Best test-optional colleges in Massachusetts
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Massachusetts59 schools
59 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Massachusetts.
- 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
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 2
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 3
Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 4
Tufts University
Medford, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 5
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 89% graduate
- 6
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 7
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 8
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 9Tie
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 96% graduate
- 9Tie
Smith College
Northampton, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 89% graduate
- 11
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 12
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 13
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 14
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 15
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 16
Clark University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 17
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofitTop 2% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 90% graduate
- 18
Laboure College of Healthcare
Milton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 100% graduate
- 19
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 20
Simmons University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 21Tie
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 73% graduate
- 21Tie
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 73% graduate
- 23Tie
Endicott College
Beverly, MA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 23Tie
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 25
Springfield College
Springfield, MA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 74% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Wellesley College | $25,496 | $10,000 | $84,803 | 92% |
| Amherst College | $23,367 | $13,740 | $77,644 | 94% |
| Tufts University | $39,998 | $16,250 | $83,214 | 94% |
| Boston University | $24,402 | $23,250 | $83,238 | 89% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Northeastern University | $30,915 | $24,250 | $92,538 | 91% |
| Babson College | $40,514 | $20,000 | $123,938 | 93% |
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $25,171 | $19,500 | $129,455 | 96% |
| Smith College | $27,579 | $17,550 | $64,027 | 89% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Mount Holyoke College | $26,441 | $22,902 | $58,418 | 84% |
| Brandeis University | $35,736 | $25,648 | $77,231 | 86% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | $22,763 | $71,631 | 83% |
| Clark University | $28,714 | $26,759 | $62,381 | 77% |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | $43,071 | $27,000 | $103,470 | 90% |
| Laboure College of Healthcare | $36,863 | $25,250 | $62,200 | 100% |
| Emerson College | $49,180 | $23,000 | $62,832 | 77% |
| Simmons University | $25,265 | $24,840 | $63,494 | 72% |
| The New England Conservatory of Music | $46,754 | $27,000 | $34,483 | 73% |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | $29,822 | $26,000 | $67,725 | 73% |
| Endicott College | $40,654 | $27,000 | $58,336 | 76% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Springfield College | $30,587 | $26,250 | $48,036 | 74% |
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
- Maryland 25
- 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