Best test-optional Christian colleges
Christian colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional Christian colleges125 schools
125 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Christian undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 2
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 3
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 4
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 5
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 6
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 7
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 8Tie
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 8Tie
Oklahoma Christian University
Edmond, OK · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 10
- 11
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel twice a week
- 12Tie
- 12Tie
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 14Tie
Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, GA · Private nonprofit- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 14Tie
Northwest Nazarene University
Nampa, ID · Private nonprofit- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 16
- 17
George Fox University
Newberg, OR · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 18Tie
- 18Tie
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 20
Concordia University-Nebraska
Seward, NE · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 21
- 22
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · Private nonprofit- SAT or ACT not required
- Chapel 3+ times a week
- 23
- 24
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biola University | $31,495 | $23,875 | $56,778 | 68% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Westmont College | $29,053 | $23,250 | $64,778 | 70% |
| Cedarville University | $24,468 | $20,937 | $55,443 | 73% |
| Asbury University | $21,401 | $24,028 | $42,368 | 65% |
| Azusa Pacific University | $22,212 | $23,219 | $66,677 | 62% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | $38,729 | $22,990 | $63,998 | 77% |
| Belmont University | $33,147 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Oklahoma Christian University | $21,872 | $26,000 | $49,203 | 56% |
| Bethel University | $28,556 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| John Brown University | $20,397 | $21,250 | $53,907 | 72% |
| Liberty University | $29,357 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | $27,705 | $21,325 | $50,755 | 68% |
| Covenant College | $26,265 | $22,500 | $50,412 | 71% |
| Northwest Nazarene University | $29,580 | $23,750 | $51,719 | 71% |
| Gordon College | $24,883 | $26,250 | $52,119 | 69% |
| George Fox University | $31,679 | $24,250 | $59,761 | 72% |
| Messiah University | $26,502 | $25,621 | $54,064 | 75% |
| North Central University | $25,817 | $23,200 | $45,064 | 66% |
| Concordia University-Nebraska | $23,965 | $25,750 | $52,415 | 65% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | $36,201 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 68% |
| Judson University | $18,558 | $25,000 | $56,313 | 60% |
| Emmaus Bible College | $13,186 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
| Northwest University | $22,288 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.