Best test-optional colleges in Minnesota
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Minnesota35 schools
35 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Minnesota.
- 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
Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Minnesota
- SAT or ACT not required
- 90% graduate
- 2
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Minnesota
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 3
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Minnesota
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 4
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 85% graduate
- 5
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit#5 in Minnesota
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 6
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 7
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit#7 in Minnesota
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 8
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 75% graduate
- 9
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 10
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 11
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 12
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 13
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 14
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 15
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 16
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, MN · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 55% graduate
- 17
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 18
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 45% graduate
- 19
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 20
University of Minnesota-Rochester
Rochester, MN · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 21
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN · Private nonprofitTop 20% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 22
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 23
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 60% graduate
- 24
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carleton College | $25,407 | $16,750 | $75,525 | 90% |
| Macalester College | $32,149 | $23,000 | $63,878 | 87% |
| St. Olaf College | $23,874 | $26,000 | $65,543 | 84% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $16,778 | $19,500 | $69,020 | 85% |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | $22,900 | $26,774 | $65,607 | 77% |
| University of St. Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| Bethel University | $28,556 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| Saint Johns University | $25,672 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
| College of Saint Benedict | $26,640 | $26,944 | $63,260 | 77% |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | $18,743 | $22,024 | $62,616 | 65% |
| Martin Luther College | $18,463 | $20,177 | $47,491 | 72% |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | $27,846 | $20,000 | $65,934 | 71% |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | $24,902 | $26,847 | $59,317 | 61% |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | $27,705 | $21,325 | $50,755 | 68% |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | $8,837 | $18,995 | $50,919 | 63% |
| Bethany Lutheran College | $20,148 | $23,000 | $46,110 | 55% |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | $26,939 | $16,000 | $61,511 | 66% |
| Crown College | $26,672 | $22,500 | $48,057 | 45% |
| St. Catherine University | $19,764 | $24,181 | $59,282 | 61% |
| University of Minnesota-Rochester | $13,744 | $19,500 | $69,020 | 57% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $11,704 | $21,500 | $58,170 | 66% |
| North Central University | $25,817 | $23,200 | $45,064 | 66% |
| Hamline University | $20,744 | $23,770 | $61,106 | 60% |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | $17,997 | $20,000 | $50,527 | 57% |
| Winona State University | $17,503 | $21,500 | $58,532 | 57% |
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
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- 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