In the wake of SAT and ACT cancellations due to COVID-19, many students in the class of 2021 are concerned they won’t be able to complete testing in time to apply to their schools of choice. Thankfully, colleges are responding to these concerns by adapting their admissions testing policies. Some have adopted a temporary test-optional stance during this uncertain time. Others have moved more quickly toward permanent test-optional policies that had already been under consideration. Keep in mind that test-optional does not mean test-blind—schools still consider submitted test scores as important evidence when making admissions decisions. Rather, these shifts in policies are designed to relieve some of the uncertainty that high school students feel right now.
Announcements are coming from the colleges almost daily and the specifics of the policies vary from school to school. In an effort to make the research a little easier for everyone, we are maintaining a list of colleges that have announced a change to their admissions testing policies in response to COVID-19. The list is not exhaustive, but we have made every effort to include those schools most often considered by Applerouth students. Always check directly with your schools to understand the specifics of their current admissions policies and how they affect you.¹
With change happening almost daily, this list is, by definition, a constant work in progress. We continue to monitor the news closely and will make updates regularly. We view this as a collective effort within the Applerouth community, so we invite you to email us at if you hear about a policy change that we should add to the list. For more information about test policies and admissions, we encourage you to check out our Expert’s Corner blog and download our free, comprehensive Guide to College Admissions Testing.
We’re all in this together, and the more we can give students the information they need right now, the better.
College
Policy in brief²
Helpful links
Albion College
Test optional for students applying for Fall 2020
How is COVID-19 Affecting Admission?
Alfred University
Test-optional for spring and fall 2021
Here [under Test Scores]
Alma College
Suspended SAT/ACT requirements for traditional first-year students between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2021
Admissions & Aid page
Amherst College
Test-optional policy extended to students entering in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Admissions site
Anderson University
Test-optional effective immediately
Announcement
Angelo State University
Test-optional for 2020-2021.
Announcement
Austin Peay State University
Test-optional for fall and summer 2021 for standardized testing [SAT, ACT, and GRE].
Announcement
Babson College
Test-optional for 2022-23. 2023-24, and 2024-25 academic years.
Update
Barnard College
Test optional for 2020-2021 and 2022-2023.
Announcement
Barrett, The Honors College of Arizona State University
Test blind for Spring and Fall 2021.
Admissions FAQs
Baylor University
Test-optional for 2021. Extended for the Fall 2022 and 2023.
Press release
Bentley University
Test-optional for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
First-year Applicants
Bethany College
Test-optional for Fall 2020
Bethany announcement
Bloomsburg University
Test-optional for 2020-2021 admissions cycle.
Announcement
Boston College
Test-optional for the 2021-22 admission cycle.
Announcement
Boston University
Test-optional for first-year students applying for fall 2022 and spring 2023.
Applies to all undergraduate schools and colleges at BU and all scholarship programs.
Update
BU announcement
BU admissions site
Bowling Green State University Temporarily waiving GRE and GMAT requirements for students applying for a master’s or graduate certificate program for summer and fall 2020BGSU announcement
BGSU graduate college site
Briar Cliff University Waiving SAT/ACT score requirement for current high school seniors Briar Cliff announcement Bridgewater College Test-optional for academic years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. This policy does not apply to homeschooled students and international students.Announcement
Freshman Admission
Brown University Test-optional for 2021-22 admission cycle. Testing Requirements for 2021-2022 Bucknell University Test-optional beginning in fall 2020 for a 5 year pilot program. Announcement Buena Vista University Test-optional for 2021 Test-Optional Announcement Butler University Test-optional beginning fall 2021 and beyond. Some programs may require standardized test scores. Test-Optional Admission California Institute of Technology Two year moratorium on SAT and ACT requirements [for Fall 2021 and Fall 2022].Announcement
First-Year Application Requirements
California State University Suspends use of SAT/ACT requirements for the academic year 2021-2022 High School Guidance – First-Time First-Year Students Carnegie Mellon University Test-optional for fall 2021. Standardized Testing Requirements Carson-Newman University Test-optional beginning with the 2021-22 admissions cycle. The policy will allow students meeting criteria to choose whether or not to submit standardized test scores. Those with a 2.75 GPA or higher will be able to choose whether or not to submit scores to be considered for merit scholarships. Those with lower GPAs will need to submit test scores for consideration or appeal to the University’s Enrollment Management Committee. Announcement Case Western Reserve University Test-optional for students entering fall 2021. CWRU announcement Cedarville University Test-optional through spring 2023. Undergraduate Admission Requirement Information Centre College Test-optional for 2021, 2022, and 2023 admissions cycles Centre announcement Clemson University Test-optional for 2021-22. Announcement Coastal Carolina University Test-optional for Fall 2021 applicants with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA CCU announcementCollege of Charleston Test-optional for fall 2021, fall 2022, and fall 2023. Scores are still required for homeschooled students. Test-optional FAQs College of Coastal Georgia Test-optional for summer and fall 2020 Announcement Colgate University Three-year test-optional pilot program for all applicants for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Announcement Columbia University Test-optional policy for first year applicants to Columbia College and Columbia Engineering extended through 2021-2022 admissions cycle. Extension announcement College of Wooster Test-optional for fall 2021 entering class and beyond Wooster announcement
Concordia University Texas
Test-optional for students entering fall 2020 through fall 2021
College of Nursing will temporarily waive Test of Essential Academic Skills for students entering summer 2020 and fall 2020
CTX announcements here and here
CTX admissions site
Cornell University Test-optional policy extended through 2022. Announcement Dartmouth College Test-optional for the class of 2025. Announcement Davidson College Test-optional for a three-year period, beginning with students entering fall 2021 Davidson announcement Drury UniversityTest-optional school, beginning with applications for fall 2021 and beyond
Test-optional applicants will have an additional 250 to 500-word essay as part of the scholarship and award process
Drury announcement Duke University Test-optional for 2021-2022 admissions cycle.Announcement
Admissions: Tests
Duquesne University Expanded test-optional policy for fall 2021 admissions to all 85 majors. Announcement East Tennessee State University Test-optional for 2021. Scores still required for scholarships. Undergraduate Admissions: Provide Test Scores Eastern Illinois University Test-optional for fall 2021. Admissions Requirements Eastern Michigan University Test-optional for fall 2020. Applies only to incoming first-year domestic students. Policy Eckerd College Test-optional for two year pilot program [fall 2021 – fall 2022] Announcement Elizabethtown College Test optional for fall 2021.Announcement
Admissions
Elmhurst University Test-optional for 2020-21. Announcement Elon University Test-optional beginning in fall 2021 in a three year pilot program.COVID- 19 Admissions Information
Press release
Emory University Test-optional for 2020-2021 academic year. Test optional policy extended to Fall 2022. Policy Fordham University Test-optional for two year period beginning with the fall 2021 class. Announcement Fort Lewis College Test-optional for 2021. Announcement Franklin College Test-optional for current high school seniors for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year Franklin announcement Georgetown College Test-optional for fall 2021. Announcement Georgetown University Test-flexible for 2021 [class of 2025]. A Flexible Approach to Testing Requirements Gonzaga UniversityTest-optional for students applying for college admission for fall 2021.
Will not disadvantage students whose high schools are using pass/fail grading
Gonzaga announcement
Gonzaga COVID-19 admission FAQ
Gonzaga admissions page
Grand Valley State University Test-optional for fall 2021 Undergraduate Admissions Requirements [under Freshman Requirements]Greenville University Test-optional for 2021 and beyond. Press release Hamilton College Test-optional for 2021-2022 academic year Hamilton announcement
Hampton University SAT and ACT requirement suspended for 2020-2021. Early Action deadline extended through November 15, 2020. Announcement Harvard University Test-optional for those applying for admission to the class of 2025. Admissions Application Considerations for the Class of 2025 Harvey Mudd College Test-optional for 2020-21 and 2021-22 admission cycles. Announcement Haverford College Test-optional for first year and transfer applicants for a three year trial beginning with students entering Fall 2021 Haverford Admissions blog announcement
Howard University Test-optional for 2020-2021 admission cycle. Does not extend to the Karsh STEM program. Domestic Undergraduate Admissions [#4] Illinois State University Test-optional for summer and fall 2021 Press release Indiana University Bloomington Test-optional beginning in 2021 About test-optional admissions Indiana University Fort Wayne Test-optional beginning with spring 2021 and beyond Admissions steps page [under “Take the SAT or ACT exam] Indiana University Kokomo Test-optional for fall 2020 admission IU Kokomo announcement
Indiana University Northwest SAT/ACT scores requirements waived for students entering fall 2020 IU Northwest announcement Indiana University Southeast Test-optional for summer and fall 2020 enrollment ACT/SAT waiver Iowa State University Test-optional for 2021 academic year. Announcement from the Board of Regents IUPUI Test-optional beginning 2021 and beyond Admissions page [under “Regarding the SAT or ACT exam”] Jacksonville State University SAT and ACT requirements waived through Fall 2021. Announcement Johns Hopkins University Test-optional for the fall 2021
Standardized Test Information
Announcement
La Salle University Test-optional beginning for the Fall 2021 semester. Announcement Limestone CollegeTest-optional for students entering fall 2020
Students who have SAT and ACT scores are still encouraged to submit them
Limestone announcement
Limestone admissions site
Loyola Marymount University Test-optional for fall 2021 applicants Announcement page Loyola University New Orleans Test blind starting in fall 2021. Students hoping to receive state-funded scholarships will still need to submit SAT and ACT scores to determine scholarship eligibility. Announcement Mansfield UniversityTest-optional for students entering fall 2020
SAT/ACT scores are preferred for admission to certain programs, such a the B.S. in Nursing program
Admitted students who did not submit SAT/ACT scores [1] may need to take placement tests during orientation and [2] are eligible for a narrower range of merit awards.
Mansfield announcementMansfield admissions site Marietta College Test-optional for 2021-2022. Test Optional Admission FAQ Marymount University Adopting a complete test-optional policy starting with the Fall 2021 semester. Announcement Massachusetts Institute of Technology Test-optional for 2021-2022 application cycle. Tests & Scores McMurry University [TX] Test-optional for Fall 2020 McMurry announcement Mercer University Test-optional through fall 2023. Announcement Miami University Test-optional for Fall 2021. Test-Optional FAQs Middlebury College Test-optional policy for at least 3 years, through fall 2023, on a trial basis. Middlebury announcement
Midway University [KY] Test-optional for Fall 2020. Midway announcement
Millersville University Expanding its test-optional policy [previously limited to local residents] to all students entering Fall 2020 Millersville Test-Optional FAQ page Minnesota State University Moorhead Test-optional beginning Fall 2020 and beyond. Announcement Misericordia University Test-optional for fall 2021 and fall 2022.
Announcement
Update for 2022
Missouri State University Test-optional for students with a 3.25 high school GPA or higher. The university will also accept ACT/SAT superscores. Announcement NCAA Eligibility CenterWaiving SAT/ACT requirement for student-athletes entering Division I and II colleges in the 2020-21 academic year [applies only to students graduating in spring/summer 2020].
The Eligibility Center will also adjust it’s approach to pass/fail grades received in spring/summer 2020 by students at all grade levels.
Update: Waiving SAT/ACT requirement for student-athletes entering Division I and II colleges in the 2021-22 academic year.
NCAA Eligibility Center COVID-19 FAQ
Announcement
Second Announcement
North Dakota State University Test-optional for Fall 2020-Spring 2022.How to Apply
ACT/SAT Frequently Asked Questions
Northeastern University Test-optional for prospective students for the 2021-2022 academic year. Includes undergraduate and graduate students. Announcement page Northwestern University Test-optional for 2020-2021 admission cycle. Announcement Oakland University Test-optional for Fall 2021 and 2022. Test-Optional Admission Ohio University – Athens Campus Adopted a permanent test-optional policy. Announcement Oregon State University Test-optional for undergraduates entering in fall 2021 and beyondOSU announcement
OSU admissions site
Ouachita Baptist University Test-optional for the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. Announcement PennState Test-optional policy extended through 2023.Extension Announcement
Admissions Requirements
Pomona College Test-optional policy extended for first-year and transfer students entering in fall 2022-2024.Announcement update
Pomona admissions site
Princeton University Test-optional pause extended through the 2021-22 application cycle.Update
Announcement
Admissions – COVID-19 Update
Standardized Testing
Purdue University Northwest Test-optional for summer and fall 2020 Admissions page Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Test-optional for fall 2021 and spring 2022 Announcement Rhodes College Test-optional for 3 years, which will serve as a pilot project to determine if the test-optional policy should continue Rhodes announcementRice University Test-optional for 2020-2021.
Announcement
Standardized Testing
Rivier University Test-optional policy extended to nursing program for fall 2021. Announcement Rochester Institute of Technology Test scores can be self-reported on application for Fall 2020. Students admitted will be required to submit official scores if they enroll. Test optional for some programs for Fall 2020. Fall 2021 and beyond, Rochester Institute of Technology will be test optional.Freshman Admissions
Press Release
Rowan University Test-optional for 2021. Exceptions include homeschooled students, those seeking admission with a GED, and applicants to the 3+4 medical program through the Medical School or the School of Osteopathic Medicine. Announcement Rutgers University – Camden Test-optional for Fall 2020 and 2021.Camden Undergraduate Admissions
Announcement about 2021
Rutgers University – Newark Test-optional for Fall 2020 and Fall 2021.Newark Undergraduate Admissions
Announcement
Rutgers University – New Brunswick Test-optional for Spring and Fall 2021. New Brunswick enrollment FAQs Saint Louis University Test-optional for 2021-2022 academic year for most programs Announcement Santa Clara UniversityTest-optional for a two-year period for first-year and transfer students beginning with students entering in fall 2021
Will reassess whether to reinstate the testing requirement after the two-year period
Santa Clara announcementScripps College
Test-optional, for students entering in fall 2021 and beyond
Homeschooled students strongly encouraged to submit SAT or ACT scores
Scripps announcement
Scripps admissions site
Seattle University Test-optional starting fall 2021. GRE and GMAT will be optional for non-law graduate programs for the 2020-21 academic year. SU announcement Seton Hall University Test-optional policy extended through Fall 2026.Update
Announcement
Southeast Missouri State University Expanded its test-optional admissions policy beginning in fall 2021. With the expansion of the policy, some scholarships are now test-optional [list on the test-optional page].Announcement
Test-optional Page
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Test-optional Spring and Fall 2021. Announcement Southern Methodist University Test-optional for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021.First Year Application
Undergraduate Temporary Test-Optional Policy
Southwest Baptist University- Test-optional policy extended to Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters
- May take online Classic Learning Test [CLT] to potentially improve academic scholarship eligibility
St. Thomas Aquinas College Test-optional for Fall 2020 STAC announcement
Swarthmore College
Test-optional for applicants during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 cycles
Students can now choose to report results from previous tests, including the PSAT and PreACT
In fall 2022, the college will assess the policy and determine whether to continue
Swarthmore announcement
Offering flexibility to students and our commitment to you
Syracuse University Test-optional for fall 2021 and 2022. Announcement Tennessee State University Test-optional for fall 2020 Announcement Texas A&M University Test-optional for spring, summer, and fall of 2021Admissions: Required Documents
Announcement
Texas Christian UniversityTest-optional for students entering in fall 2021
Students should consider their academic record and co-curricular experiences when deciding whether to submit test scores
TCU announcementTexas Tech University Test-optional for 2021 and 2022 terms. Test Optional Information The College of New Jersey Test-optional beginning with 2020-2021 admission cycle for a three year period. Does not apply to the seven year medical program or optometry program. Announcement Trine University Test-optional through Fall 2023. Announcement Trinity University [TX]
Test-optional for a 3-year period starting with applicants for Fall 2021
Applicants can self-report unofficial test scores via applicant portal
TOEFL, IELTS, DET still required
Trinity announcement Troy University Test-optional for 2021. Announcement Tufts University Test-optional for all undergraduates for a three-year period, beginning with students entering fall 2021.Will determine whether to reinstate testing requirement at the end of the three-year period.
Tufts announcement
Tufts admissions site
Tusculum University Test-optional for academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Announcement Tulane University Test-optional for 2021-2022.Tulane Announcement
Tulane Admissions Site
University of Alabama Test-optional for 2021. Announcement University of Alabama in Huntsville Test-optional for 2021 and 2022. Announcement University of Arkansas Test-optional for summer and fall 2021. Test Score Policy University of California SystemTest-optional for 2021-2022. Test-blind for 2023-2024. UC aims to develop their own admissions test for California students by 2025.
If there is a new test by 2025, all California students will submit scores from that new test. Non-residents and international students will follow the approach that will be determined by UC.
If there is no new test ready by fall 2025, standardized testing requirement would be eliminated for California students. UC will determine an appropriate approach for non-resident students.
UC announcement University of Central Missouri Test-optional beginning in fall 2020 for students with a 3.5 GPA or higher. Scores still required for Direct Entry Nursing Program, Education majors, Honors College, NCAA Athletics, and automatic merit scholarships.Announcement
Admissions Requirements
University of Central OklahomaTest-optional for 2021.
Homeschooled students or students who attend unaccredited high schools are still required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Announcement University of CincinnatiTest-optional for a two year period starting with 2021 applicants.
Test scores are still required for the Honors Program, the College of Nursing Direct-Admit BSN program, and the Early Childhood Education Program.
Announcement
Test-Optional FAQ
University of Connecticut Test-optional beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year for the next three admission cycles.Press release
Application Instructions, under Standardized Test [Optional]
University of the CumberlandsAdopting a test-optional policy for current and future applicants
Test-optional applicants are still eligible for institutional grants and need-based aid
Cumberlands announcement University of Delaware Test-optional for 2021 applicants, regardless of residency.Announcement
Admissions Requirements
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Test-optional for 2021-2022 academic years.Announcement
Application Checklist
University of Houston System Test-optional through summer 2022. Announcement University of Illinois System Test-optional for 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024. Announcement University of Iowa Test-optional for 2021 academic year. Board of Regents Announcement University of Kentucky Test-optional for 2021-2022, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Announcement University of Louisville Test-optional for Spring 2021, Summer 2021 and Fall 2021. ACT/SAT Information University of Lynchburg Test-optional for 2021-2022.Announcement
Freshman Application Steps
University of Maryland Baltimore County Test-optional for fall 2021 Announcement University of Massachusetts Amherst Test-optional beginning in Spring 2021 thru Spring 2023 Test-Optional Policy University of Memphis Test-flexible policy for fall 2021 Press release University of Miami Piloting test-optional policy for fall 2021. Announcement University of Minnesota Duluth Test-optional starting with applicants for the spring and fall 2021 Announcement University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Test-optional for 2021. Freshman Requirements University of Nebraska-Lincoln Test-optional policy adopted August 2020.Announcement
Admissions Requirements
Change in minimum admissions requirements: 2.5 GPA or 1010 combined SAT score/19 composite ACT score; applicants must submit test scores but system schools may choose to admit based on GPA alone
Each UNC system school has freedom to set its own requirements above these minimums
Effective for a three-year period, beginning with students enrolling in Fall 2020
UNC System announcement
UNC System amended policy document
Daily Tar Heel article about the new policy
University of Northern Iowa Test-optional for 2021. Announcement from the Board of Regents University of Notre Dame Test-optional for 2022 and 2023 application cycles. Evaluation Criteria University of Oklahoma Test-optional through the 2025 admissions cycle. Announcement University of OregonTest-optional for students entering fall 2021 and beyond.
Standardized test scores will still be needed for certain automatic scholarships.
UO announcement
UO scholarship page [to see which awards require test scores]³
UO test-optional FAQ
University of Pennsylvania Test-optional policy extended through 2021-2022 admissions cycle. Announcement University of Pittsburgh Test-optional through Fall 2023. Test-Optional University of Rhode Island Test-optional for 2021. First-Year Student Admission University of Richmond Test-optional for fall 2021. Announcement University of San Diego Test-blind for 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Announcement University of South Carolina Test-optional for 2021. Requirements for Freshmen University of Southern California Test-optional policy extended for 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.Update
Announcement
University System of Georgia Update 5/12/2021: USG to resume admissions test requirements beginning in Spring 2022 Update University of TennesseeTest-optional for 2021.*
*Test scores are still required for homeschooled students, students who attended a school that did not use alpha/numerical grades, and student athletes held to NCAA eligibility standards.
Test Score Policy University of Texas at Austin Test-optional for fall 2021 Announcement University of ToledoPiloting a test-optional admissions model for summer and fall 2020
Test-optional NOT available to:
- Home-schooled students
- Students who attend high schools that do not report grades
- Students applying for majors in the colleges of Nursing, Engineering, and Health and Human Services
Will use self-reported grades and GPAs to conditionally admit students until final transcripts are available
UToledo Coronavirus FAQs
UToledo test-optional admissions page
University of Utah Test-optional for 2021-2023.Admissions
Test-Optional FAQ
University of Vermont Test-optional for 2020-2021. Announcement University of Virginia Test-optional for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Announcement University of Virginia at Wise Lifting test requirements for incoming freshmen and transfers with less than 30 credits Admissions & Aid University of Washington Test-optional for fall 2021 and beyond. The change is immediately in effect for the Seattle campus. The standardized testing policies for UW Bothell and UW Tacoma will be reviewed.Announcement
Here – Has not been updated with the new policy yet
University of Wisconsin-Madison Test-optional policy extended through summer 2023. Announcement Vassar College Test optional for 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023. Admissions: First Year ApplicantsVirginia Tech Test-optional for 2021-2022.
Update for 2021-2022
2020-2021 Announcement here
Admissions page
News article
Wellesley CollegeTest optional for first-year applicants entering in fall 2021
Suspending the regular Decision with Early Evaluation option for first-year applicants entering fall 2021
Regular decision deadline moved to January 8 from January 15
Wellesley admissions page Westfield State University Test-optional pilot program for fall 2020 and spring 2021. Announcement Westminster College [New Wilmington, PA] Waiving SAT/ACT requirements for students entering fall 2020 Westminster announcement West Point Test-flexible for 2021 admissions cycle [class of 2025]. Students unable to submit SAT or ACT will be required to submit a PSAT score. For students seeking consideration for admission without an SAT or ACT score and without a PSAT score, supporting information should be provided for consideration. Steps to Admission West Virginia Wesleyan College Test-optional for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021. Announcement Western Kentucky University Test-optional beginning Spring 2021. Students with a 2.0-2.49 unweighted GPA will still be required to submit ACT and SAT scores. Announcement William and Mary Launching a three-year test-optional pilot program with the 2020-2021 academic year.Announcement
Policy
Williams College Test-optional for students applying for entry in fall 2021, 2022, or 2023. AnnouncementWorcester Polytechnic Institute Piloting an eight-year test blind admissions process starting with applicants for Fall 2022. Test-Blind Admissions Wright State University Test-optional for summer 2021, fall 2021, and fall 2022. The application fee has been waived for summer and fall 2021. Announcement Yale University Test-optional for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 admissions cycles.
Standardized Testing
Announcement
Vanderbilt University Test-optional for fall 2022. Announcement update Yeshiva University Test-optional for fall 2021. Testing Policy for 2021¹All applicants and especially those with unique circumstances [such as international students, transfer students,and athletes requiring academic eligibility] must look closely at each school’s policy to determine if test scores are needed. International students will also need to determine IELTS/TOEFL policies, as many schools have indicated that they will still require those tests.
²Unless otherwise noted, all policies are temporary and apply only for the years indicated.
³A-G courses are a series of high school classes that students must complete with a grade C or better to be minimally eligible for admission to UC System schools.
⁴Students should always check directly with schools of interest for the latest information about scholarships and aid.