List of Colleges Going Test-Optional in 2021

test optional schools graphic

Following the cancellation of the spring’s SAT and ACT tests due to COVID-19, a number of colleges across the nation (including the University of California) are going test-optional in 2021: students applying for the fall of 2021 will not be required to submit an ACT or SAT test score for admission. 

The colleges’ response echoes the request of many students wondering if they would get an opportunity to take the ACT or SAT (and earn their goal score) before fall admissions deadlines. And because admissions timelines are carefully timed and difficult to adjust, colleges are choosing to cut the testing requirement instead.

Colleges are Going Test-Optional. Should You Still Take the SAT or ACT Test?

Colleges Going Test-Optional in 2021

We will update this list as colleges announce changes to their policies due to the impact of the coronavirus. Find a complete list of test-optional universities here

Alabama State University 

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Amherst College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021  

Boston University 

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 or spring 2022 

Baylor University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021  

University of California system

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

California State University system

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, winter 2022, and spring 2022 

Case Western Reserve

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Clemson University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Cornell

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

University of the Cumberlands 

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Dartmouth College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Davidson College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Drury University

Now permanently test-optional  

Duke University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Harvard

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Haverford College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Indiana Tech University

Now permanently test-optional 

Indiana University – Bloomington

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Johns Hopkins University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Loyola University

Test blind – will not look at any SAT or ACT scores

Middlebury College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Newberry College

Test optional for the remainder of fall 2020 admissions cycle 

University of North Carolina – All locations

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Northeastern University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Notre Dame

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

University of Oregon

Now permanently test-optional  

Oregon State University

Now permanently test-optional  

Penn State

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Pomona College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Princeton University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Rhodes College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 

University of Rhode Island

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

The University of Richmond

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Santa Clara University

Two-year test-optional admissions policy for first-year and transfer students seeking enrollment beginning in the winter 2021 and fall 2021 terms 

Scripps College

Now permanently test-optional 

St. Mary’s University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

University of South Carolina

Test optional for applications for spring, summer, and fall 2021

Southern Methodist University

Test optional for applications for spring 2021 and fall 2021

Stanford University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

University of Tennessee – Knoxville

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

University of Texas – Austin

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Texas A&M University – College Station

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Texas Christian University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Texas Tech University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Trinity University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Tufts University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023

Tulane University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Vassar College

Test optional for applications for fall 2021 

Virginia Tech

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

The University of Washington

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Washington and Lee University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Western Michigan University

Test optional for applications for the remainder of fall 2020 and for fall 2021

Williams College 

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

William & Mary

Test optional for applications for fall 2021, 2022, and 2023

The University of Wisconsin System (excluding UW-Madison)

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

Yale University

Test optional for applications for fall 2021

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