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Test-optional colleges
U.S. colleges that allow applicants to choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. About 80% of accredited 4-year colleges are test-optional as of 2026.
Test-optional means applicants decide whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Submitted scores still factor into admissions when they help; an applicant who would test below the school's 25th-percentile range usually withholds. Test-optional is the dominant U.S. policy as of 2026 — about 80% of accredited 4-year U.S. colleges allow it. A small but growing set has reverted to test-required for fall 2025+ (Dartmouth, MIT, Yale, Harvard, Brown, Caltech, Stanford, Georgetown, Cornell, Penn). Always verify the current policy on each school's official admissions page.
Frequently asked
Does test-optional mean SAT and ACT scores don't matter?
No. At test-optional schools, submitted scores DO factor into admissions when they support the application. Apply with scores when they fall within or above the school's middle-50% range; withhold them when they fall below.
How is test-optional different from test-blind?
Test-optional means applicants choose whether to send scores; submitted scores are considered. Test-blind means scores are NOT considered even if submitted. The UC and Cal State systems are the largest test-blind blocks in the U.S.
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