US Test Optional Colleges-2024-25

To take or not to take? That is the question plaguing many students who are witnessing a few universities returning to standardized testing in the post-Covid era. In the last two months, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Yale University, and the entire public university system of Florida and Georgia have reinstated SAT/ACT for the application year 2024. Many universities, such as Stanford, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell, are continuing with the test-optional policy for another year or two. This fragmented policy approach by universities is causing confusion and anxiety among students and parents, who are appointing SAT and ACT tutors at skyrocketing fees.

Testing Policy for 2024

Pause! There is good news for students who were looking forward to a test-optional application season in 2024. A large number of universities have decided to remain test-optional but not test-blind. Test-optional means schools don’t require you to submit the scores but will consider them in the admissions process. Does this mean that students have a choice about submitting their test scores? Yes. Will their application be considered incomplete by universities if they don’t? Absolutely not.

In the scenario where a student has taken the SAT or ACT and achieved a score that is above the school’s average, it would be advisable to submit the score. This will certainly give a leg up to the student, enabling him or her to showcase intellectual vitality. But for some reason, if a student has not been able to get a goal score, it would be in the best interest of the applicant to refrain from submitting it. The key would then be to focus on the stronger aspects of the student’s profile and highlight those achievements.

It is important to make a note of the test-optional colleges and to do some prior research before making a final decision regarding testing. In May 2020, “The University of California Board of Regents” unanimously voted to stop requiring the ACT and SAT as part of admissions applications. This remains unchanged for the current year. So, the good news is that if you’re applying to a UC school, you won’t have to submit your ACT or SAT scores.

Here is a list of 50 colleges that are test-optional for 2024–25.

1	Amherst College	26	Stanford University
2	Babson College	27	The State University of New York (SUNY)
3	Boston University	28	Swarthmore College
4	California Institute of Technology	29	Smith College
5	California State University	30	Texas A&M University
6	Carnegie Mellon University	31	Tufts University
7	Columbia University	32	University of California
8	Cornell University	33	University of Chicago
9	Duke University	34	University of Maine
10	Emory University	35	The University of Maryland
11	Harvey Mudd College	36	University of Massachusetts
12	Johns Hopkins University	37	University of Miami
13	Lehigh University	38	The University of Michigan
14	Michigan State University	39	University of Norte Dame
15	New York University	40	University of Southern California
16	North Carolina State University	41	University of Texas
17	Northeastern University	42	The University of Washington
18	Northwestern University	43	The University of Wisconsin
19	Princeton University	44	Vanderbilt University
20	Pepperdine University	45	Virginia Tech
21	Pomona College	46	Vassar College
22	Rice University	47	William & Mary
23	Rutgers University	48	Wake Forest University
24	Skidmore College	49	Wellesley College
25	Santa Clara University	50	Wesleyan University

Applying to US colleges requires careful planning. Since every student’s requirements are unique, it is best to consult their college counselor and admissions officers at colleges to determine the best course of action.