Best test-optional colleges in Maryland
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Maryland25 schools
25 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maryland.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 2
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 3
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · PublicHonor RollTop 5% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 89% graduate
- 4
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 5Tie
St. John's College
Annapolis, MD · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 5Tie
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 70% graduate
- 7
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 70% graduate
- 8
Washington College
Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 9
- 10
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 11
- 12
Goucher College
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 13
Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 14
Stevenson University
Owings Mills, MD · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 15
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 16
- 17
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 18
Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
- 19
Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 20
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 26% graduate
- 21
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 29% graduate
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 35% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | $18,809 | $10,250 | $87,555 | 94% |
| United States Naval Academy | — | — | — | 93% |
| University of Maryland-College Park | $15,678 | $19,000 | $82,860 | 89% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| St. John's College | $45,597 | $27,000 | $51,584 | 71% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | $16,467 | $19,500 | $69,960 | 70% |
| St. Mary's College of Maryland | $18,441 | $21,000 | $60,110 | 70% |
| Washington College | $27,898 | $26,956 | $65,518 | 65% |
| Salisbury University | $17,743 | $21,000 | $61,515 | 68% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | $42,729 | $26,500 | $45,212 | 72% |
| Towson University | $17,413 | $18,718 | $64,390 | 69% |
| Goucher College | $22,470 | $26,000 | $53,023 | 57% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $22,655 | $25,391 | $64,072 | 65% |
| Stevenson University | $26,505 | $26,000 | $62,079 | 68% |
| McDaniel College | $21,916 | $25,000 | $60,663 | 63% |
| Hood College | $20,873 | $25,000 | $57,089 | 57% |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | $19,169 | $22,666 | $65,344 | 50% |
| Capitol Technology University | $22,102 | $20,264 | $85,035 | 43% |
| Frostburg State University | $16,715 | $21,105 | $55,493 | 50% |
| Coppin State University | $9,977 | $25,000 | $46,490 | 26% |
| Washington Adventist University | $18,526 | $30,500 | $64,249 | 29% |
| Bowie State University | $19,298 | $22,985 | $54,537 | 38% |
| Morgan State University | $14,985 | $27,250 | $50,698 | 41% |
| University of Baltimore | $13,868 | $23,250 | $61,335 | 38% |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | $13,338 | $27,000 | $47,697 | 35% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34