Best test-optional colleges in Washington
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Washington20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- 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
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Washington
- SAT or ACT not required
- 85% graduate
- 2
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Washington
- SAT or ACT not required
- 81% graduate
- 3
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 86% graduate
- 4
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 76% graduate
- 5
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 6Tie
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 6Tie
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 8
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 9
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 69% graduate
- 10
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 11
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 12
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 13
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 14
Great Northern University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 15
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 16
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · PublicTop 25% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 54% graduate
- 17
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 52% graduate
- 18
Northwest College of Art & Design
Tacoma, WA · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 58% graduate
- 19
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 41% graduate
- 20
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
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
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34