Best test-optional colleges in Pennsylvania
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Pennsylvania113 schools
113 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- 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
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit#1 in Pennsylvania
- SAT or ACT not required
- 96% graduate
- 2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 97% graduate
- 3
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 90% graduate
- 4
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 5
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 94% graduate
- 6
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 7
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 92% graduate
- 8
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 9
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 10
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 11
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 12
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 13
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 80% graduate
- 14
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 15
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 16
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 17
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 18
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 78% graduate
- 19
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 79% graduate
- 20
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 73% graduate
- 21
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 82% graduate
- 22
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 73% graduate
- 23
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 80% graduate
- 24
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 25
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 69% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Institute of Music | — | — | — | 96% |
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Lehigh University | $36,931 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Bucknell University | $40,766 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Gettysburg College | $31,490 | $26,999 | $71,517 | 83% |
| Dickinson College | $37,607 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $30,434 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| Muhlenberg College | $28,905 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Grove City College | — | — | — | 83% |
| Drexel University | $38,509 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Allegheny College | $22,940 | $27,000 | $62,069 | 73% |
| Susquehanna University | $28,819 | $27,000 | $61,723 | 82% |
| Ursinus College | $30,536 | $27,000 | $73,721 | 73% |
| University of Scranton | $32,568 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Duquesne University | $37,730 | $26,244 | $74,742 | 77% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | $42,478 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 69% |
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
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- 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