Over the past few admissions cycles, standardized testing policies in the U.S. have shifted dramatically. Many colleges are now test-optional or test-free, giving students flexibility and raising new strategic questions.

This guide lays out:

• what test-optional and test-free actually mean
• which highly selective colleges still allow score flexibility
• where testing has been reinstated
• state systems with broad no-test policies
• and a complete, alphabetized list of prominent test-optional colleges

Most importantly, it explains how to decide whether submitting scores helps your application.

Test-Optional vs. Test-Free: Start Here

Test-Optional Colleges

• SAT/ACT scores are not required
• Scores are considered if submitted
• Strong scores can help if they add value

Test-Free (Test-Blind) Colleges

• SAT/ACT scores are not considered at all
• Scores are ignored even if submitted

This distinction matters. A school being “test-optional” does not mean test scores are irrelevant; it means they are contextual.

Top-Ranking Test-Optional Universities (2026–27)

Important: Testing policies change frequently. Always verify requirements directly on each school’s admissions website.

• Princeton University
• Duke University
• Northwestern University
• University of Chicago
• Columbia University
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of California, Berkeley
• Rice University
• Vanderbilt University
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Emory University
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Southern California

Key insight: Test-optional does not mean these schools don’t value academic readiness. At highly selective universities, strong scores can still help, but only when they reinforce an already rigorous transcript.

Top-Ranking Test-Optional Liberal Arts Colleges

• Williams College
• Amherst College
• Swarthmore College
• Bowdoin College
• Pomona College
• Wellesley College
• Carleton College
• Claremont McKenna College
• Harvey Mudd College
• Vassar College

Why this matters: Many high-achieving students thrive at liberal arts colleges without submitting test scores, especially when their coursework rigor and teacher recommendations are strong.

Colleges That Recently Reinstated Testing

Several highly selective institutions have moved back to requiring SAT/ACT scores:

• Dartmouth College
• Yale University
• Brown University
• Harvard University
• California Institute of Technology
• University of Texas at Austin

Takeaway: Testing requirements are returning fastest at the most selective end of the spectrum.

Colleges Phasing Out Test-Optional Policies (Class of 2030+)

• Carnegie Mellon University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Stanford University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Cornell University
• University of Miami

States and Systems with Broad Test-Optional or Test-Free Policies

California

• University of California: test-free
• California State University: test-free

Washington

• All four-year public universities: test-optional

Colorado

• Public four-year institutions: test-optional

Michigan

• Most public universities: test-optional

Montana

• Public universities: test-optional

Test-Optional Colleges: Complete Alphabetical List 

1. American University
2. Amherst College
3. Arizona State University
4. Babson College
5. Bard College
6. Bates College
7. Boston College
8. Boston University
9. Bowdoin College
10. Brandeis University
11. Bryn Mawr College
12. Bucknell University
13. Carleton College
14. Case Western Reserve University
15. Claremont McKenna College
16. Colby College
17. Colgate University
18. Colorado College
19. Davidson College
20. Drexel University
21. Duke University
22. Emory University
23. Grinnell College
24. Hamilton College
25. Haverford College
26. Kenyon College
27. Lehigh University
28. Macalester College
29. Middlebury College
30. New York University
31. Northeastern University
32. Northwestern University
33. Oberlin College
34. Occidental College
35. Pomona College
36. Princeton University
37. Rice University
38. Santa Clara University
39. Scripps College
40. Skidmore College
41. Smith College
42. Swarthmore College
43. Tufts University
44. Tulane University
45. University of Chicago
46. University of Michigan
47. University of Notre Dame
48. University of Richmond
49. University of Southern California
50. Vanderbilt University
51. Vassar College
52. Villanova University
53. Wake Forest University
54. Wellesley College
55. Wesleyan University
56. Williams College

Should You Submit SAT or ACT Scores?

Consider submitting scores if:

• Your score is at or above the school’s middle 50% range
• You attend a school with grade inflation or limited rigor
• You’re applying for merit scholarships that consider scores

Consider withholding scores if:

• Your score falls well below the typical range
• Your transcript already shows strong rigor and performance
• The school is clearly test-free

At test-optional schools, the goal is simple: submit scores only if they strengthen your application.

Final Thoughts

Test-optional policies have expanded access, but they haven’t eliminated the need for strategy. Some students benefit from submitting scores; others are better served by letting their coursework, essays, and recommendations speak for them.

There are many excellent colleges, including honors programs and merit-driven institutions, where high-achieving students can thrive without test scores. The key is understanding how each school evaluates applicants and positioning yourself accordingly.

If you’re deciding whether to test, whether to submit scores, or how testing fits into your broader college strategy, AtomicMind advisors can help you make clear, confident decisions grounded in context; not guesswork.

About the Author: Vicky holds a PhD in History from Princeton University and earned her BA in English at UCLA. She brings over two decades of experience in education, and as Head Advisor at AtomicMind, she guides students with insight, care, and academic rigor. Vicky is passionate about empowering young minds to discover their passions and achieve their full potential.

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