Test-optional, test-blind, test-flexible: A list of institutions going this direction for 2023-2024
- Christopher Carrasco
- Apr 18, 2023
- 9 min read

In recent years, many colleges and universities in the United States have adopted new admissions policies regarding standardized testing, such as the SAT and ACT. These policies fall into three main categories: test optional, test-blind, and test-flexible. In this blog post, we will explore what each of these policies means and their implications for college admissions.
Test Optional
Test optional means that applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Students can still choose to submit their test scores if they believe they will enhance their application, but the admissions committee will not penalize students who choose not to submit scores. Instead, the admissions committee will place greater emphasis on other components of the application, such as grades, essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation.
Test Blind
Test blind means that colleges and universities will not consider SAT or ACT scores at all during the admissions process. Applicants cannot submit their scores even if they want to. Instead, the admissions committee will focus solely on other components of the application. Test blind policies are much less common than test optional policies.
Test Flexible
Test flexible means that applicants can submit alternative forms of standardized testing instead of the SAT or ACT. For example, a student may choose to submit scores from the SAT Subject Tests, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, or other tests. The admissions committee will consider these scores in conjunction with other components of the application.
Conclusion
Test optional, test blind, and test flexible policies represent a significant shift in the college admissions landscape. By moving away from the emphasis on standardized test scores, colleges and universities can create a more holistic and equitable admissions process. However, it is important to note that these policies are still relatively new, and their long-term impact on college admissions remains to be seen.
*Important Note*
Though many schools are moving in the direction of going Test Optional in the application process, the merit-based scholarships or honors program for many schools still require submitting test scores to be considered for the opportunity.
Below you will find a list of many colleges and universities indicating their test-optional policies.
TEST-OPTIONAL, TEST-BLIND, AND TEXT-FLEXIBLE SCHOOLS FOR THE 2023-2024 COLLEGE ADMISSION CYCLE.
Agnes Scott College: Test-Optional permanently
Albertus Magnus College: Test-Optional permanently
Alfred University: Test-Optional for 2024
Allegheny College: Test-Optional permanently
American University: Test-Optional permanently
Amherst College: Test-Optional for 2024
Andrews University: Test-Optional permanently
Applachian State University: Test-Optional for 2024
Arcadia University: Test-Optional permanently
Arizona State University-Tempe: Test-Optional permanently
Assumption University: Test-Optional permanently
Augustana College: Test-Optional permanently
Austin College: Test-Optional permanently
Azusa Pacific University: Test-Optional permanently
Babson College: Test-Optional for 2024
Ball State University: Test-Optional permanently
Bard College: Test-Optional permanently
Barnard College: Test-Optional for 2024
Bates College: Test-Optional permanently
Becker College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.0+ GPA)
Bellarmine University: Test-Optional permanently
Belmont University: Test-Optional permanently
Beloit College: Test-Optional permanently
Bennington College: Test-Optional permanently
Berklee College of Music: Test-Blind permanently
Berry College: Test-Optional permanently
Bethel University: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.2+ GPA)
Birmingham-Southern College: Test-Optional permanently
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania: Test-Optional permanently
Boston College: Test-Optional for 2024
Boston University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
Bowdoin College: Test-Optional permanently
Bradley University: Test-Optional permanently
Brandeis University: Test-Optional permanently
Bridgewater State University: Test-Optional permanently
Brown University: Test-Optional for 2024
Bryant University: Test-Optional permanently
Bryn Mawr College: Test-Optional permanently
Bucknell University: Test-Optional for 2024
Butler University: Test-Optional permanently
California College of the Arts: Test-Optional permanently
California Institute of Technology: Test-Blind for 2024, 2025
California Institute of the Arts: Test-Optional permanently
California Lutheran University: Test-Optional permanently
California State University system: Test-Blind permanently
Case Western Reserve University: Test-Optional for 2024
Cazenovia College: Test-Optional permanently
Champlain College: Test-Optional permanently
Chapman University: Test-Optional permanently
Chatham University: Test-Optional permanently
Christopher Newport University: Test-Optional permanently
Claremont McKenna College: Test-Optional for 2024
Clark University: Test-Optional permanently
Coastal Carolina University: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.5+ GPA)
Coe College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
Colby College: Test-Optional permanently
Colby-Sawyer College: Test-Optional permanently
Colgate University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
College of Idaho: Test-Optional permanently
College of Saint Rose: Test-Optional permanently
College of St. Benedict: Test-Optional permanently
College of the Atlantic: Test-Optional permanently
College of the Holy Cross: Test-Optional permanently
College of Wooster: Test-Optional permanently
Colorado College: Test-Optional permanently
Colorado School of Mines: Test-Optional permanently
Colorado State University: Test-Optional permanently
Columbia College Chicago: Test-Optional permanently
Columbia University: Test-Optional permanently
Concordia College-Moorhead: Test-Optional permanently
Concordia College-New York: Test-Optional permanently
Connecticut College: Test-Optional permanently
Cornell College: Test-Optional permanently
Cornell University: Test-Optional for 2024
Creighton University: Test-Optional permanently
Curry College: Test-Optional permanently
Dartmouth College: Test-Optional for 2024
Davidson College: Test-Optional permanently
Dean College: Test-Optional permanently
Delaware Valley University: Test-Optional permanently
Denison University: Test-Optional permanently
DePaul University: Test-Optional permanently
DePauw University: Test-Optional permanently
Dickinson College: Test-Optional permanently (Test-Blind in 2023)
Drake University: Test-Optional permanently
Drew University: Test-Optional permanently
Drexel University: Test-Optional permanently
Drury University: Test-Optional permanently
Duquesne University: Test-Optional permanently
Earlham College: Test-Optional permanently
East Carolina University: Test-Optional for 2024
Eastern Connecticut State University: Test-Optional permanently
Eastern University: Test-Optional permanently
Elmira College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.7+ GPA)
Elms College: Test-Optional permanently
Elon University: Test-Optional permanently
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Test-Optional permanently
Emerson College: Test-Optional permanently
Emmanuel College: Test-Optional permanently
Endicott College: Test-Optional permanently
Evergreen State College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.0+ GPA)
Fairfield University: Test-Optional permanently
Fairleigh Dickinson University: Test-Optional permanently
Farmingdale State College-SUNY: Test-Optional permanently
Fashion Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Fisher College: Test-Optional permanently
Flagler College: Test-Optional permanently
Fordham University: Test-Optional for 2024
Fort Lewis College: Test-Optional permanently
Framingham State University: Test-Optional permanently
Franklin and Marshall College: Test-Optional permanently
Furman University: Test-Optional permanently
George Mason University: Test-Optional permanently
George Washington University: Test-Optional permanently
Gettysburg College: Test-Optional permanently
Gonzaga University: Test-Optional permanently
Gordon College: Test-Optional permanently
Goucher College: Test-Optional permanently
Grinnell College: Test-Optional permanently
Grove City College: Test-Optional permanently
Guilford College: Test-Optional permanently
Gustavus Adolphus College: Test-Optional permanently
Hampshire College: Test-Blind permanently
Hanover College: Test-Optional permanently
Hartwick College: Test-Optional permanently
Harvard University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Harvey Mudd College: Test-Optional for 2024
Haverford College: Test-Optional permanently
Hendrix College: Test-Optional permanently
High Point University: Test-Optional permanently
Hilbert College: Test-Optional permanently
Hillsdale College: Test-Optional permanently
Hobart and William Smith Colleges: Test-Optional permanently
Hofstra University: Test-Optional permanently
Hollins University: Test-Optional permanently
Hood College: Test-Optional permanently
Houghton College: Test-Optional permanently
Immaculata University: Test-Optional permanently
Indiana State University: Test-Optional permanently
Indiana Tech: Test-Optional permanently
Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Test-Optional permanently
Indiana University-Bloomington: Test-Optional permanently
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis: Test-Optional permanently
Iona College: Test-Optional permanently
Iowa State University of Science and Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Ithaca College: Test-Optional permanently
James Madison University: Test-Optional permanently
Johns Hopkins University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Johnson & Wales University: Test-Optional permanently
Juniata College: Test-Optional permanently
Kalamazoo College: Test-Optional permanently
Kansas State University: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.25+ GPA)
Keene State College: Test-Optional permanently
Kent State University: Test-Optional permanently
Keystone College: Test-Optional permanently
King’s College: Test-Optional permanently
King’s College London: Test-Flexible permanently
Knox College: Test-Optional permanently
La Roche University: Test-Optional permanently
La Salle University: Test-Optional permanently
Lafayette College: Test-Optional for 2024
Lake Forest College: Test-Optional permanently
Lamar University: Test-Optional permanently
Lander University: Test-Optional permanently
Lasell College: Test-Optional permanently
Lawrence University: Test-Optional permanently
Le Moyne College: Test-Optional permanently
Lehigh University: Test-Optional permanently
Lesley University: Test-Blind permanently
Lewis and Clark College: Test-Optional permanently
Linfield College: Test-Optional permanently
Loras College: Test-Optional permanently
Loyola Marymount University: Test-Optional for 2024
Loyola University Chicago: Test-Optional permanently
Loyola University Maryland: Test-Optional permanently
Loyola University New Orleans: Test-Blind permanently
Lycoming College: Test-Flexible permanently (must be in top half of graduating class)
Lynn University: Test-Optional permanently
Macalester College: Test-Optional permanently
Manhattanville College: Test-Optional permanently
Marist College: Test-Optional permanently
Marlboro College: Test-Optional permanently
Marquette University: Test-Optional permanently
Maryland Institute College of Art: Test-Optional permanently
Maryville University of St. Louis: Test-Optional permanently
Massachusetts College of Art and Design: Test-Optional permanently
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: Test-Blind permanently
McDaniel College: Test-Optional permanently
MCPHS University: Test-Optional permanently
Mercyhurst University: Test-Optional permanently
Meredith College: Test-Optional permanently
Merrimack College: Test-Blind permanently
Messiah College: Test-Optional permanently
Michigan State University: Test-Optional permanently
Millersville University of Pennsylvania: Test-Optional for 2024
Mills College: Test-Optional permanently
Millsaps College: Test-Optional permanently
Minnesota State University-Moorhead: Test-Optional permanently
Misericordia University: Test-Blind for 2024
Mitchell College: Test-Optional permanently
Monroe College: Test-Optional permanently
Montana State University: Test-Optional permanently
Montclair State University: Test-Optional permanently
Moravian College: Test-Optional permanently
Mount Aloysius College: Test-Optional permanently
Mount Holyoke College: Test-Optional permanently
Mount St. Mary’s University: Test-Optional permanently
Muhlenberg College: Test-Optional permanently
Nazareth College: Test-Optional permanently
New England College: Test-Optional permanently
New England Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
New Mexico State University: Test-Flexible permanently
New York Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
New York University: Test-Optional for 2024
Niagara University: Test-Optional permanently
Nichols College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
North Carolina State University-Raleigh: Test-Optional for 2024
North Dakota State University: Test-Optional permanently
Northeastern University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Northern Arizona University: Test-Optional permanently
Northern Illinois University: Test-Blind permanently
Northern Michigan University: Test-Blind permanently
Northwestern University: Test-Optional for 2024
Norwich University: Test-Optional permanently
Notre Dame of Maryland University: Test-Optional permanently
Oberlin College: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Occidental College: Test-Optional permanently
Ohio University: Test-Optional permanently
Ohio Wesleyan University: Test-Optional permanently
Oklahoma State University: Test-Optional permanently
Old Dominion University: Test-Optional permanently
Oregon Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Oregon State University: Test-Optional permanently
Otis College of Art and Design: Test-Optional permanently
Pace University: Test-Optional permanently
Pacific University: Test-Optional permanently
Paul Smith’s College: Test-Optional permanently
Pennsylvania College of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Pitzer College: Test-Blind for 2024, 2025
Pomona College: Test-Optional for 2024
Portland State University: Test-Optional permanently
Post University: Test-Optional permanently
Pratt Institute: Test-Optional permanently
Presbyterian College: Test-Optional permanently
Princeton University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
Providence College: Test-Optional permanently
Purchase College-SUNY: Test-Optional permanently
Queen’s University (Canada): Test-Optional permanently
Queens University of Charlotte: Test-Optional permanently
Quinnipiac University: Test-Flexible permanently (Test-Optional for many majors, but some majors and programs recommend or require scores)
Ramapo College of New Jersey: Test-Optional permanently
Randolph College: Test-Optional permanently
Randolph-Macon College: Test-Optional for 2024
Reed College: Test-Blind for 2024
Regis University: Test-Optional permanently
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Test-Optional for 2024
Rhode Island School of Design: Test-Optional permanently
Rider University: Test-Optional permanently
Ripon College: Test-Optional permanently
Roanoke College: Test-Optional permanently
Roberts Wesleyan College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.8+ GPA)
Rochester Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Roger Williams University: Test-Optional permanently
Rollins College: Test-Optional permanently
Rowan University: Test-Optional permanently
Russell Sage College: Test-Optional permanently
Rutgers University-Camden: Test-Optional for 2024
Rutgers University-New Brunswick: Test-Optional for 2024
Rutgers University-Newark: Test-Optional permanently
Sacred Heart University: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Anselm College: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Joseph’s University: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Louis University: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Mary’s College: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Michael’s College: Test-Optional permanently
Saint Vincent College: Test-Optional permanently
Salem College: Test-Optional permanently
Salisbury University: Test-Flexible permanently
Salve Regina University: Test-Optional permanently
Sam Houston State University: Test-Optional permanently
Santa Clara University: Test-Optional for 2024
Sarah Lawrence College: Test-Optional permanently
School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Test-Optional permanently
School of Visual Arts: Test-Optional permanently
Scripps College: Test-Optional permanently
Seattle University: Test-Optional permanently
Seton Hall University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Seton Hill University: Test-Flexible permanently
Shenandoah University: Test-Optional permanently
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania: Test-Flexible permanently
Siena College: Test-Optional permanently
Simmons University: Test-Optional permanently
Skidmore College: Test-Optional permanently
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania: Test-Optional permanently
Smith College: Test-Optional permanently
South Carolina State University: Test-Optional permanently
Southern Connecticut State University: Test-Optional permanently
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.75+ GPA)
Southern New Hampshire University: Test-Optional permanently
Southwestern University: Test-Optional permanently
Springfield College: Test-Optional permanently
St. Bonaventure University: Test-Optional permanently
St. Edward’s University: Test-Optional permanently
St. Francis College: Test-Optional permanently
St. John Fisher College: Test-Optional permanently
St. John’s College: Test-Optional permanently
St. John’s University (MN): Test-Optional permanently
St. John’s University (NY): Test-Optional permanently
St. Joseph’s College (ME): Test-Optional permanently
St. Lawrence University: Test-Optional permanently
St. Mary’s College of California: Test-Optional permanently
St. Mary’s College of Maryland: Test-Optional permanently
St. Olaf College: Test-Optional permanently
Stanford University: Test-Optional for 2024
Stetson University: Test-Optional permanently
Stockton University: Test-Optional permanently
Stonehill College: Test-Optional permanently
Suffolk University: Test-Optional permanently
SUNY Brockport: Test-Optional permanently
SUNY College of Technology-Delhi: Test-Optional permanently
SUNY College-Potsdam: Test-Optional permanently
SUNY-Geneseo: Test-Optional permanently
Susquehanna University: Test-Optional permanently
Swarthmore College: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
Sweet Briar College: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
Syracuse University: Test-Optional for 2024
Temple University: Test-Optional permanently
Texas Christian University: Test-Optional for 2024
Texas Tech University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
The Catholic University of America: Test-Blind permanently
The New School: Test-Optional permanently
The University of the South: Test-Optional permanently
Thomas College: Test-Optional permanently
Thomas Jefferson University: Test-Optional permanently
Transylvania University: Test-Optional permanently
Trinity College: Test-Optional permanently
Tufts University: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
Union College (KY): Test-Optional permanently
Union College (NY): Test-Optional permanently
Union University: Test-Optional for 2024
United States Coast Guard Academy: Test-Optional permanently
Unity College: Test-Optional permanently
University College London: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Aberdeen: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Alabama: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Alabama at Birmingham: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Arizona: Test-Optional permanently
University of California system: Test-Blind
University of Chicago: Test-Optional permanently
University of Cincinnati: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Colorado-Boulder: Test-Optional permanently
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs: Test-Optional permanently
University of Colorado-Denver: Test-Optional permanently
University of Connecticut: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025, 2026
University of Dayton: Test-Optional permanently
University of Delaware: Test-Optional permanently
University of Denver: Test-Optional permanently
University of Dubuque: Test-Optional permanently
University of Edinburgh: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Hartford: Test-Optional permanently
University of Illinois-Chicago: Test-Optional permanently
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign: Test-Optional permanently
University of Iowa: Test-Optional permanently
University of Kansas: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Kentucky: Test-Optional for 2024
University of La Verne: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maine: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maine-Augusta: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maine-Farmington: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maine-Fort Kent: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maine-Presque Isle: Test-Optional permanently
University of Mary Washington: Test-Optional permanently
University of Maryland-College Park: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of Massachusetts-Boston: Test-Optional permanently
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth: Test-Optional permanently
University of Massachusetts-Lowell: Test-Optional permanently
University of Miami: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Minnesota-Duluth: Test-Optional permanently
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of Missouri-Kansas City: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 2.75+ GPA)
University of Montana: Test-Optional permanently
University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA or rank in top half of class)
University of Nebraska-Omaha: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Nevada-Las Vegas: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
University of Nevada-Reno: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
University of New England: Test-Blind permanently
University of New Hampshire: Test-Optional permanently
University of New Haven: Test-Optional permanently
University of New Mexico: Test-Optional permanently
University of North Carolina system: Test-Optional for 2024
University of North Dakota: Test-Optional permanently
University of North Texas: Test-Flexible permanently
University of Notre Dame: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Oklahoma: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of Oregon: Test-Optional permanently
University of Pennsylvania: Test-Optional for 2024
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of Puget Sound: Test-Optional permanently
University of Redlands: Test-Optional permanently
University of Rochester: Test-Optional permanently
University of San Francisco: Test-Optional permanently
University of Scranton: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA or be in top 30% of graduating class)
University of St. Joseph: Test-Optional permanently
University of St. Thomas: Test-Optional permanently
University of Tampa: Test-Optional permanently
University of Tennessee-Knoxville: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of the Pacific: Test-Optional permanently
University of Virginia: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
University of Washington: Test-Blind permanently (except for waitlist considerations)
University of Waterloo: Test-Optional permanently
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Test-Optional for 2024
Ursinus College: Test-Optional permanently
Vanderbilt University: Test-Optional for 2024
Vassar College: Test-Optional permanently
Vermont Technical College: Test-Optional permanently
Villanova University: Test-Optional for 2024
Virginia Commonwealth University: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.3+ GPA)
Virginia Tech: Test-Optional for 2024, 2025
Wagner College: Test-Optional permanently
Wake Forest University: Test-Optional permanently
Warren Wilson College: Test-Optional permanently
Washington and Jefferson College: Test-Optional permanently
Washington College: Test-Optional permanently
Washington State University: Test-Blind permanently
Washington University in St. Louis: Test-Optional for 2024
Wellesley College: Test-Optional for 2024
Wells College: Test-Optional permanently
Wentworth Institute of Technology: Test-Optional permanently
Wesleyan University: Test-Optional permanently
West Virginia University: Test-Optional for 2024
Western Connecticut State University: Test-Flexible permanently (must have 3.0+ GPA)
Western Michigan University: Test-Optional permanently
Western New England University: Test-Optional permanently
Western Washington University: Test-Optional permanently
Westfield State University: Test-Optional permanently
Westminster College (PA): Test-Optional permanently
Westminster College (UT): Test-Optional permanently
Wheaton College (MA): Test-Optional permanently
Whitman College: Test-Optional permanently
Whittier College: Test-Optional permanently
Willamette University: Test-Optional permanently
William and Mary: Test-Optional permanently
Wofford College: Test-Optional permanently
Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Test-Blind for 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028
Worcester State University: Test-Optional permanently
Xavier University: Test-Optional permanently
Yale University: Test-Optional for 2024
Yeshiva University: Test-Optional permanently
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