Top LACs that have made the SAT and ACT optional

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Liberal arts colleges that have made the SAT and ACT optional include 12 that rank among the top 50 as rated by U.S. News & World Report: Rank </p>

<p>COLLEGE NAME, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKING
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine 6
Middlebury (Vt.) College 8
Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y. 15
Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 21
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass. 23
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass. 32
Connecticut College, New London, Conn. 36
(tie)
Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. 39
(tie)
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. 45
Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, N.Y. 49
Source: FairTest</p>

2

<p>This is way outdated.</p>

3

<p>Can someone update this then as I am interested in the list.
thanks!</p>

4

<p>That list is accurate as of April 2006 and is still valid. I don't have a more up to date version readily available. The US News rankings may have changed slightly but that is about it.</p>

5

<p>The latest USN&WR also lists Pitzer, Gettysburg and Union. Sarah Lawrence is no longer ranked because it doesn't consider SAT-ACT at all. Middlebury requires some combination of testing.</p>

6

<p>This list is from 2005.</p>

7

<p>SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities</p>

<p>Is updated as of fall 2007.</p>

8

<p>Add Drew, Muhlenberg, Lawrence, Juniata (ranked 50-100 LACs)</p>

9

<p>note that Middlebury is not exactly SAT optional, per the conventional meaning....one has a choice of submitting either the SAT 1, 3 SAT 2's, or the ACT.</p>

10

<p>Bowdoin, Holy Cross.</p>

11

<p>Bowdoin College, Hamilton, Bates, Mount Holyoke, Holy Cross</p>

12

<p>I think this is reasonably accurate and complete; I took the US News listings that had the SAT optional footnote, and eliminated schools like Middlebury, Hamilton, et al., where standardized testing really is required, though the SAT is not.</p>

<ol>
<li>Bowdoin</li>
<li>Bates</li>
<li>Mt. Holyoke</li>
<li>Holy Cross
37.Bard</li>
<li>Union</li>
<li>Franklin and Marshall</li>
<li>Dickinson</li>
<li>Gettysburg</li>
<li>Pitzer</li>
</ol>

13

<p>
[quote]
What standardized tests does Hamilton require?
Hamilton is SAT optional, but not testing optional. So, you still need to submit a form of standardized tests. If you do not submit either the SAT or the ACT, you may submit a combination of scores that can include AP exams, SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, or the TOEFL.</p>

<p>

[/quote]
</p>

<p>From the Hamilton website.</p>

14

<p>Be aware that Mt Holyoke is women only.</p>

15

<p>HC is the only NCAA division 1 athletics school in that list.</p>

16

<p>I'm pretty sure that Conn College requires 2 subject tests OR the ACT, but not the SAT.</p>

17

<p>Official Holy Cross position on Standardized Testing:
The submission of standardized test scores is optional. Students who opt not to submit scores will not be at any disadvantage in Admissions decisions.
How</a> to Apply | College of the Holy Cross</p>

18

<p>This is awesome to know. I am near the top of my high school class and am a horrible standardized test taker. At least it doesn't reflect my true capabilities and I don't have the $$ or time to go to test prep classes.</p>

19

<p>UtahKid, </p>

<p>You're one of types of student that SAT-optional policies at selective schools was designed to attract. Good luck!</p>

20

<p>Thanks MarathonMan. I feel extremely lucky that well know prestigious schools like Bowdoin, Bates, and Holy Cross are optional with the standardized test scores. I hope more of the top tier will eventually follow suit.</p>