The best colleges that don’t require SAT or ACT scores can considerably help students find the perfect program for their future careers.
Without being held back by standardized testing, you can showcase your applied knowledge in a specific study area.
Fortunately, more schools are starting to catch onto the benefits of getting rid of SAT and ACT requirements.
For this guide, we found 10 remarkable programs that do not expect prospective students to submit their standardized testing scores.
Each of these schools meets the following criteria:
- An average annual cost of no more than $28,000
- A median starting salary no lower than $32,000
- Accredited programs by recognized bodies
10 Best Colleges That Don’t Require SAT or ACT
1. Columbia College
2-4 Year; Sonora, CA
Average Annual Cost: $7,921
Columbia College is one of the many schools that have recently removed the requirement for students to submit their ACT or SAT scores.
At this college, students will find many areas of study in an assortment of specialties to help them begin their future careers.
One of the best features of this school is that the curriculum helps prepare work-ready students for unique programs.
High school students can enroll in a dual enrollment program at Columbia College along with their standard degree programs.
It helps students complete their high school and college careers simultaneously, giving them a jumpstart into post-secondary schooling.
Another massive benefit of the program is that high school students will get their tuition entirely for free.
With the numerous areas of interest you can explore at Columbia College, it is a fantastic community college to consider. The most popular programs include:
- Emergency Services
- Children & Teaching
- Auto & Welding Technology
- STEM Studies
- Healthcare
- General Education
- Business & Entrepreneurship
As a community college, it is essential to note that Columbia College specializes primarily in associate’s degrees.
If you want to move on to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you will have to attend a four-year program.
However, the learning pathways at Columbia College help prepare you for further education.
2. Goshen College
4 Year; Goshen, IN
Average Annual Cost: $17,251
Goshen College is a phenomenal school for students interested in developing their career-ready skills.
The curriculum for this school revolves around fusing career preparation with helping students develop as people.
You will find its academic programs combine both textbook-led and hands-on learning opportunities, ideal for all types of learners.
Another incredible tenet of Goshen College’s curriculum is giving students real-world experience.
You can travel the world through your studies with the school’s global engagement opportunities.
Students can also sign up for off-campus opportunities, such as internships and co-op programs to further their career skills.
Another reason students should consider enrolling is the incredible number of programs available at the school.
It has a collection of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs.
Students can also consider continuing studies to help them achieve a specific certification in their specialty.
Some of the most popular programs include:
- Business Administration
- Nursing
- Environmental Education
- STEM Teaching
- Social Work
- Communication
3. Monmouth College
4 Year; Monmouth, IL
Average Annual Cost: $17,302
Attending a school that values its students above all else can be a phenomenal opportunity for learners.
Monmouth College takes pride in offering an inclusive campus that helps students network and make lifelong friends through their studies.
It has various areas of study you can consider to further your career.
Like other colleges, Monmouth College offers plenty of study abroad opportunities for students interested in expanding their worldwide knowledge.
This program is ideal if you want to develop lifelong skills you can apply to your career in several ways.
Alternatively, you can take on-campus programs, some of which include:
- Art Education
- Accounting
- Chinese
- Global Public Health
- Global Food Security
- Engineering
- Physics
- Philosophy
- Pre-Dentistry
Students looking for a school to help them enter their dream career after education will love Monmouth College.
All its courses are designed to fill students with work-ready experience from day one.
When you are nearing graduation, your counselors will assist you with finding a job in your area of study.
4. Antioch College
4 Year; Yellow Springs, OH
Average Annual Cost: $19,686
Antioch College is one of the most popular liberal arts colleges in Ohio.
With a stunning expansive campus and several fascinating majors and minors, your studies will surely prepare you for a lifelong journey.
One of the major tenets of the curriculum in this school is that learning is a cooperative experience between professors, students, and their peers.
Antioch College also gives students the freedom to design their learning pathways.
Your major will be self-designed, allowing you to study your way so that you have valuable knowledge to put towards your specialty.
Students can choose from a collection of courses to put together their own majors and prepare them for graduation.
After choosing your major, you will then be able to gather both in-class and real-world experience.
The cooperative education program allows students to work for industry leaders in their area of study.
Some opportunities are even paid, allowing you to earn income while attending school.
Among the most popular areas of study you can pursue at Antioch College include:
- History
- Media Arts
- Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Anthropology
- Global Political Economy
- Environmental Science
- Sustainability
- Pre-Legal Studies
5. Marietta College
4 Year; Marietta, OH
Average Annual Cost: $19,826
Undoubtedly, Marietta College has one of the most picturesque campuses in Ohio.
More important than that, the school also offers several great programs, which include 50 undergraduate majors.
Students can also decide to continue their learning through the three graduate programs the school offers.
Depending on your desired study area, there is also the option to acquire special certificates and minors.
The three major industries students can begin studying include:
- Arts & Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Within these three categories, you will find different majors such as:
- Actuarial Science
- Environmental Studies
- Advertising
- Political Science
- Art
- General Studies
- Accounting
- Graphic Design
Marietta College and many other colleges in the state also specialize in continuing education.
As a student with an existing career, continuing your education can help make you a specialist in your industry.
These courses can offer professional certificates to help bolster your resume.
6. Knox College
4 Year; Galesburg, IL
Average Annual Cost: $20,548
With many great learning pathways, Knox College is one of the most inclusive liberal arts colleges students can consider.
Currently, the school is home to over 60 areas of study, which include 42 majors and 57 minors.
In addition, there is a collection of cooperative and pre-professional certificate programs.
When describing how you will learn at Knox College, you’ll find it incredibly unique.
The school’s curriculum focuses on “Experiential Learning,” meaning students will apply practice and theory to their coursework.
You will try your hands at on-campus and off-campus opportunities, helping diversify your real-world skills.
Alongside the professional certificate programs, students at Knox College can also work towards bachelor’s degrees.
You will find various programs such as biology, neuroscience, psychology, physics, computer science, and more.
Undoubtedly, the school has some of the most competitively designed courses for students in Illinois.
7. Augustana College
4 Year; Rock Island, IL
Average Annual Cost: $23,489
Founded in 1860, Augustana College has been one of the top choices for Illinois students.
You will find a collection of innovative academic programs to invigorate your desire to pursue a future career.
Also, they do not require SAT or ACT scores, making it more straightforward for students to get a valuable education.
There are dozens of minors and majors students can enroll in, which is ideal for finding your ideal avenue of study.
Some of the most popular programs at Augustana College include:
- Pre-Medical Studies
- English and Creative Writing
- Computer Science
- Engineering and Physics
- Ethics
- Physics
- Neuroscience
Augustana College is also known for its extensive artistic opportunities for which students can sign up.
Along with various student clubs and organizations, Augustana College also features music and theatre arts opportunities.
Students can also study art and design, with a number of great specialties available.
Augustana College has study abroad programs to consider if you want to further your learning to encompass the world.
You can find internships worldwide or even take a semester abroad in countries like Sweden and Japan.
8. Hartwick College
4 Year; Oneonta, NY
Average Annual Cost: $24,316
The central premise of Hartwick College’s curriculum is to transform students into critical thinkers.
By taking a unique approach to matching students with the perfect major, you will feel like your studies are designed for you.
This program is called FlightPath and is a future-focused approach to learning.
Using FlightPath, students will personalize their studies to ensure they get the fundamentals for their future careers.
It is the best option for individuals looking to join a career immediately after education.
Students will also find their studies will be based on their strengths and goals, making the most of their studies.
Hartwick College has an exceptional number of majors and minors you can take to develop your education.
You will also find programs that help you work towards a bachelor’s degree and different certificate programs.
Some of the most popular majors and minors include:
- Accounting
- Music Business
- Graphic Communications
- History
- Creative Writing
- Sociology
- Physics
- Chemistry
One of the more unique aspects of Hartwick College is its three-year degree program.
With this program, students save up to 3/4 of their tuition costs. Also, you can acquire your degree in 3/4 the time, which is ideal for career-ready students.
9. Grinnell College
4 Year; Grinnell, IA
Average Annual Cost: $25,182
Grinnell College is the perfect option for students in Iowa looking for diverse research opportunities.
As one of the top-ranked research facilities in the state, students will be able to explore multiple fundamentals of their specialty.
Along with theoretical and scientific research, they will also gain valuable hands-on knowledge from peers and professors.
Grinnell College ensures students acquire an education that goes well beyond their degree.
You will be able to develop as a person, acquiring a better understanding of purpose, responsibility, and social justice.
With the school’s curriculum, students will feel like they are highly trained professionals ready to take on any task in their future careers.
Like many other colleges, this school understands that each student learns differently. As such, you have complete control over designing your learning pathway.
Using unique resources and supports, students choose what studies suit them best as the school doesn’t have core curriculums.
You will also be able to explore numerous other ways of learning, such as the first-year tutorial program or the mentored advanced projects.
Grinnell College guarantees every student will graduate with highly competitive skills to make them stand out in their industry of interest.
10. Macalester College
4 Year; Saint Paul, MN
Average Annual Cost: $27,764
Macalester College is rated as one of the best colleges in the nation that helps entice a student’s curiosity and intellectual needs.
All the courses revolve around internationalism and multiculturalism, giving students a new way to build a better society.
With such an inclusive way of learning, every learner feels like they are a part of something greater.
Macalester College is also a great option for students searching for smaller class sizes.
On average, there are only 17 students per class, giving you access to more one-on-one mentoring.
Additionally, 96% of the student body participates in volunteer or co-op work/learning experiences while studying.
This school is one of the best options for students interested in studying abroad. In fact, approximately 61% of the student body takes some time to study overseas.
With this opportunity, you can diversify your worldwide knowledge while developing as a human being.
Macalester College features numerous areas of study students can explore. You will find a unique collection of majors, minors, and concentrations, which include:
- American Studies
- Arabic
- Biology
- Dance
- Data Science
- Critical Theory
- Linguistics
- Legal Studies
- Music
- International Development
Apply To Your Dream School Now!
When searching for colleges that don’t require SAT or ACT, you will be glad to see more schools are getting rid of standardized testing.
The above programs focus on students’ experience and willingness to learn to gauge their acceptance.
If you have a dream career in mind, it is time to sign up for the perfect program today.
