Important Context: ACT Science and Self-Reporting
With ACT science now an optional section, score reporting mechanics have become more complex. Self-reporting scores has long been a free and convenient option. The policy is now taking on new importance as a way for students to control how their scores are presented. See Compass’s ACT science policy tracker.
Many (but not all) colleges have agreed to defer to the student on whether science should be considered, but the ACT’s reporting system imposes limits. Official ACT Superscore reports always include science, even though it is no longer part of the superscore calculation. Most students in the class of 2026 have taken at least one ACT with science, meaning an official Superscore will inevitably show a science score, even when the student would prefer to exclude it.
Students can choose to send scores from individual test dates instead, but any report from a test date that included science will display that score, ostensibly for consideration.
When official score reports are required, a student’s best option is to contact the college directly to ask whether science can be suppressed.
For students applying via the Common App to self-reporting colleges, the process is simpler: just omit the science score. The Common App explicitly allows students to do so.
Among the many expenses that add up in the college admission process are application fees, test registration fees, and official score report fees. Many students are eligible to have these fees waived, but other students who don’t qualify for waivers may still find the costs to be a burden. A typical scenario might involve a student taking both the SAT and ACT once or twice, applying to 8–10 colleges, and spending a few hundred dollars simply to have official score reports sent to each college.
Over the past few years, efforts have been made to encourage more colleges to accept self-reported SAT and ACT scores from students during the application process and only require official reports when a student actually enrolls.Â
Compass tracks the testing policies at over 400 popular colleges and universities. Below, we have listed whether or not these schools allow students to self-report their test scores during the application process. Note some schools may still require official scores for international or home-schooled students.
Additionally, we have listed schools outside our 400+ which we’ve learned allow self-report. Our goal is to see that list grow. Please add a comment and provide the policy page link if you come across a new school. Only colleges that have written policies on their websites or in application materials are included here.
Please note: All colleges require official test scores upon enrollment; these are application policies only. Some schools may have different requirements to be eligible for merit-based scholarships. Students should check directly with each college to confirm they have the most recent and accurate policy information.
What does self-report mean in this context?
- Yes = students can report scores in at least one of the following ways: the Common App, the school-specific application/portal, or by screenshotting/downloading an unofficial score report and emailing/uploading/etc. to the school
- No = students can not submit their own scores; scores must come directly from testing agency, be recorded on the student’s high school transcript, or be sent by a counselor
- Not specified = no definitive language on website
- Does not consider SAT/ACT = these institutions do not review SAT/ACT scores during the admissions process, so a self-report policy is not required
DePauw University also accepts self-reported scores! The policy can be found here: https://www.depauw.edu/admission-aid/apply/first-year-applicants/
That’s great, Amanda. We’ve added DePauw.
Please add Whitman College!
https://www.whitman.edu/admission-and-aid/applying-to-whitman/testing-policy
Thanks, Adam. We’ve added Whitman.
Northern Michigan University publicly states we will accept test scores as official if they are provided on an official high school transcript.
http://www.nmu.edu/admissions/requirements
Thank you, Gerri. The list has been updated.
Please also add Valparaiso University to this list. Thank you!
https://www.valpo.edu/admission/undergrad/apply/
Valpo has been added. Thanks, Bart.
College of Charleston http://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen/partsoftheapplication.php
Erin,
College of Charleston has been added. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for creating this list. Please add The University of Tulsa. https://admission.utulsa.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/
University of Tulsa is now on the list! Thanks, Teresa.
New additions in last 24 hours via requests by college admission officers: Florida Atlantic University, George Mason University, Loyola Marymount University, Scripps College, Shenandoah University, and Valparaiso University. Let’s keep them coming!
Southern Methodist University’s Associate VP of Enrollment Management, Wes Waggoner, has reported to me that: ” Yes! SMU now allows self-reported scores on application, AND we will also superscore the ACT [in addition to the SAT]. Students who deposit will send official score reports on file for all test dates used in the superscore.” A link to this policy explanation on SMU’s website will be forthcoming.
Union College in NY also accepts self reported scores.
Thank you, David. We’ll add the link to your policy shortly: https://www.union.edu/admissions/apply/first-year
Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon also allows self-reported scores for application completion.
Erica,
We’ll add Lewis & Clark to the list shortly. Thank you. https://college.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/apply/policies/
Many thanks to Adam, Art, et. al. for this helpful information…a labor of love for sure!
Alan Haas,
President
EDUCATIONAL FUTURES
New Canaan, CT.
Pacific Lutheran University allows self-reported test scores: https://www.plu.edu/admission-first-year/apply/#test-optional
Thanks for creating this list and keeping it updated.
Thank you for the link, Melody. You’ll see Pacific Lutheran on the list shortly.
We’re happy to give encouragement to this trend.
Please add Franklin Pierce University to the list. Thank you!
https://www.franklinpierce.edu/admissions/undergraduate-rindge.htm
Melissa,
You’ll find Franklin Pierce on the list shortly. Thank you for the information.
I believe all UC’s accept self reported scores.
C,
The standard we are trying to apply is that a college or university makes it very clear that a student can self-report and that an official report is not needed until after an offer of admission. The information from the UC website and on its application materials does not, AFAIK, offer that level of clarity.
Thank you for adding Franklin Pierce University to the list, however, it only says Franklin Pierce . Can you please have it say Franklin Pierce University?
Thank you so much!
Fixed!
RIT allows students to self-report test scores on the application or through their admissions portal site (once they have submitted their application for admission). The student will be required to submit their official scores once they choose to enroll at RIT.
Thank you for the detailed information, Edward. RIT has been added to the list.
Test scores provided by the high school are considered official at Ohio University.
https://www.ohio.edu/admissions/freshman/apply (under the “Application Materials” header)
Great, Andy. I’ve updated the site with Ohio University’s policy.
Here’s the link for SMU’s self-reporting policy: https://www.smu.edu/Admission/ConnectWithUs/FAQ
Thank you, Gabrielle! We’ve updated SMU with the policy link.
Millsaps College also.
Millsaps College has been added. Thank you, Robert.
Please add University of Redlands!
Done. Thank you, Anna.
Binghamton University (SUNY) has joined the movement: https://www.binghamton.edu/admissions/info/test-policy.html
Gabi,
Added to the movement.
Sorry, Art, Wellesley is already on the list. Please ignore. 🙂
Thank you for thinking of us, Gabi. So happy to see that Wellesley finally dropped its ACT w/Writing requirement!
Oswego State (SUNY) https://www.oswego.edu/admissions/freshman-apply
Thank you for the update, Alaina. We’ve added Oswego to the list.
Marist is accepting self reported test scores.
Kent,
Could you point me to the policy on the website? I am not finding specific language on self-reporting. Thank you!
Please add Lafayette college
https://admissions.lafayette.edu/first-year-applicants/
Natalie,
We’ve updated the list to include Lafayette. Thanks!