Online Colleges With No SAT or ACT Required in 2026
Applying to college doesn’t necessarily mean spending weeks preparing for the SAT or ACT.
Many online colleges now admit undergraduate students without requiring SAT or ACT scores, particularly institutions designed to serve working adults, transfer students and other nontraditional learners.
For students returning to education after several years away, this can remove a significant obstacle.
But there’s an important distinction:
No SAT or ACT requirement does not mean no admission requirements.
A college may instead consider your high school diploma or GED, GPA, previous college coursework, transcripts or other evidence that you’re prepared for college-level study.
Here are several online colleges currently offering undergraduate admission without requiring SAT or ACT scores, followed by what you should check before applying.
1. Purdue Global
Purdue Global is one of the clearest examples.
The university currently states that its undergraduate programs do not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. It offers more than 175 online programs and is specifically designed around adult online learners. (Purdue Global)
Purdue Global also currently charges no application fee, giving prospective students the opportunity to avoid two traditional admission hurdles at the same time. (Purdue Global)
Why consider Purdue Global?
The combination of online delivery, frequent start dates, no SAT/ACT requirement and no application fee can make the application process particularly straightforward for returning adult students.
Best suited to: Adults returning to college and students looking for a streamlined online application process.
2. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University is another major online institution that doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores for its online students.
SNHU currently offers more than 200 online programs and explicitly states that SAT/ACT scores aren’t required for its online degree admissions. (Southern New Hampshire University)
The university also allows bachelor’s students to transfer up to 90 credits, subject to evaluation and program requirements. (Southern New Hampshire University)
Why consider SNHU?
That combination may be particularly attractive to adults who started college previously but never completed their degree.
Rather than worrying about an entrance examination they may not have taken for many years, they can concentrate on determining how much of their previous college work will transfer.
Best suited to: Transfer students and working adults.
3. Liberty University Online
Liberty University currently states that applicants to its online bachelor’s programs do not need SAT or ACT scores. (Liberty University)
Its online bachelor’s programs use eight-week courses and offer multiple start dates during the year. Many courses also have no set login times, although individual programs and courses can have different requirements. (Liberty University)
Why consider Liberty?
Students looking for a large selection of online bachelor’s programs and flexible scheduling may want to include it in their comparison.
Liberty is a Christian university, which may be an important consideration—positive or negative—depending on what you’re looking for in a college.
Best suited to: Students who specifically want an online Christian university or a broad selection of online bachelor’s programs.
4. John Brown University Online
John Brown University offers another interesting test-free online option.
Its online undergraduate admissions information states that applicants don’t need ACT or SAT scores. First-time college students can receive admission with at least a 2.0 high-school GPA or GED under its stated admission criteria. (John Brown University)
JBU’s online programs are also asynchronous, meaning students don’t have set login times, and the university currently advertises the ability to transfer up to 84 credits. (John Brown University)
There is also currently no application fee for JBU Online. (John Brown University)
Why consider JBU?
The combination of no standardized testing, asynchronous study and transfer friendliness could make it worth investigating for adult students.
Like Liberty, JBU is a Christian university, so students should consider whether that educational environment suits them.
Best suited to: Students wanting asynchronous online study within a Christian university.
5. Lynn University Online
Lynn University currently advertises its online bachelor’s degrees with no SAT or ACT required and no application fee. (Lynn University)
Its online degree selection includes programs in areas such as psychology, business administration, data analytics, healthcare management, human resource management and marketing. (Lynn University)
Why consider Lynn?
The combination of no testing requirement and no application fee makes it another university worth comparing when you’re trying to reduce the barriers and costs associated with applying.
Best suited to: Students wanting a relatively straightforward online application and a choice of career-oriented bachelor’s programs.
What Does “Test Optional” Actually Mean?
This terminology can become confusing.
You may encounter colleges described as:
Test optional — you can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores.
Test blind or test free — the college doesn’t use SAT or ACT scores when evaluating admission.
Test required — applicable applicants must submit scores.
Those distinctions matter.
A test-optional university may still allow students to submit scores if they believe the results strengthen their application.
The important thing is not to assume that every online program at every university follows the same policy.
Check the requirements for:
your particular university + your particular program + your applicant type.
Online Doesn’t Automatically Mean No SAT or ACT
This is an important warning.
It would be easy to assume:
“It’s an online degree, so I don’t need entrance exams.”
That’s not always true.
The University of Florida Online provides a useful example.
UF Online currently requires SAT, ACT or CLT scores from freshman applicants who graduated from high school less than five years ago. Freshman applicants who graduated five or more years ago have the testing requirement waived. (University of Florida Online)
That’s a perfect illustration of why you should verify the admissions policy rather than relying on a general article—including this one.
Admissions requirements can depend on when you finished high school and how you’re applying.
What About ASU Online?
Arizona State University demonstrates another variation.
ASU’s first-year admission requirements can be satisfied through several routes, including high-school class rank or GPA. ACT or SAT scores are among the possible qualification routes rather than necessarily being required from every applicant. (ASU Online)
ASU also offers an Earned Admission pathway for many online programs. Students who don’t initially meet general admission requirements may be able to demonstrate their ability to succeed by completing qualifying online courses and earning the required GPA. (ASU Online)
This is why “no SAT” searches should really be treated as the beginning of your admissions research rather than the end.
Why Do Online Colleges Skip Entrance Exams?
Many online universities serve a different student population from traditional residential colleges.
Their applicants can include:
- Working adults
- Parents
- Military students
- Career changers
- Transfer students
- Adults returning after many years
- Students with substantial work experience
For a 38-year-old who has already accumulated college credits and spent 15 years working, an SAT score from their teenage years may not be particularly useful.
Universities may instead evaluate previous academic work and other admission criteria.
Does No SAT or ACT Mean the College Is Easier?
No.
The admissions process and the academic requirements of the degree are separate issues.
Removing an entrance examination doesn’t mean students don’t have to complete college-level coursework.
You’ll still need to:
- Complete assignments
- Meet deadlines
- Pass examinations or assessments
- Earn required credits
- Maintain required academic standards
- Complete any program-specific requirements
“No SAT required” describes an admissions policy, not the difficulty or quality of the degree.
Are No-Test Online Colleges Legitimate?
Some certainly are.
But the absence of an SAT or ACT requirement isn’t evidence either way.
The more important question is:
Is the college appropriately accredited?
You should also investigate the institution itself, program curriculum, total cost and student outcomes.
Purdue Global and SNHU, for example, are established accredited institutions that don’t require SAT or ACT scores for the online undergraduate admissions routes described above. (Purdue Global)
Internal link: Are Online Colleges Legit?
That existing article is one of our most useful supporting pages for this entire series.
Does No SAT Mean No Placement Tests?
Not necessarily.
Admission testing and course placement are different things.
A college might admit you without an SAT or ACT score but still need to determine which mathematics or English course is appropriate for you.
Individual degree programs can also have additional requirements.
For example, nursing, teaching and certain technical programs may have prerequisites or other assessments that don’t apply to general university admission.
Always check the requirements for the specific degree, not just the university’s general admissions page.
Can You Get Financial Aid Without SAT or ACT Scores?
Potentially, yes.
Not submitting SAT or ACT scores doesn’t by itself prevent an otherwise eligible student from applying for federal student aid.
Federal financial-aid eligibility is a separate issue from a university choosing whether to use standardized test scores in admissions.
If financial aid matters to your decision, we now have two dedicated guides:
Financial Aid for Online Colleges
Online Colleges That Accept FAFSA
These should be linked directly from this section.
No SAT + No Application Fee
This is a particularly useful combination for students comparing several online colleges.
Why?
Because it lets you potentially apply to more than one school without paying multiple application fees or sitting an entrance examination.
Among the examples we’ve discussed, Purdue Global currently combines no SAT/ACT requirement with no application fee. John Brown University Online and Lynn University Online also currently advertise both features. (Purdue Global)
Applying to several appropriate colleges can give you more information to compare before making a final decision.
Transfer Students May Have Different Requirements
If you’ve already attended college, make sure you’re reading the transfer admissions page rather than the freshman page.
This can make a major difference.
A university may require standardized test scores from certain first-year applicants but not from students transferring sufficient college credits.
UF Online is again a good example: its testing rules vary depending on applicant circumstances, and upper-division transfer applicants don’t have the same SAT/ACT/CLT requirement described for recent high-school graduates applying as freshmen. (University of Florida Online)
So before assuming you need an entrance examination, determine which admissions category actually applies to you.
What Should You Compare Besides Test Requirements?
Avoid choosing a college simply because it’s easy to apply.
Once you’ve established that you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, compare:
Accreditation
Verify the university’s institutional accreditation.
Degree availability
Does it actually offer the subject you want?
Transfer credits
How much previous college work will count?
Total cost
What will you pay after transfer credits and financial aid?
Course structure
Are courses asynchronous, scheduled or self-paced?
Student support
Can you access advising, tutoring and career services remotely?
Career relevance
Does the curriculum support what you intend to do after graduation?
Getting admitted is only the first step.
The goal is to earn a degree that makes sense for you.
How to Apply Without SAT or ACT Scores
The process is often fairly straightforward.
Step 1: Choose your degree
Decide what you actually want to study before choosing the college.
Step 2: Build a shortlist
Identify three or four appropriately accredited universities offering that degree online.
Step 3: Check the current testing policy
Don’t rely on an old blog post. Go directly to the university’s admissions page.
Step 4: Check your applicant type
Determine whether you’re a first-year, transfer or returning student.
Step 5: Gather transcripts
You may need high-school or previous college transcripts even when standardized tests aren’t required.
Step 6: Complete the application
Follow the university’s instructions carefully and check whether there is an application fee.
Step 7: Complete the FAFSA if appropriate
Don’t wait until you’ve selected your final college before investigating financial aid.
Internal link: How to Apply for Online Colleges: Step-by-Step fits perfectly here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I go to online college without taking the SAT?
Yes. Several online universities, including Purdue Global, SNHU and Liberty University Online, currently offer undergraduate admissions without requiring SAT scores. (Purdue Global)
Can I apply to college without ACT scores?
Yes. Many colleges have admissions pathways that don’t require ACT scores. Always check the current requirements for the particular college, program and type of applicant.
Do all online colleges skip the SAT and ACT?
No. Requirements vary. UF Online, for example, currently requires SAT, ACT or CLT scores from certain freshman applicants who finished high school within the previous five years. (University of Florida Online)
Is a no-SAT online college less respected?
Not necessarily. Testing policy alone doesn’t determine a college’s quality or legitimacy. Accreditation, curriculum and the institution itself are much more useful considerations.
Can I get financial aid if I didn’t take the SAT?
Potentially. SAT/ACT admissions policies and federal student-aid eligibility are separate matters.
Do transfer students need SAT or ACT scores?
Often they don’t, but policies vary by university and according to the number of credits transferred. Check the university’s transfer admissions requirements rather than assuming the freshman policy applies to you.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t taken the SAT or ACT—or took them so long ago that you don’t want to repeat them—you still have plenty of online college options.
Purdue Global, SNHU, Liberty University Online, John Brown University Online and Lynn University Online all currently provide online undergraduate routes without requiring SAT or ACT scores under the admissions policies discussed above.
But “no SAT required” should be a convenience, not your main reason for choosing a college.
First decide what you want to study.
Then compare appropriately accredited universities based on curriculum, transfer credits, total cost, financial aid and flexibility.
Removing the entrance exam can make getting through the college door easier.
What matters much more is what you’ll receive once you’re through it.
