Best test-optional colleges in Colorado
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Colorado16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Colorado.
- 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
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 2
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · PublicHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 3
- 4
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 74% graduate
- 5
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public#7 in Colorado
- SAT or ACT not required
- 67% graduate
- 6
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 7
Concorde Career College-Aurora
Aurora, CO · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 8
- 9
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public#15 in Colorado
- SAT or ACT not required
- 51% graduate
- 10
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 46% graduate
- 11
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · Public#17 in Colorado
- SAT or ACT not required
- 47% graduate
- 12
- 13
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public#20 in Colorado
- SAT or ACT not required
- 41% graduate
- 14
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 40% graduate
- 15
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public#23 in Colorado
- SAT or ACT not required
- 32% graduate
- 16
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado College | $33,375 | $18,257 | $65,222 | 88% |
| Colorado School of Mines | $28,690 | $23,000 | $97,335 | 82% |
| University of Denver | $36,131 | $21,844 | $71,155 | 76% |
| University of Colorado Boulder | $25,346 | $19,500 | $69,738 | 74% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $21,279 | $20,000 | $60,543 | 67% |
| Regis University | $18,397 | $25,000 | $72,105 | 61% |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | $16,666 | $9,500 | $42,456 | 64% |
| Western Colorado University | $16,425 | $20,250 | $46,833 | 51% |
| University of Northern Colorado | $17,760 | $20,470 | $52,231 | 51% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $11,900 | $20,500 | $64,270 | 46% |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | $15,788 | $20,000 | $54,659 | 47% |
| Fort Lewis College | $17,296 | $18,389 | $46,349 | 36% |
| Colorado Mesa University | $15,103 | $22,000 | $45,823 | 41% |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | $10,051 | $21,500 | $55,563 | 40% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | $15,327 | $21,500 | $52,093 | 32% |
| Naropa University | $29,179 | $24,712 | $28,720 | 37% |
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
- 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