Best test-optional colleges in California
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in California100 schools
100 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- 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
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in California
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 2
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 3
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 4
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 5Tie
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 5Tie
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 7
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 8
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 9
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 10
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 11
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 12
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 13
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 14
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 15
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 16
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 17
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 18
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 81% graduate
- 19
Gnomon
North Hollywood, CA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 100% graduate
- 20
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 9% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 21Tie
California Northstate University
Elk Grove, CA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 100% graduate
- 21Tie
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 23
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 24
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 25
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | $16,075 | — | $128,566 | 94% |
| Stanford University | $13,807 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| Pomona College | $19,285 | $11,782 | $77,779 | 93% |
| Claremont McKenna College | $28,849 | $13,500 | $104,736 | 91% |
| University of California-Berkeley | $13,481 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| University of Southern California | $32,740 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 92% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| Harvey Mudd College | $35,924 | $25,000 | $138,687 | 92% |
| University of California-San Diego | $12,470 | $15,500 | $84,943 | 86% |
| Soka University of America | $18,260 | $15,650 | $55,017 | 92% |
| University of California-Irvine | $14,251 | $15,000 | $80,735 | 87% |
| Scripps College | $36,294 | $13,500 | $77,539 | 83% |
| Pitzer College | $34,191 | $16,750 | $69,512 | 83% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $16,665 | $18,500 | $90,768 | 86% |
| Santa Clara University | $50,062 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | $16,109 | $13,993 | $74,915 | 83% |
| University of California-Davis | $14,741 | $13,000 | $80,838 | 86% |
| Occidental College | $38,263 | $23,000 | $75,951 | 81% |
| Gnomon | $51,949 | $28,332 | $114,785 | 100% |
| Loyola Marymount University | $48,381 | $19,500 | $78,349 | 79% |
| California Northstate University | — | — | — | 100% |
| San Diego State University | $15,364 | $15,000 | $64,909 | 76% |
| Pepperdine University | $58,098 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| University of San Diego | $30,365 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| Chapman University | $46,555 | $20,500 | $70,070 | 82% |
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
- 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
- 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