Neighbor News
Nearly Half of Massachusetts Colleges Now Test-Optional, Reshaping Admissions
A growing number of schools across the state are dropping SAT and ACT requirements in favor of a more holistic admissions process.
As college application season continues, many Massachusetts high school students are finding greater flexibility in how they apply to colleges because nearly half of the state’s public campuses no longer require SAT or ACT scores.
Massachusetts is among the top 10 states nationwide for test-optional admissions. A state-by-state analysis by GCU and Grand Canyon Education found that New England is leading the movement, with Vermont ranking first nationally and Maine close behind. According to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, institutions such as UMass Amherst, UMass Lowell, Bridgewater State and MassArt now offer test-optional admissions for most programs, though some majors still request scores or recommendations in lieu of low scores.
This shift fits a broader national trend toward holistic review, where grades, essays and extracurriculars carry more weight than one test result. A recent analysis shows this movement remains prevalent across the United States even as some elite schools revisit testing policies.
The change may reduce stress and cost for applicants while giving colleges larger, more diverse applicant pools. However, debates continue about academic predictiveness and equity, highlighted by a handful of top institutions reinstituting testing requirements.
