Best Test-Blind and Test-Optional Colleges of Distinction 2026

By: Tyson Schritter & Colleges of Distinction Staff

Standardized test scores are no longer the deciding factor for many colleges. A growing number of Colleges of Distinction have moved away from mandatory SAT and ACT requirements, adopting test-blind or test-optional policies that allow students to highlight their true strengths. These schools are leading the way toward more flexible, equitable, and student-centered admissions practices.

In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between test-blind and test-optional admissions and discover which Colleges of Distinction have embraced these policies for 2025. Whether you plan to submit your scores or not, understanding these options will help you apply with confidence.

Want a deeper explanation of what “test-optional” really means—or how to decide whether to submit your SAT or ACT scores? Read our companion article, What Does “Test-Optional” Really Mean for You?.

As more colleges rethink their approach to standardized testing, two main policies have emerged: test-blind and test-optional. While both reduce the pressure of test scores, they operate differently in how those scores are used—or not used—in admissions decisions.

Test-blind colleges do not consider SAT or ACT scores at all—even if you send them. Admissions decisions are based entirely on other factors such as GPA, academic rigor, extracurricular involvement, essays, and recommendations. In other words, even a perfect test score won’t boost your chances at a test-blind school. Several Colleges of Distinction have adopted this model to create a more equitable admissions process that values a student’s full potential beyond a single exam.

What Does Test-Optional Mean?

At a test-optional college, you can choose whether or not to include your SAT or ACT scores in your application. If your test scores reflect your abilities well, submitting them can strengthen your profile. However, if your scores don’t showcase your academic strengths—or you weren’t able to test—you won’t be penalized for omitting them. Colleges of Distinction with test-optional policies continue to evaluate students holistically, focusing on grades, coursework, and character over test performance.

Which Policy Is Better for You?

There’s no single “best” option—it depends on your strengths and college goals. If you’re a confident test taker, test-optional schools give you the flexibility to showcase strong scores while still applying without them if needed. Test-blind colleges remove the testing factor altogether, ensuring every applicant competes on equal footing. Understanding where each College of Distinction stands can help you apply strategically and highlight your unique story.

School	State	Public/Private	Acceptance Rate	Net Price (in-state net price given for public colleges)
Stillman College	Alabama	Private	74%	$12,479
University of Montevallo	Alabama	Public	54%	$17,280
Lyon College	Arkansas	Private	66%	$22,675
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	California	Public	30%	$16,888
California State University-Fullerton	California	Public	87%	$6,283
California State University-Long Beach	California	Public	47%	$9,731
Loyola Marymount University	California	Private	40%	$54,471
San Diego State University	California	Public	34%	$19,500
San Francisco State University	California	Public	96%	$13,353
San Jose State University	California	Public	80%	$13,833
University of California-Davis	California	Public	42%	$17,315
University of California-Irvine	California	Public	26%	$14,647
University of California-San Diego	California	Public	25%	$13,293
University of California-Santa Barbara	California	Public	28%	$15,283
Albertus Magnus College	Connecticut	Private	64%	$30,179
Sacred Heart University	Connecticut	Private	68%	$46,165
Southern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	Public	81%	$19,870
Goldey-Beacom College	Delaware	Private	77%	$17,417
The Catholic University of America	District of Columbia	Private	84%	$35,008
Southeastern University	Florida	Private	74%	$27,935
Young Harris College	Georgia	Private	64%	$20,509
Concordia University-Chicago	Illinois	Private	93%	$17,767
North Park University	Illinois	Private	73%	$19,910
Northern Illinois University	Illinois	Public	70%	$13,533
Saint Xavier University	Illinois	Private	86%	$11,943
University of Evansville	Indiana	Private	78%	$21,611
University of Indianapolis	Indiana	Private	73%	$19,903
Loras College	Iowa	Private	92%	$22,338
Saint Ambrose University	Iowa	Private	73%	$23,578
Newman University	Kansas	Private	48%	$19,315
University of the Cumberlands	Kentucky	Private	71%	$11,555
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University	Louisiana	Private	83%	$15,239
University of Maine	Maine	Public	96%	$18,237
McDaniel College	Maryland	Private	84%	$23,088
Notre Dame of Maryland University	Maryland	Private	86%	$22,552
Dean College	Massachusetts	Private	74%	$31,472
Stonehill College	Massachusetts	Private	73%	$31,134
Alma College	Michigan	Private	66%	$24,862
Cornerstone University	Michigan	Private	73%	$23,147
University of Minnesota-Morris	Minnesota	Public	70%	$9,539
Evangel University	Missouri	Private	69%	$18,748
Rivier University	New Hampshire	Private	82%	$28,227
Caldwell University	New Jersey	Private	65%	$23,071
Rutgers University-Newark	New Jersey	Public	79%	$17,425
Daemen University	New York	Private	76%	$18,944
Manhattanville College	New York	Private	85%	$25,017
The New School	New York	Private	63%	$62,226
University of Mary	North Dakota	Private	78%	$19,225
University of North Dakota	North Dakota	Public	77%	$18,227
Hiram College	Ohio	Private	93%	$21,362
Eastern Oregon University	Oregon	Public	99%	$17,219
Linfield University	Oregon	Private	88%	$31,462
Albright College	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$22,116
La Salle University	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$20,119
Mercyhurst University	Pennsylvania	Private	83%	$26,962
Neumann University	Pennsylvania	Private	76%	$29,298
Washington & Jefferson College	Pennsylvania	Private	82%	$26,051
Southern Utah University	Utah	Public	80%	$12,375
Marymount University	Virginia	Private	81%	$28,147
Shenandoah University	Virginia	Private	78%	$26,400
Eastern Washington University	Washington	Public	92%	$13,786
University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Washington	Public	43%	$11,023
Washington State University	Washington	Public	85%	$18,155
University of Charleston	West Virginia	Private	65%	$21,100

Best Test-Optional Colleges of Distinction 2026

School	State	Public/Private	Acceptance Rate	Net Price (in-state net price given for public colleges)
Auburn University	Alabama	Public	96%	$13,504
Samford University	Alabama	Public	50%	$24,524
Stillman College	Alabama	Private	82%	$32,176
The University of Alabama	Alabama	Private	74%	$12,479
Tuskegee University	Alabama	Public	76%	$21,761
University of Montevallo	Alabama	Private	31%	$35,126
University of Arizona	Alabama	Public	54%	$17,280
Harding University	Arizona	Public	86%	$18,144
Lyon College	Arkansas	Private	100%	$21,069
University of Arkansas	Arkansas	Private	66%	$22,675
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith	Arkansas	Public	72%	$17,475
Azusa Pacific University	Arkansas	Public	81%	$10,387
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	California	Private	79%	$26,117
California State University-Fullerton	California	Public	30%	$16,888
California State University-Long Beach	California	Public	87%	$6,283
Claremont McKenna College	California	Public	47%	$9,731
Harvey Mudd College	California	Private	11%	$29,978
Loyola Marymount University	California	Private	13%	$42,720
Pepperdine University	California	Private	40%	$54,471
Pomona College	California	Private	50%	$52,216
San Diego State University	California	Private	7%	$17,423
San Francisco State University	California	Public	34%	$19,500
San Jose State University	California	Public	96%	$13,353
Santa Clara University	California	Public	80%	$13,833
University of California-Davis	California	Private	44%	$49,651
University of California-Irvine	California	Public	42%	$17,315
University of California-San Diego	California	Public	26%	$14,647
University of California-Santa Barbara	California	Public	25%	$13,293
University of Redlands	California	Public	28%	$15,283
University of the Pacific	California	Private	81%	$28,054
Colorado Christian University	California	Private	95%	$30,975
Colorado College	Colorado	Private	71%	$26,770
Colorado School of Mines	Colorado	Private	20%	$35,281
University of Colorado Boulder	Colorado	Public	60%	$29,785
University of Denver	Colorado	Public	83%	$22,640
Albertus Magnus College	Colorado	Private	71%	$43,324
Eastern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	Private	64%	$30,179
Fairfield University	Connecticut	Public	81%	$21,205
Sacred Heart University	Connecticut	Private	45%	$47,630
Southern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	Private	68%	$46,165
University of Connecticut	Connecticut	Public	81%	$19,870
University of Hartford	Connecticut	Public	54%	$22,324
University of New Haven	Connecticut	Private	83%	$30,553
Wesleyan University	Connecticut	Private	81%	$34,201
Delaware State University	Connecticut	Private	17%	$20,463
Goldey-Beacom College	Delaware	Public	62%	$15,555
University of Delaware	Delaware	Private	77%	$17,417
American University	Delaware	Public	65%	$17,716
Howard University	District of Columbia	Private	47%	$40,189
The Catholic University of America	District of Columbia	Private	35%	$30,028
Flagler College	District of Columbia	Private	84%	$35,008
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	Florida	Private	78%	$31,085
Florida Gulf Coast University	Florida	Public	21%	$15,491
Florida Institute of Technology	Florida	Public	77%	$10,548
Florida Southern College	Florida	Private	63%	$36,364
Florida State University	Florida	Private	59%	$30,462
Rollins College	Florida	Public	25%	$14,903
Southeastern University	Florida	Private	41%	$37,134
Stetson University	Florida	Private	74%	$27,935
University of Florida	Florida	Private	86%	$22,914
University of Miami	Florida	Public	24%	$11,521
University of West Florida	Florida	Private	19%	$41,028
Emory University	Florida	Public	57%	$8,908
Georgia College & State University	Georgia	Private	11%	$27,986
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Georgia	Public	88%	$19,769
Georgia State University	Georgia	Public	16%	$15,901
Kennesaw State University	Georgia	Public	62%	$16,390
Reinhardt University	Georgia	Public	69%	$17,566
Spelman College	Georgia	Private	55%	$27,507
Toccoa Falls College	Georgia	Private	34%	$37,403
University of Georgia	Georgia	Private	64%	$20,657
University of North Georgia	Georgia	Public	37%	$16,303
Young Harris College	Georgia	Public	72%	$11,687
Northwest Nazarene University	Georgia	Private	64%	$20,509
Concordia University-Chicago	Idaho	Private	63%	$27,291
DePaul University	Illinois	Private	93%	$17,767
Illinois State University	Illinois	Private	74%	$32,129
Illinois Wesleyan University	Illinois	Public	89%	$20,871
Lewis University	Illinois	Private	45%	$31,310
Loyola University Chicago	Illinois	Private	73%	$19,472
North Park University	Illinois	Private	81%	$37,592
Northern Illinois University	Illinois	Private	73%	$19,910
Olivet Nazarene University	Illinois	Public	70%	$13,533
Saint Xavier University	Illinois	Private	67%	$22,707
Trinity Christian College	Illinois	Private	86%	$11,943
University of Illinois Chicago	Illinois	Private	89%	$17,218
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Illinois	Public	79%	$11,499
Wheaton College	Illinois	Public	44%	$14,297
Anderson University	Illinois	Private	90%	$31,346
Butler University	Indiana	Private	53%	$22,222
DePauw University	Indiana	Private	86%	$40,140
Indiana University-Bloomington	Indiana	Private	54%	$30,507
Purdue University Northwest	Indiana	Public	80%	$16,282
Purdue University-Main Campus	Indiana	Public	71%	$9,637
University of Evansville	Indiana	Public	50%	$12,421
University of Indianapolis	Indiana	Private	78%	$21,611
University of Notre Dame	Indiana	Private	73%	$19,903
Cornell College	Indiana	Private	12%	$29,083
Drake University	Iowa	Private	81%	$25,850
Grinnell College	Iowa	Private	64%	$30,886
Loras College	Iowa	Private	13%	$33,446
Saint Ambrose University	Iowa	Private	92%	$22,338
University of Iowa	Iowa	Private	73%	$23,578
Baker University	Iowa	Public	85%	$20,121
Emporia State University	Kansas	Private	92%	$23,410
Friends University	Kansas	Public	98%	$15,441
Newman University	Kansas	Private	56%	$22,579
Ottawa University-Ottawa	Kansas	Private	48%	$19,315
University of Kansas	Kansas	Private	80%	$28,126
Centre College	Kansas	Public	88%	$18,322
Lindsey Wilson College	Kentucky	Private	54%	$23,780
Murray State University	Kentucky	Private	91%	$14,422
Spalding University	Kentucky	Public	86%	$9,738
University of Kentucky	Kentucky	Private	99%	$25,539
University of Louisville	Kentucky	Public	92%	$19,838
University of the Cumberlands	Kentucky	Public	81%	$18,808
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University	Kentucky	Private	71%	$11,555
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	Louisiana	Private	83%	$15,239
Louisiana Tech University	Louisiana	Public	74%	$21,808
Tulane University of Louisiana	Louisiana	Public	73%	$12,593
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	Louisiana	Private	15%	$50,631
Xavier University of Louisiana	Louisiana	Public	89%	$13,443
Bowdoin College	Louisiana	Private	74%	$17,874
University of Maine	Maine	Private	8%	$23,110
Loyola University Maryland	Maine	Public	96%	$18,237
McDaniel College	Maryland	Private	76%	$31,857
Morgan State University	Maryland	Private	84%	$23,088
Notre Dame of Maryland University	Maryland	Public	83%	$15,350
Salisbury University	Maryland	Private	86%	$22,552
St. John's College	Maryland	Public	89%	$17,931
St. Mary's College of Maryland	Maryland	Private	44%	$27,729
University of Maryland-College Park	Maryland	Public	75%	$20,679
Washington College	Maryland	Public	45%	$15,833
Boston College	Maryland	Private	66%	$33,553
Boston University	Massachusetts	Private	16%	$32,590
College of the Holy Cross	Massachusetts	Private	11%	$27,551
Dean College	Massachusetts	Private	21%	$35,455
Framingham State University	Massachusetts	Private	74%	$31,472
Lasell University	Massachusetts	Public	85%	$16,640
Northeastern University	Massachusetts	Private	82%	$28,477
Stonehill College	Massachusetts	Private	6%	$34,770
Suffolk University	Massachusetts	Private	73%	$31,134
Tufts University	Massachusetts	Private	85%	$33,089
University of Massachusetts-Amherst	Massachusetts	Private	10%	$33,333
University of Massachusetts-Lowell	Massachusetts	Public	58%	$22,954
Wellesley College	Massachusetts	Public	85%	$17,624
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Massachusetts	Private	14%	$21,501
Westfield State University	Massachusetts	Private	85%	$35,585
Adrian College	Massachusetts	Public	81%	$17,723
Alma College	Michigan	Private	68%	$22,053
Aquinas College	Michigan	Private	66%	$24,862
Cornerstone University	Michigan	Private	71%	$19,890
Kettering University	Michigan	Private	73%	$23,147
Michigan State University	Michigan	Private	79%	$33,616
Siena Heights University	Michigan	Public	84%	$24,630
Spring Arbor University	Michigan	Private	67%	$17,740
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan	Private	37%	$21,720
University of Michigan-Flint	Michigan	Public	18%	$19,005
Carleton College	Michigan	Public	69%	$12,344
Gustavus Adolphus College	Minnesota	Private	22%	$29,434
Macalester College	Minnesota	Private	62%	$28,805
Saint Cloud State University	Minnesota	Private	28%	$38,571
Southwest Minnesota State University	Minnesota	Public	95%	$14,648
University of Minnesota-Duluth	Minnesota	Public	69%	$14,839
University of Minnesota-Morris	Minnesota	Public	82%	$19,542
University of Minnesota-Rochester	Minnesota	Public	70%	$9,539
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	Minnesota	Public	72%	$13,840
University of St Thomas	Minnesota	Public	77%	$16,730
Belhaven University	Minnesota	Private	85%	$32,637
Mississippi State University	Mississippi	Private	53%	$22,145
University of Mississippi	Mississippi	Public	76%	$16,480
Evangel University	Mississippi	Public	98%	$14,946
Lindenwood University	Missouri	Private	69%	$18,748
Rockhurst University	Missouri	Private	66%	$18,698
Saint Louis University	Missouri	Private	69%	$23,785
Southwest Baptist University	Missouri	Private	81%	$30,911
Stephens College	Missouri	Private	100%	$19,781
Truman State University	Missouri	Private	92%	$23,261
University of Missouri-Columbia	Missouri	Public	80%	$12,798
University of Missouri-Kansas City	Missouri	Public	77%	$20,006
Washington University in St Louis	Missouri	Public	75%	$14,201
Carroll College	Missouri	Private	12%	$22,440
Rocky Mountain College	Montana	Private	73%	$26,103
College of Saint Mary	Montana	Private	73%	$19,173
Creighton University	Nebraska	Private	44%	$14,265
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska	Private	72%	$33,364
Wayne State College	Nebraska	Public	77%	$18,029
Rivier University	Nebraska	Public	82%	$15,458
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	New Hampshire	Private	82%	$28,227
Caldwell University	New Hampshire	Public	87%	$24,762
Kean University	New Jersey	Private	65%	$23,071
Monmouth University	New Jersey	Public	77%	$11,593
Ramapo College of New Jersey	New Jersey	Private	90%	$33,228
Rider University	New Jersey	Public	73%	$17,348
Rowan University	New Jersey	Private	79%	$26,618
Rutgers University-Newark	New Jersey	Public	78%	$22,237
Saint Elizabeth University	New Jersey	Public	79%	$17,425
Seton Hall University	New Jersey	Private	77%	$18,412
Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey	Private	79%	$31,642
The College of New Jersey	New Jersey	Private	43%	$43,665
Adelphi University	New Jersey	Public	62%	$22,379
Barnard College	New York	Private	78%	$28,671
Binghamton University	New York	Private	8%	$27,738
Colgate University	New York	Public	38%	$18,860
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	New York	Private	12%	$26,954
CUNY Hunter College	New York	Public	50%	$3,989
Daemen University	New York	Public	54%	$4,127
Dominican University New York	New York	Private	76%	$18,944
Fordham University	New York	Private	79%	$23,907
Hamilton College	New York	Private	56%	$45,368
Hobart William Smith Colleges	New York	Private	12%	$26,021
Iona University	New York	Private	57%	$33,172
Keuka College	New York	Private	91%	$28,557
Le Moyne College	New York	Private	94%	$26,153
Long Island University	New York	Private	75%	$22,139
Manhattan College	New York	Private	90%	$22,620
Manhattanville College	New York	Private	78%	$28,349
Nazareth University	New York	Private	85%	$25,017
New York Institute of Technology	New York	Private	79%	$31,321
New York University	New York	Private	78%	$23,074
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York	Private	9%	$30,730
Skidmore College	New York	Private	58%	$35,940
St. John Fisher University	New York	Private	23%	$32,368
St. John's University-New York	New York	Private	68%	$28,969
St. Joseph's University-New York	New York	Private	80%	$28,206
St. Thomas Aquinas College	New York	Private	71%	$18,324
State University of New York at New Paltz	New York	Private	82%	$21,257
State University of New York at Oswego	New York	Public	59%	$17,848
Stony Brook University	New York	Public	80%	$16,923
SUNY Brockport	New York	Public	49%	$18,601
SUNY College at Geneseo	New York	Public	71%	$15,343
SUNY Oneonta	New York	Public	64%	$18,698
Syracuse University	New York	Public	70%	$17,918
The New School	New York	Private	42%	$51,520
University at Buffalo	New York	Private	63%	$62,226
University of Mount Saint Vincent	New York	Public	69%	$20,511
University of Rochester	New York	Private	85%	$21,844
Utica University	New York	Private	36%	$40,900
Vassar College	New York	Private	87%	$22,510
Appalachian State University	New York	Private	18%	$29,733
Barton College	North Carolina	Public	89%	$14,712
Catawba College	North Carolina	Private	96%	$23,804
Davidson College	North Carolina	Private	78%	$18,319
Elon University	North Carolina	Private	14%	$26,510
Gardner-Webb University	North Carolina	Private	67%	$41,849
High Point University	North Carolina	Private	87%	$24,035
Lees-McRae College	North Carolina	Private	77%	$43,578
Meredith College	North Carolina	Private	81%	$26,009
North Carolina A & T State University	North Carolina	Private	75%	$23,405
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	North Carolina	Public	46%	$10,258
University of Mount Olive	North Carolina	Public	40%	$14,860
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina	Private	78%	$17,893
Wake Forest University	North Carolina	Public	19%	$11,140
William Peace University	North Carolina	Private	22%	$27,790
University of Mary	North Carolina	Private	97%	$24,503
University of North Dakota	North Dakota	Private	78%	$19,225
Valley City State University	North Dakota	Public	77%	$18,227
Bluffton University	North Dakota	Public	69%	$13,841
Denison University	Ohio	Private	61%	$21,299
Hiram College	Ohio	Private	17%	$42,177
John Carroll University	Ohio	Private	93%	$21,362
Kenyon College	Ohio	Private	81%	$30,790
Miami University-Oxford	Ohio	Private	31%	$44,470
Ohio Northern University	Ohio	Public	82%	$27,928
Ohio State University-Main Campus	Ohio	Private	73%	$26,396
Otterbein University	Ohio	Public	51%	$19,575
The College of Wooster	Ohio	Private	83%	$22,242
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	Ohio	Private	54%	$29,529
University of Dayton	Ohio	Public	88%	$21,511
Walsh University	Ohio	Private	62%	$31,551
Wilmington College	Ohio	Private	78%	$21,009
Wittenberg University	Ohio	Private	85%	$24,915
Xavier University	Ohio	Private	91%	$21,457
Oklahoma Baptist University	Ohio	Private	88%	$31,542
Oklahoma Christian University	Oklahoma	Private	56%	$25,099
Southern Nazarene University	Oklahoma	Private	97%	$21,810
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	Oklahoma	Private	33%	$19,825
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma	Oklahoma	Public	77%	$19,900
Eastern Oregon University	Oklahoma	Public	56%	$8,685
Lewis & Clark College	Oregon	Public	99%	$17,219
Linfield University	Oregon	Private	75%	$38,247
Reed College	Oregon	Private	88%	$31,462
University of Oregon	Oregon	Private	27%	$36,993
University of Portland	Oregon	Public	85%	$23,917
Willamette University	Oregon	Private	95%	$34,951
Albright College	Oregon	Private	79%	$27,716
Alvernia University	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$22,116
Bucknell University	Pennsylvania	Private	62%	$26,166
Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	Private	32%	$38,486
Chatham University	Pennsylvania	Private	11%	$32,964
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Private	70%	$29,051
DeSales University	Pennsylvania	Public	95%	$18,004
Dickinson College	Pennsylvania	Private	79%	$30,524
Elizabethtown College	Pennsylvania	Private	43%	$40,242
Franklin and Marshall College	Pennsylvania	Private	77%	$27,019
Geneva College	Pennsylvania	Private	32%	$37,475
Holy Family University	Pennsylvania	Private	80%	$22,145
King's College	Pennsylvania	Private	74%	$13,016
La Roche University	Pennsylvania	Private	93%	$25,608
La Salle University	Pennsylvania	Private	78%	$24,638
Lafayette College	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$20,119
Lehigh University	Pennsylvania	Private	31%	$34,728
Lycoming College	Pennsylvania	Private	29%	$33,289
Mercyhurst University	Pennsylvania	Private	68%	$20,733
Messiah University	Pennsylvania	Private	83%	$26,962
Mount Aloysius College	Pennsylvania	Private	78%	$29,882
Neumann University	Pennsylvania	Private	90%	$20,570
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	Pennsylvania	Private	76%	$29,298
Saint Francis University	Pennsylvania	Public	54%	$27,450
Saint Joseph's University	Pennsylvania	Private	77%	$27,421
Saint Vincent College	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$36,392
Seton Hill University	Pennsylvania	Private	59%	$23,857
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Private	76%	$23,732
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford	Pennsylvania	Public	75%	$18,407
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	Pennsylvania	Public	91%	$17,015
University of Scranton	Pennsylvania	Public	50%	$24,338
Villanova University	Pennsylvania	Private	84%	$32,100
Washington & Jefferson College	Pennsylvania	Private	25%	$37,946
Waynesburg University	Pennsylvania	Private	82%	$26,051
West Chester University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Private	92%	$22,837
Westminster College	Pennsylvania	Public	79%	$21,684
Widener University	Pennsylvania	Private	86%	$26,780
York College of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Private	84%	$30,720
Bryant University	Pennsylvania	Private	94%	$21,036
Providence College	Rhode Island	Private	66%	$40,612
Rhode Island College	Rhode Island	Private	49%	$46,645
University of Rhode Island	Rhode Island	Public	81%	$11,549
Clemson University	Rhode Island	Public	77%	$20,964
Coastal Carolina University	South Carolina	Public	38%	$24,408
College of Charleston	South Carolina	Public	80%	$14,453
Furman University	South Carolina	Public	72%	$20,806
Presbyterian College	South Carolina	Private	53%	$32,901
University of South Carolina Aiken	South Carolina	Private	72%	$20,058
University of South Carolina-Columbia	South Carolina	Public	80%	$11,697
Wofford College	South Carolina	Public	61%	$26,068
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	South Carolina	Private	59%	$31,061
University of South Dakota	South Dakota	Public	85%	$20,243
Belmont University	South Dakota	Public	99%	$18,466
Carson-Newman University	Tennessee	Private	96%	$37,558
Christian Brothers University	Tennessee	Private	68%	$19,755
Johnson University	Tennessee	Private	88%	$17,068
Lincoln Memorial University	Tennessee	Private	54%	$20,713
Lipscomb University	Tennessee	Private	59%	$19,401
Maryville College	Tennessee	Private	67%	$27,386
Middle Tennessee State University	Tennessee	Private	66%	$20,990
Rhodes College	Tennessee	Public	68%	$12,700
Tennessee Technological University	Tennessee	Private	50%	$30,590
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	Tennessee	Public	83%	$15,138
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Tennessee	Public	77%	$13,801
Abilene Christian University	Tennessee	Public	46%	$20,885
Angelo State University	Texas	Private	64%	$28,311
Dallas Baptist University	Texas	Public	79%	$12,518
Hardin-Simmons University	Texas	Private	91%	$30,275
LeTourneau University	Texas	Private	97%	$21,321
Lubbock Christian University	Texas	Private	41%	$27,007
McMurry University	Texas	Private	73%	$25,351
Rice University	Texas	Private	58%	$20,817
Saint Edward's University	Texas	Private	8%	$20,587
Southern Methodist University	Texas	Private	84%	$28,351
Southwestern University	Texas	Private	61%	$45,792
St. Mary's University	Texas	Private	39%	$30,687
Texas Christian University	Texas	Private	89%	$20,562
Texas Southern University	Texas	Private	43%	$39,005
The University of Texas at Austin	Texas	Public	93%	$15,021
The University of Texas at Dallas	Texas	Public	29%	$18,036
The University of Texas at San Antonio	Texas	Public	65%	$13,464
Trinity University	Texas	Public	88%	$10,831
University of the Incarnate Word	Texas	Private	28%	$32,264
Southern Utah University	Texas	Private	93%	$21,246
Middlebury College	Utah	Public	80%	$12,375
University of Vermont	Vermont	Private	10%	$22,912
Bridgewater College	Vermont	Public	60%	$22,062
Emory & Henry University	Virginia	Private	91%	$19,660
James Madison University	Virginia	Private	96%	$21,714
Mary Baldwin University	Virginia	Public	76%	$26,317
Marymount University	Virginia	Private	86%	$18,838
Old Dominion University	Virginia	Private	81%	$28,147
Radford University	Virginia	Public	91%	$16,150
Randolph College	Virginia	Public	91%	$18,282
Randolph-Macon College	Virginia	Private	95%	$20,856
Roanoke College	Virginia	Private	83%	$29,058
Shenandoah University	Virginia	Private	80%	$27,695
University of Richmond	Virginia	Private	78%	$26,400
University of Virginia-Main Campus	Virginia	Private	23%	$35,263
University of Virginia's College at Wise	Virginia	Public	17%	$10,409
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Virginia	Public	94%	$17,831
Washington and Lee University	Virginia	Public	57%	$22,205
William & Mary	Virginia	Private	17%	$24,667
Eastern Washington University	Virginia	Public	33%	$20,422
Gonzaga University	Washington	Public	92%	$13,786
Saint Martin's University	Washington	Private	76%	$40,295
Seattle University	Washington	Private	76%	$22,779
University of Puget Sound	Washington	Private	76%	$37,103
University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Washington	Private	76%	$42,301
Washington State University	Washington	Public	43%	$11,023
Whitman College	Washington	Public	85%	$18,155
Davis & Elkins College	Washington	Private	50%	$41,601
University of Charleston	West Virginia	Private	58%	$19,762
West Virginia University	West Virginia	Private	65%	$21,100
Beloit College	West Virginia	Public	86%	$13,691
Carroll University	Wisconsin	Private	57%	$24,941
Lawrence University	Wisconsin	Private	58%	$25,171
Marquette University	Wisconsin	Private	63%	$27,393
Saint Norbert College	Wisconsin	Private	87%	$32,031
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	Wisconsin	Private	92%	$27,236
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	Wisconsin	Public	76%	$15,323
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	Public	73%	$13,125
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Wisconsin	Public	43%	$14,216
Viterbo University	Wisconsin	Public	83%	$13,670
Wisconsin Lutheran College	Wisconsin	Private	73%	$23,901
	Wisconsin	Private	79%	$22,809

What does “test-blind” mean for college admissions?

Test-blind colleges don’t consider SAT or ACT scores—even if submitted. Admissions decisions are based on other factors like GPA, coursework, and essays.

Are test-blind and test-optional the same?

No. Test-optional schools let you choose whether to send scores; test-blind schools ignore scores entirely.

Application Process

College "Best of" Lists

Test Prep

Thinking About College

Tyson Schritter

Chief Operating Officer

With an impressive fifteen-year tenure as a member of the Colleges of Distinction qualification and research team, Tyson has extensively toured campuses nationwide and conducted interviews with their staff. This wealth of experience is clearly reflected in the insightful resource articles he contributes to Colleges of Distinction. His written work has been featured on reputable platforms such as Huffington Post, Higher Ed Revolution, and Campus News.

Notably, he is also the author of “Reaching Beyond Rankings: How to Use College Evaluation Systems to Find Your Dream School“. Tyson’s multifaceted expertise, blending hands-on campus assessment and extensive writing, underscores his commitment to helping students navigate the complexities of college selection and find their ideal educational fit.

More advice

What Makes a Great College Application Essay (and How to Write One)

Katie Creel / College Admissions Expert at Colleges of Distinction »

Your college application is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are. Use these strategies to execute an essay that will make you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

College Application Guide: Colleges of Distinction

The Ultimate College Application Checklist (2026 Edition)

Nathan Wilgeroth

There are so many components to a college application that it may be hard to keep track of everything you need. Here’s a quick and easy list of all the components you’ll want to consider. Use this as a foundation for a checklist to ensure that you’re well on your way to a completed application!

What Does “Test-Optional” Really Mean for You?

Tyson Schritter / Colleges of Distinction »

Applying test-optional in 2021? Consider our advice from professionals in higher education as to whether you should.

Best Test-Blind and Test-Optional Colleges of Distinction 2026

Test-Blind vs. Test-Optional: What’s the Difference?

What Does Test-Blind Mean?