Updated Standardized Testing Policies
The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 has resulted in many colleges and universities making policy changes for standardized testing. As the pandemic eases, these policies continue to shift for individual colleges and universities; while some schools are loosening requirements, others are tightening them. In the charts below, we've compiled a list of new standardized testing policies for many popular colleges across the United States. Wherever possible, we’ve also noted the current duration for these adjusted testing policies for specific class years.
Colleges that are test-free for admission
Also known as test-blind, a test-free policy means that standardized test scores are absolutely not considered for admissions. If a student was to send in scores, the admissions department would simply ignore this information. For the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, the following schools are test-free:
ALL University of California campuses
ALL California State University campuses
Boise State
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
CUNY—Baruch College
CUNY—Hunter
Dickinson College
Loyola University New Orleans
Pitzer College
Reed College
Stonehill College
The Catholic University of America
University of San Diego
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Colleges that require standardized tests for admission
While the list is still significantly smaller than pre-Covid college admissions, multiple universities have reverted back to SAT or ACT requirements for all applicants. For individual requirements per school, please click on the college name. Schools that currently require a standardized test score are:
Test optional/flexible means that submitting standardized test scores is optional.
Test optional schools allow students to decide for themselves whether or not they want to submit their standardized test scores. This is more common than test free, and the chart below contains current policies for many of the most popularly applied to universities. Each entry in our chart also contains a direct link to the college’s admissions page, as policies are subject to change for future class years.
American University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Amherst College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Arizona State University—Tempe requires either the SAT or ACT, however, it will waive this requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA or who rank in the top 25% of their class. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
Babson College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Barnard College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle. Barnard College does not offer merit-based aid.
Bates College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Bates does not offer merit-based aid.
Baylor University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Bentley University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023-24 admission cycle.
Biola University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 semester.
Boston College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Boston University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Bowdoin College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Bowdoin does not offer merit-based aid.
Brandeis University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Brown University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle. Brown does not offer merit-based aid.
Bryn Mawr College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Bucknell University adopted a five-year, test optional policy for first-year students, beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission. Bucknell will use the five-year pilot period to assess the patterns of success for test score submitters and non-submitters.
California Lutheran University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission, and test scores are required to qualify for some merit scholarships.
Carleton College has extended their temporary test optional to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Carnegie Mellon University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Case Western Reserve University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Central Michigan University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2023 semester. However, homeschooled students or students whose high schools do not provide grades are not eligible for test optional admission.
Chapman University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who graduate from schools without traditional grades are not eligible for test optional admission.
Claremont McKenna College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2024–25 admission cycle.
Clark University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Clemson University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Colby College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Colby does not offer merit-based aid.
Colgate University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
College of William and Mary offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Colorado College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Colorado School of Mines offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Colorado State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Columbia University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Cornell University has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2024 applicants. Additionally, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business will not consider test scores even if submitted. Cornell does not offer merit-based aid.
Dartmouth College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle. Dartmouth does not offer merit-based aid.
Davidson College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission with SAT or ACT scores. Homeschooled students and students who attend non-traditional schools are recommended to submit scores.
Drexel University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Duke University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Duquesne University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Emerson College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Emory University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Fordham University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admission cycle.
Franklin and Marshall College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. Franklin and Marshall does not offer merit-based aid.
George Mason University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
George Washington University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants applying to the accelerated Seven-Year B.A./M.D. Program, students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter grades, and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Gonzaga University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores.
Grinnell College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Hamilton College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle. Hamilton does not offer merit-based aid.
Harvard College has extended their temporary test optional policy through the 2026 admissions cycle.
Harvey Mudd College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Haverford CollegeHaverford has adopted a three-year, test optional policy for all first-year and transfer applicants, beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. After a three-year period, Haverford will re-evaluate whether to continue the test optional policy indefinitely or reinstate a testing requirement for admission. Haverford does not offer merit-based aid.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Hofstra University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Howard University has extended its temporary test optional policy to the 2021-22 admissions cycle.
Illinois Institute of Technology has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 semester.
Indiana University—Bloomington offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who attend schools with nontraditional grading systems are not eligible for test optional admission.
James Madison University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Johns Hopkins University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2025–26 admission cycle.
Lehigh University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Lewis & Clark College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Loyola Marymount University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Loyola University Chicago offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without standardized test scores. However, students applying for admission to the Bachelor of Nursing and Engineering Science programs will still be required to submit a self-reported test score as part of the requirement for review.
Macalester College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, Macalester recommends that homeschooled students and students who attend high schools that do not provide grades submit SAT or ACT scores.
Michigan State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Middlebury College has adopted a three-year, test optional policy for first-year and transfer students, beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. After a three-year pilot period, Middlebury will re-evaluate whether to continue the test optional policy indefinitely or return to its previous test flexible policy. Middlebury does not offer merit-based aid.
Mills College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students and students who graduate from schools without traditional grades are not eligible for test optional admission.
Mount Holyoke College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
New Jersey Institute of Technology has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
New School offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
New York University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Northeastern University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2025-26 admission cycle.
Northern Arizona University offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, scores required to receive merit-based scholarships.
Northwestern University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Oberlin College has adopted a three-year, test optional policy for first-time, international, and homeschooled students beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. After a three-year pilot period, Oberlin will re-evaluate whether to continue the test optional policy indefinitely or reinstate a testing requirement for admission.
Occidental College offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Ohio State University—Columbus has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2023.
Ohio University has a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores.
Oregon State University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Pacific Lutheran University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants from schools with written evaluations rather than grades and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission. Applicants to the nursing program, students interested in teaching, and international applicants strongly encouraged to submit scores.
Pennsylvania State University—University Park has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Pepperdine University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Point Loma Nazarene University has has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 term.
Pomona College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Pratt Institute has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 semester.
Princeton University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle. Princeton does not offer merit-based aid.
Purdue University—West Lafayette has extended their temporary Test Flexible policy (which means that while they prefer students submit SAT or ACT scores, applications will still be evaluated without them for students who couldn't test) through the Fall 2022 term.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has extended their temporary test optional police to the 2022–23 admission cycle
Rhode Island School of Design offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international and homeschooled students are still required to submit test scores.
Rice University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
Rochester Institute of Technology offers a test optional policy, which allows students applying to most programs to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. Students applying to imaging science, motion picture science, and photographic sciences within the College of Art & Design must still provide test scores
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Newark offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Santa Clara University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Sarah Lawrence College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores.
Scripps College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Seattle University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled applicants are not elligible for test optional admission.
Skidmore College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Smith College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Soka University of America has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 semester.
St. John's University (NY) offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students, some international students, students applying for several specific majors, and prospective student athletes are not eligible for test optional admission.
St. Lawrence University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores. However, international students are not eligible for test optional admission.
Stanford University extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Stevens Institute of Technology has extended their temporary test optional policy, with some exceptions, for Fall 2022.
Stony Brook University—SUNY has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Swarthmore College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2024-25 admission cycle.
Syracuse University extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Temple University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, home-schooled applicants, recruited student athletes, and international applicants are not eligible for test optional admission.
Texas A&M University—College Station has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2023.
The Cooper Union has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2023.
Trinity University has adopted a three-year, test optional policy for first-time, international, and homeschooled students beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. After a three-year pilot period, Trinity will re-evaluate whether to continue the test optional policy indefinitely or reinstate a testing requirement for admission.
Tufts University has adopted a three-year, test optional policy for first-time, international, and homeschooled students beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. After a three-year pilot period, Tufts will reevaluate whether to continue the test optional policy indefinitely or reinstate a testing requirement for admission. Tufts does not offer merit-based aid.
Tulane University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
United States Coast Guard Academy has adopted a temporary test optional policy for the 2022–23 admission cycle. While scores are optional, they are preferred, and students applying without scores are asked to upload a short statement.
United States Naval Academy has extended their temporary test flexible policy, meaning they will review applications with or without standardized test scores. Students seeking admission without a test score will be asked to provide supporting information concerning test availability, cancellation, etc.
University of Arizona offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants to the UA Honors College, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Nursing, the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, and College of Engineering and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
University of Chicago offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Cincinnati has extended their test optional policy through the 2024-2025 admission cycle. However, standardized test scores are still required for admission into the College of Nursing Direct Admit BSN program.
University of Colorado—Boulder offers a test optional admission policy.
University of Connecticut has adopted a three-year test optional policy for all students beginning with the 2020-2021 admission cycle.
University of Delaware has extended their temporary test optional policy for all students applying to the Fall 2023 term.
University of Denver offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
University of Hawaii at Manoa has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2021–22 application cycle.
University of Houston offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Illinois—Chicago offers a test optional policy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores.
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign offers a test optional oplicy, which allows students to apply for admission without SAT/ACT scores.
University of Iowa is test optional, which means eligible students can apply for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of La Verne offers a test optional policy, which allows first-year applicants to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Maryland—College Park has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
University of Massachusetts—Amherst has adopted a three-year test optional policy beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. They will reevaluate their policy after the three-year period.
University of Miami has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2025 terms.
University of Nevada—Las Vegas test scores are not required but encouraged for UNLV placement.
University of New Hampshire offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of New Mexico offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. However, home-schooled and non-traditional students are not eligible for TO admission. Scores are also necessary for some scholarships.
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill The UNC System has reinstated their temporary test optional policy through Fall 2024.
University of North Texas requires either the SAT or ACT. However, they will waive this requirement for students with a 3.0+ GPA. It does not require the optional ACT Writing Test.
University of Notre Dame has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
University of Oklahoma has adopted a five-year test optional policy beginning with the 2020-21 admission cycle. Test scores are encouraged for scholarship consideration.
University of Oregon offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, applicants from nonaccredited schools and homeschooled students are not eligible for test optional admission.
University of Pennsylvania has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
University of Pittsburgh has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
University of Portland has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
University of Redlands offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Richmond has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
University of Rochester offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of San Francisco offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Southern California has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
University of Texas—Austin has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2023.
University of Texas—Dallas has extended their temporary test optional policy to the Fall 2022 term.
University of Texas, San Antonio has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
University of the Pacific offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Utah has extended their test optional policy to students applying through Fall 2024. However, students who have GEDs, who attend a non-accredited high school, or who are applying for direct admission into select programs are not eligible for TO. Test scores are also required for merit scholarships.
University of Vermont has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admission cycle.
University of Virginia has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
University of Washington—Seattle offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admissions without SAT or ACT scores.
University of Wisconsin—Madison has extended its temporary test optional policy to the 2024–25 admission cycle.
Vanderbilt University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Vassar College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Vassar College does not offer merit-based aid.
Villanova University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2024–25 admission cycle.
Wake Forest University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
Washington and Jefferson College has a test-optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without submitting SAT or ACT scores.
Washington and Lee University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Washington State University offers a test optional policy, which allows applicants to be considered for admission without SAT/ACT scores.
Washington University in St. Louis has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2023–24 admission cycle.
Wellesley College has extended their temporary test optional policy to Fall 2024 admission.
Wesleyan University offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores.
West Virginia University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle.
Westmont College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2021–22 application cycle.
Whitman College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without SAT or ACT scores. However, international and homeschooled students are strongly encouraged to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Whittier College offers a test optional policy, which allows students to be considered for admission without test scores. Students with a GPA below 3.0 may be asked to submit standardized test scores.
Williams College has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admissions cycle.
Yale University has extended their temporary test optional policy to the 2022–23 admission cycle. Yale does not offer merit-based aid.
Don’t see your college? Then visit fairtest.org for a comprehensive list of test optional schools.
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