Best test-optional colleges in Kansas
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Kansas24 schools
24 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Kansas.
- 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
Cleveland University-Kansas City
Overland Park, KS · Private nonprofit#1 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 100% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 54% graduate
- 8
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% graduate
- 9
- 10
Baker University
Baldwin City, KS · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 58% graduate
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, KS · Private nonprofit#17 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% graduate
- 15
Kansas Wesleyan University
Salina, KS · Private nonprofit#18 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 49% graduate
- 16
Central Christian College of Kansas
McPherson, KS · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 27% graduate
- 17
- 18
- 19Tie
- 19Tie
- 21
Ottawa University-Ottawa
Ottawa, KS · Private nonprofit#24 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 28% graduate
- 22
Southwestern College
Winfield, KS · Private nonprofit#25 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 36% graduate
- 23
Bethel College-North Newton
North Newton, KS · Private nonprofit#26 in Kansas
- SAT or ACT not required
- 41% graduate
- 24
Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence, KS · PublicTop 2% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 18% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland University-Kansas City | $35,764 | $12,500 | $52,304 | 100% |
| University of Kansas | $18,059 | $21,000 | $61,945 | 69% |
| Kansas State University | $19,406 | $21,250 | $57,262 | 71% |
| Benedictine College | $27,891 | $24,599 | $53,175 | 62% |
| Emporia State University | $16,261 | $19,500 | $47,601 | 56% |
| Pittsburg State University | $15,784 | $18,969 | $50,579 | 57% |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | $32,165 | $15,000 | $62,972 | 54% |
| Fort Hays State University | $12,569 | $21,000 | $48,928 | 48% |
| Newman University | $19,971 | $20,801 | $55,041 | 53% |
| Baker University | $25,301 | $25,000 | $63,855 | 58% |
| Wichita State University | $13,194 | $20,500 | $51,532 | 51% |
| Friends University | $27,715 | $25,000 | $52,113 | 43% |
| Sterling College | $22,371 | $24,625 | $45,846 | 41% |
| University of Saint Mary | $22,519 | $22,018 | $59,483 | 48% |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | $22,671 | $23,250 | $51,152 | 49% |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | $11,404 | $27,000 | $44,468 | 27% |
| Bethany College | $27,686 | $23,250 | $49,694 | 36% |
| Barclay College | $29,290 | $27,000 | $36,355 | 32% |
| McPherson College | $26,441 | $25,242 | $52,084 | 34% |
| Tabor College | $20,205 | $23,887 | $54,058 | 34% |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | $27,963 | $21,500 | $55,552 | 28% |
| Southwestern College | $29,824 | $25,000 | $55,646 | 36% |
| Bethel College-North Newton | $32,917 | $24,000 | $49,898 | 41% |
| Haskell Indian Nations University | $3,134 | — | $37,043 | 18% |
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
- 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