Test-optional colleges in California
These colleges told the U.S. Department of Education that SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission (College Scorecard, 2024–25). Policies change and can differ for international applicants, scholarships or specific programs, so confirm on each college's admissions page.
Colleges (106)
| College | Federal test policy | SAT middle 50% | ACT middle 50% |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University of Health Sciences | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Art Center College of Design | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Azusa Pacific University | Considered but not required | 983–1238 | 25–30 |
| Biola University | Considered but not required | 1160–1370 | 24–29 |
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Baptist University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California College of the Arts | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Institute of Technology | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Institute of the Arts | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Lutheran University | Considered but not required | 1150–1330 | 24–31 |
| California Miramar University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Northstate University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Channel Islands | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Chico | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-East Bay | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Fresno | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Fullerton | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Long Beach | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Northridge | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Sacramento | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-San Bernardino | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-San Marcos | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| California State University-Stanislaus | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Chamberlain University-California | Considered but not required | — | — |
| Chapman University | Considered but not required | 1260–1440 | 28–31 |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Claremont McKenna College | Considered but not required | 1470–1560 | 33–35 |
| Concordia University-Irvine | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Design Institute of San Diego | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Dominican University of California | Considered but not required | 1210–1300 | — |
| EDvance College | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Fresno Pacific University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Gnomon | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Harvey Mudd College | Considered but not required | 1500–1570 | 34–36 |
| Hope International University | Considered but not required | 840–1220 | — |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | Considered but not required | 975–1270 | 21–28 |
| La Sierra University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Laguna College of Art and Design | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Life Pacific University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Los Angeles College of Music | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Loyola Marymount University | Considered but not required | 1260–1430 | 28–32 |
| Menlo College | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Minerva University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Northeastern University Oakland | Considered but not required | 1420–1520 | 32–33 |
| Occidental College | Considered but not required | 1380–1520 | 31–34 |
| Otis College of Art and Design | Considered but not required | 1265–1395 | — |
| Pacific Oaks College | Considered but not required | — | — |
| Pepperdine University | Considered but not required | 1290–1450 | 29–32 |
| Pitzer College | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | Considered but not required | 1175–1365 | 25–32 |
| Pomona College | Considered but not required | 1490–1560 | 33–35 |
| Reach University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| San Diego Christian College | Considered but not required | — | — |
| San Diego State University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| San Francisco Bay University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| San Francisco State University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| San Jose State University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Santa Clara University | Considered but not required | 1350–1490 | 31–33 |
| Scripps College | Considered but not required | 1440–1540 | 31–34 |
| Shasta Bible College and Graduate School | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Simpson University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Soka University of America | Considered but not required | 1333–1510 | — |
| Sonoma State University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | Considered but not required | — | — |
| Stanbridge University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Stanford University | Considered but not required | 1510–1580 | 34–35 |
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Considered but not required | — | — |
| The Chicago School at San Diego | Considered but not required | — | — |
| The Master's University and Seminary | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Berkeley | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Davis | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Irvine | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Merced | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Riverside | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-San Diego | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of La Verne | Considered but not required | 986–1236 | 18–25 |
| University of Redlands | Considered but not required | 1107–1350 | 21–28 |
| University of San Diego | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of San Francisco | Considered but not required | 1190–1390 | 25–30 |
| University of Silicon Valley | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| University of Southern California | Considered but not required | 1450–1550 | 32–35 |
| University of the Pacific | Considered but not required | 1183–1480 | 23–32 |
| University of the West | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Westcliff University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Westmont College | Considered but not required | 1240–1450 | 25–32 |
| Whittier College | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| William Jessup University | Considered but not required | 1041–1228 | — |
| Woodbury University | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
| Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary | Neither required nor recommended | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, admissions test requirements and SAT/ACT percentiles, 2024–25. Cost and aid in California · SAT guide · ACT guide