ABET Engineering Colleges That Do Not Require SAT or ACT Scores
Engineering admissions still love math evidence, but not every ABET-accredited college requires an SAT in 2026. This list intersects ABET accreditation with a recorded test-optional or test-free policy so STEM applicants
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By Admit Coach editorial · GPTKIDS LLC ·
Methodology · Updated August 2026
Engineering admissions still love math evidence, but not every ABET-accredited college requires an SAT in 2026. This list intersects ABET accreditation with a recorded test-optional or test-free policy so STEM applicants can find accredited programs that will read a file without a score.
ABET engineering colleges with a test-optional policy
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| University | Location | Acceptance Rate |
|---|
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 4% |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 4% |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 5% |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | 6% |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 7% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | 4% |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 7% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 9% |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 12% |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | 8% |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | 6% |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | 9% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | 17% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | 16% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 11% |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 24% |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 10% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 29% |
| New York University | New York, NY | 8% |
| Illinois State University | Normal, IL | 89% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 44% |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 10% |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 13% |
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | 36% |
Data from IPEDS & College Scorecard. Browse all 3,500+ universities →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to engineering programs without SAT scores?
Yes, at ABET-accredited colleges that are test-optional or test-free. Some engineering colleges still prefer calculus and physics grades over a test date.
Do ABET colleges that are test-optional still want AP Calculus?
Usually yes. Test-optional is about SAT/ACT, not about skipping math preparation.
Is test-optional engineering easier?
Not necessarily. When scores disappear, GPA in math/science and project evidence get more weight, and some programs remain capacity-capped.
Next steps
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