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.
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
Michigan’s website states that they will allow self-reporting for 23-24 — the list says (2022-2023)
https://admissions.umich.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/requirements-deadlines
***We will allow for self reported test scores for the 2023-24 season; the scores do not need to come from the testing agency. If you have not yet had your scores reported, you can have them sent to us using these links:”
Thanks for the update!
Oregon State University also says they will accept self-reported scores, in fact, they prefer it!
https://www.compassprep.com/self-reporting-test-scores/
Thank you for letting us know about Oregon State! We’ve added them.
According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, they are changing their policy for the class of 2025 to require official test scores.
That’s correct! We’ve removed them from the list.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland allows self-reporting as well:
https://www.smcm.edu/admissions/test-optional-policy/#:~:text=You%20may%20have%20your%20SAT,at%20admissions%40smcm.edu.
Hi Nathalie,
Thanks for letting us know! We’ve added SMCM to the list.
When was the last time this list was updated? Thanks!
Hi Erin,
This is not an exhaustive list. But we continually add schools as we hear of their policies. In fact, we just learned of University of Vermont, so the table has been updated to include UVM today.
Penn State now allows students to self report ACT/SAT scores in their MyPennState Account portal after they’ve applied https://www.psu.edu/resources/faq/test-optional
Thank you for letting us know, Andrea!
Hi, I’m the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Oglethorpe University and I’d be delighted for you to add Oglethorpe to the list of schools that accept self-reported scores from applicants who wish for their scores to be considered (though we remain quite truly test optional). Thank you!