Not everyone feels confident when it comes to taking tests. Maybe you’re someone who studies hard but still finds that the stress of exam day throws you off your game. You’re not alone—around 40 to 60% of high school students experience test anxiety, a type of stress that makes it tough to focus and perform well during exams.
As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to big tests like AP exams, the PSAT, or the SAT and ACT. While these exams can be taken anytime in high school, most students tackle them during junior or senior year as they prepare for life after graduation. Here’s some good news: more colleges than ever are making the SAT and ACT optional. For fall 2025 admissions, over 2,000 four-year colleges in the U.S. won’t require standardized test scores. The rise of the best test optional colleges is changing the game, giving students new ways to stand out in the admissions process.
If you have test anxiety, decided to skip the SAT or ACT, or didn’t quite hit the scores you hoped for, you’re not out of luck. The best test optional colleges offer a chance to apply without stressing over perfect test scores. Instead, they look at your other achievements to determine if you’re a good fit. In this blog, we’ll break down what it means for a college to be “test-optional,” how these policies impact admissions, and introduce you to some of the best test optional colleges in the U.S.
- What Are the Best Test Optional Colleges in 2025?
- Should You Submit Your Scores to Test Optional Schools?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
What Are the Best Test Optional Colleges in 2025?
Did you know there are over 2,000 colleges that don’t require SAT or ACT scores? That’s right—so many schools are embracing test-optional policies, giving students like you more opportunities to find the right fit. In recent years, the best test optional colleges have made it easier for students to apply without worrying about standardized test scores, leveling the playing field and focusing on what really matters: your unique talents and achievements.
With so many options, you’re bound to find a school that aligns with your goals. Whether you’re aiming for a small liberal arts college or a large research university, the best test optional colleges are opening doors for students everywhere.
1. Columbia University
Acceptance rate: 4%
Average tuition cost: $68,170
Columbia University is one of the best test optional colleges, offering flexibility to applicants for Columbia College or Columbia Engineering. This approach reflects the belief that you, as an applicant, are more than just a test score. Columbia’s holistic and contextual review process values your background, experiences, and achievements to determine your fit for the university and your potential to thrive in its rigorous academic environment.
While academic excellence remains the foundation of Columbia’s admissions review, test optional policies allow you to showcase your strengths in ways that best represent who you are. Since introducing this policy during the pandemic, Columbia found that removing standardized test requirements did not affect the academic success of its admitted students. That’s why the university continues to embrace this policy.
As one of the best test optional colleges, Columbia regularly evaluates its admissions policies to align with its mission of attracting a diverse, global student body. This ensures that applicants like you have the opportunity to demonstrate your potential beyond numbers and test scores.
2. Princeton University
Acceptance rate: 6%
Average tuition cost: $62,400
Princeton University’s test-optional policy will remain in place for first-year and transfer applicants through the 2024 and 2025 admissions cycles. This means you can apply without submitting ACT or SAT scores, and rest assured—you won’t be at a disadvantage in the admissions process. Like the best test optional colleges, Princeton evaluates every part of your application within its unique context, focusing on your overall strengths rather than a single test score.
For those who choose to submit scores, Princeton accepts SAT and ACT results directly from the testing firms. You can use the SAT’s score choice feature and Princeton will only consider your highest composite ACT score. However, they don’t combine results between paper and digital formats. As one of the best test optional colleges, Princeton ensures flexibility, allowing you to showcase your achievements in a way that feels right for you.
3. University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate: 7%
Average tuition cost: $66,100
UPenn’s decision to remain test-optional for the 2024-25 application cycle means you don’t need to submit SAT or ACT scores to apply, whether you’re a first-year, international, homeschooled, transfer, or QuestBridge applicant. If you’ve been stressed about testing, know that you won’t be at a disadvantage by leaving out those scores—UPenn evaluates applicants holistically, much like other best test optional colleges.
If you do decide to submit your test scores, you can self-report them as part of your application. UPenn uses standardized testing as one part of a comprehensive review to better understand your academic preparation. But don’t worry—your application is about so much more than test scores. Like the best test optional colleges, UPenn values a dynamic process that considers your full potential, including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities as shown in your personal statements.
4. Duke University
Acceptance rate: 6%
Average tuition cost: $66,300
Duke University’s test-optional policy means you can apply for first-year or transfer admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Your application will be given equal consideration, whether or not you include these standardized test results. Like many of the best test optional colleges, Duke focuses on a holistic review process that lets you showcase your strengths in a way that works best for you.
If you choose to submit scores, Duke accepts self-reported and official results from a variety of exams, including SAT, ACT, English proficiency tests, AP exams, IB exams, and A-levels. Self-reported scores will suffice during the application process, and only those who enroll will need to send official scores. This approach, common among the best test optional colleges, ensures flexibility and fairness while still allowing you to present academic achievements if you wish.
5. University of Chicago
Acceptance rate: 5%
Average tuition cost: $67,400
At UChicago, submitting SAT or ACT scores is entirely optional, and their “No Harm” policy ensures you won’t be penalized if you don’t include them. If you’ve been unable to take these tests or feel they don’t reflect your potential, you’re in good company—UChicago, like other best test optional colleges, focuses on understanding the whole applicant, not just test scores.
The admissions team at UChicago takes a contextual and holistic approach. They want to know your story, why you’ve pursued certain opportunities, and what makes specific activities meaningful to you. Your application is your chance to showcase who you are in your own voice. There’s no single factor, whether academic records, essays, or test scores, that determines your fit for the college.
6. New York University
Acceptance rate: 9%
Average tuition cost: $66,500
NYU’s test-optional policy gives you the flexibility to decide whether to include SAT or ACT scores in your application. If standardized tests don’t highlight your strengths, you won’t be penalized for leaving them out—a major win for students seeking to apply to the best test optional colleges. On the other hand, if you think your test scores enhance your application, feel free to submit them.
What’s great about NYU is that they accept a variety of standardized assessments beyond the SAT and ACT. You can submit scores from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, three SAT Subject Tests, three AP Exams, or even three IB higher-level exams if you’re not pursuing an IB diploma. NYU also considers various international exams, making it one of the best test optional colleges for students with diverse academic backgrounds.
7. Northwestern University
Acceptance rate: 7%
Average tuition cost: $68,300
Northwestern is keeping its test-optional policy for the 2024-25 admissions cycle, so you won’t need to submit SAT or ACT scores if you’re applying for fall 2025 entry. This gives you a chance to showcase your strengths in other areas of your application. But if you think your SAT or ACT scores accurately reflect your abilities, you can still choose to submit them.
If standardized testing is something you’ve excelled in, you can submit other optional tests, like AP or International Baccalaureate (IB) scores, to further support your application. As one of the best test optional colleges, Northwestern ensures that your application will be evaluated holistically, without focusing solely on test scores.
If you’re interested in learning more about test-optional colleges, check out our blog where we highlight the top 50 options.
Should You Submit Your Scores to Test Optional Schools?
If you’re applying to one of the best test optional colleges or universities, you’re probably wondering whether to submit your SAT or ACT scores. Here’s the thing: if you’ve hit or surpassed your goal score and your score is well above your school’s average, submitting those test scores can work in your favor. It gives the admissions team another way to see your academic strengths. Some of the best test optional colleges may even strongly encourage you to submit your scores if you have them, so it’s usually a good idea to listen to their advice and send them in.
On the other hand, if you’re applying to a test flexible school like Yale University, you might have the option to submit different types of test scores (like SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, or IB scores) instead of the SAT or ACT. But, if you didn’t take any other tests or aren’t happy with your results, it’s totally fine to submit your SAT or ACT scores, especially if they better reflect your abilities. Just remember, every school has its own policy, so double-check to make sure you’re aligning with the colleges’ guidelines.
When not to submit your scores to test optional schools
If you didn’t hit your goal score on test day, don’t stress about it—just withhold your scores and focus on making the rest of your college application stand out. By doing this, your SAT/ACT scores won’t negatively impact your chances at the best test optional colleges. Instead, you can highlight other strengths in your application, like your grades, extracurricular activities, or essays.
If you’re applying to a test-flexible school, and you did better on other tests (like AP exams or IB exams), submit those scores instead of your SAT/ACT results. This could give your application a much stronger boost! And, if you’re applying to a school that admits students automatically based on class rank or GPA, submitting SAT/ACT scores won’t help or hurt your chances. It’s all about ensuring that you present yourself in the best possible light to your target school.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the difference between a test optional and test free college in the US?
At test-optional colleges, submitting SAT or ACT scores is not required. However, you can still choose to submit them if you believe your scores reflect your academic strengths.
Test-free colleges go a step further by completely eliminating the SAT and ACT from their admissions process. This means that even if you take the test and get high scores, you cannot submit them to the school. These colleges do not consider standardized test scores at all, whether submitted or not.
2. Are there colleges that don’t require SAT?
Yes, there are many colleges in the U.S. that do not require the SAT for admissions. In fact, over 2,000 colleges and universities now offer test-optional or test-free admissions policies, allowing students to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. As stated above, some of these schools include Columbia, Duke, and UChicago.
3. What are the benefits of applying to test optional colleges?
Test-optional colleges often prioritize a holistic approach to admissions, meaning they look at a wider range of factors like your high school GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. This gives you a better chance to shine in areas where you may excel, rather than focusing solely on test scores.
Also, test optional policies promote greater access to higher education by reducing barriers related to standardized testing, such as financial strain from test prep or traveling to test centers.
Takeaways
- If you’re applying to a college with a test-optional policy, the choice to submit your SAT or ACT scores is entirely up to you. If your score falls within that range—or is even higher—it might be worth submitting it. But if your score is on the lower end, think about whether submitting it might help highlight some of your other accomplishments that may not be as obvious in the rest of your application.
- Colleges with test-optional policies consider your scores within the context of your entire application, and they won’t hold it against you if you choose not to submit them. So, it’s about what makes the most sense for you and your application strategy.
- Some of the best test optional colleges include Columbia, Princeton, and UPenn.
- Want to improve your chances of getting into the best test optional schools in the US? Consider hiring a private tutor. At AdmissionSight, we offer personalized coaching and tutoring services to boost your chances of getting into your dream school.
