Why Some Colleges Don’t Require Standardized Tests

When it comes to meeting requirements for admission, fewer colleges across the United States are placing an emphasis on standardized tests.

According to The Tribune-Democrat, a daily paper in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, more than 800 colleges and universities in the United States are now test-optional, and close to 50 stopped requiring SAT or ACT scores from applicants within the last two years.

“The thinking is the tests give an unfair advantage to students who can afford to take them multiple times,” said Perry Groten in a feature story for KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “Plus, some feel the test results aren’t the best indicator of future success in college.”

Private schools are quicker to drop the requirement. In Pennsylvania, entrance exams are optional for nearly one-third of private schools. Instead, the schools place an increased emphasis on the quality of the high school, coursework, grades, and extracurricular activities.

“I’ve always told students, ‘You’re more than a test score,’” said Nancy Davidson, the Vice-President for Enrollment at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, which is considering removing standardized tests from their requirements. “We’ve always taken a holistic approach to admission. We’ve never based decisions solely on a test score.”

While the importance of the ACT and SAT may be dwindling for admissions, the tests aren’t going away and are still highly valued on scholarship applications.

“Those scholarships that pay for rising college costs are a powerful motivator for students to keep taking ACTs,” Groten said.