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Entrance exams, like the SAT and ACT, have long been a hallmark of the university admissions process in the United States and abroad. Standardized exams are essentially achievement tests designed to measure a student’s knowledge of the core curriculum studied in high school to gauge their preparedness for college. But this may be changing.

Why Some Colleges No Longer Require Entrance Exams

Many universities have required prospective students to attain a certain score on one or more entrance exams in order to be considered for admission. The more exclusive the school, the higher that threshold score typically becomes.

Times are changing, though. According to , more than 80% of four-year colleges will not require standardized testing for fall 2023 admissions. Whether this continues will likely depend on how these first few classes fare in their degree programs. For now, it’s important to understand which schools require them to be prepared to sit for the exam or find alternative pathways to a college degree. 

The coveted high test scores of entrance exams have been a barrier to many, especially those who cannot afford to take a practice test or the exam itself or hire a tutor to help them prepare. Those who experience test anxiety are also at a disadvantage when it comes to achieving the scores they need to meet the qualifications for entry to certain schools.

Some universities have decided that entrance exams and submitting SAT, ACT or GRE scores is an outdated process for admittance. Some colleges are altering this requirement or allowing test scores to be an optional submission, leaving many to wonder just how many other institutions will follow this lead. Most state and public schools still require them.

California is the first state to eliminate entrance exam score requirements for public universities. The decision to eliminate this requirement or make it optional came on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many universities across the country suspended it for practical purposes. It was impossible to administer the exams when everyone was quarantined at home.

For California’s public universities, continuing this emergency measure after the emergency passed made sense. The goal — to open the door to higher education for those who’d been previously barred by poor test performance or lack of access to testing and test prep — was worthy. The elimination of entrance exams was welcome news to anyone interested in saving both time and money during the application process.

However, suggests there are drawbacks to this change. Specifically, the lack of test scores has made choosing which students will receive an acceptance letter more challenging. The entire admissions process, in fact, has leaned more toward subjectivity than before since deciding who gains entrance hinges on the person reviewing the applications. This has presented a new challenge for admission officers.

The Hechinger Report also observes: “Earlier quantitative studies found that the test-optional movement, which has spread to over 1,700 colleges, failed to substantially raise the share of low-income students or students of color.”

An notes that the SAT offers certain egalitarian advantages: It’s available to everyone by way of waived fees for low-income students, including free practice tests.

What Alternative Pathways Exist Without Entrance Exams?

Community college

Specific programs within a university

Admission requirements at ������Ƶ do not include entrance exams

������Ƶ has removed barriers to higher education and does not require standardized testing. ACT or SAT scores or entrance exams to enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. Applying to UOPX requires no prior college experience.

Instead, prospective students interested in an associate or bachelor’s degree must meet the following admissions requirements:

• Have earned a high school diploma or GED
• Be at least 18 years old at the time of application for a bachelor’s degree program
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or hold an approved, valid visa, as well as meet an English proficiency requirement
• Not have been expelled from a previous institution
• Complete all admission forms
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Meet any state/territory-specific requirements

Depending on the program, such as the nursing program, students may need additional licensure before gaining admission into it.

Learn more about the admissions process at ������Ƶ.