR
Voorhees College	SC
Warner University	FL
Welch College	TN

 

Regional Colleges Midwest

School Name	State
Alma College	MI
Dickinson State University	ND
Dunwoody College of Technology	MN
Hiram College	OH
Northland College	WI
Ottawa University	KS
University of Minnesota Crookston	MN
William Jewell College	MO

 

Regional Colleges West

School Name	State
Cal Maritime	CA
Carroll College	MT
Dixie State University	UT
East Texas Baptist University	TX
Oregon Institute of Technology	OR
Southwestern Christian University	OK
University of Hawai’i – West O’ahu	HI

 

You might have noticed that more liberal arts colleges are test optional compared with national research universities. In recent years, liberal arts colleges have begun to support the idea that test scores are only a single part of your application and therefore do not accurately represent the entirety of your academic potential and skills.

Nevertheless, the majority of prestigious colleges and universities still require ACT or SAT scores. Some examples include the Ivy League colleges, MIT, Stanford, and Duke.However, many of these schools are test-optional for students through the 2024 or 2026 admissions cycles, due to COVID-19.

As you research colleges, make sure to look up their ACT/SAT testing policies to see whether you’ll need to submit any scores.

 

 

Full List of 1,000+ Schools That Don’t Require ACT Scores

In total, there are more than 1,000 US-based schools that don’t require ACT scores. Click the icon below to download the complete list!

 

What to Do With These Test-Optional Lists: 4 Tips

Now that you’ve seen a complete list of colleges that don’t require ACT scores, what can you do with this knowledge? Here are four essential tips.

 

#1: Research Schools’ Policies

Every college is different in terms of its standardized testing policies, so it’s your responsibility to check the policy of each school you’re applying to.

Although these lists can help, you should always make an effort to check college websites directly. Or, if their websites are unclear about whether they require the ACT/SAT or not, call them and ask.

Remember that a college could change its testing policy for the new school year, so don’t rely on out-of-date information to tell you what you need and don’t need to submit with your application!

 

#2: Take the ACT/SAT to Keep Your Options Open

Even though you might prefer not to take the ACT, it’s still a good idea to take it anyway—this will allow you to keep your college options open so that in case you fall in love with a school that requires or encourages you to send ACT scores, you’ll be good to go. After all, what if you absolutely adored a certain college only to realize it required ACT/SAT scores and now you have barely any time to study for the test?

We generally recommend taking your first ACT at the beginning of your junior year; this way you’ll still have plenty of test dates left for the rest of your junior year, that coming summer, and the fall of your senior year.

For more test-taking tips, read our guide on how to build an ACT study plan and check out all the most important resources you’ll need in our ultimate free ACT study guide.

 

#3: Apply to Several Schools

In addition to taking the ACT, try not to limit yourself to colleges that don’t require ACT scores just so you can avoid having to take the test.

The college as a whole—from the quality of its academics and faculty to its location and student life—will be far more important factors to consider as you try to figure out whether that school will be a good fit for you for the next four years of your life.

If you limit yourself to only ACT-optional schools, you’re cutting out tons of high-quality private and public institutions that could very well be ideal matches for your educational goals.

 

#4: Put Together a Strong Application

Finally, make sure you’re putting together your strongest college application possible, especially if you’re applying to schools that don’t require ACT scores. This means that you should have a great college essay, glowing letters of recommendation, and a solid GPA.

If you took the ACT anyway and got a high score on it, submitting that score would be a great idea. Only submit scores from other tests, such as SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, and/or IB tests, if you managed to get particularly impressive scores on them. (If you didn’t and the tests aren’t required for admission, it’s totally fine not to submit your scores!)

Ultimately, the choice of submitting your ACT scores can work to your benefit, as long as you know what to include in your application to make you shine as brightly as possible.

 

 

 

What’s Next?

Thinking of taking the SAT instead of the ACT? Then check out this full list of colleges that don’t require the SAT. We’ve also got a list of 101 colleges and their average SAT scores.

What’s a good ACT score for your colleges? Our expert step-by-step guide explains how you can set a personalized ACT goal score based on the schools you’re applying to.

Is there a minimum ACT score you need to get into college? The truth is, it all depends on what colleges you’re considering. Learn how to figure out what ACT score to aim for and what to do if all your schools are reaches.