Best test-optional colleges in New York
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in New York125 schools
125 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- 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
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#2 in New York
- SAT or ACT not required
- 95% graduate
- 2
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 96% graduate
- 3
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 4
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 5
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 6
Barnard College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 7
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 8
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 9
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 81% graduate
- 10
The Juilliard School
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 3% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 93% graduate
- 11
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 12
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 85% graduate
- 13
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 14
Yeshiva University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 15
Union College
Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 80% graduate
- 16
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 17
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 18
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 8% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 19
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 20
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 21
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 22Tie
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 22Tie
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · PublicTop 10% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 81% graduate
- 24
Touro University
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 25
Marist University
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 80% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | $28,690 | $14,000 | $104,043 | 95% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | $21,590 | $21,500 | $102,491 | 96% |
| Colgate University | $28,786 | $15,000 | $85,139 | 91% |
| Hamilton College | $28,985 | $17,000 | $78,411 | 91% |
| Webb Institute | $73,043 | — | — | 88% |
| Barnard College | $28,800 | $18,000 | $80,516 | 93% |
| New York University | $37,050 | $20,500 | $82,509 | 88% |
| Vassar College | $39,343 | $18,625 | $71,366 | 91% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| The Juilliard School | $43,571 | $25,500 | $37,827 | 93% |
| Skidmore College | $32,297 | $19,500 | $69,363 | 83% |
| University of Rochester | $29,278 | $21,000 | $79,042 | 85% |
| Binghamton University | $21,620 | $18,500 | $80,596 | 82% |
| Yeshiva University | $49,965 | $18,250 | $71,353 | 83% |
| Union College | $34,561 | $25,337 | $88,604 | 80% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $36,228 | $23,750 | $102,051 | 84% |
| Stony Brook University | $18,784 | $18,228 | $74,502 | 76% |
| Syracuse University | $38,793 | $26,000 | $79,164 | 84% |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | $3,033 | $11,512 | $75,971 | 72% |
| Fordham University | $44,338 | $24,300 | $85,569 | 82% |
| St. Lawrence University | $28,651 | $27,000 | $67,258 | 79% |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $41,416 | $15,250 | $26,975 | 72% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | $19,095 | $12,000 | $62,696 | 81% |
| Touro University | $29,627 | $15,547 | $53,419 | 72% |
| Marist University | $41,544 | $25,000 | $77,819 | 80% |
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
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- 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