Marymount University waiving SAT/ACT requirement for Fall 2021 applicants and beyond

Beginning with applicants for the Fall 2021 semester, Marymount University will adopt a complete test-optional policy for submission of SAT and ACT scores.

This decision builds off of the University’s longstanding commitment to a holistic review of applications, as Marymount has been test-optional for select students for a number of years already. Previously, students who had a high school GPA of 3.0 or above were not required to submit their SAT or ACT scores for admissions consideration. Now, students with a GPA below 3.0 will also not be required to do so.

“Our plan to go test-optional couldn’t be implemented at a better time,” said Troy Cogburn, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Marymount. “With cancelations of test dates nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hopefully this will relieve some of the stress for prospective students.”

If a student wishes to submit their SAT or ACT scores, they will still have that option. Test scores sent to Marymount will be considered as one of many factors used to make an admissions decision.

“Marymount considers a wide range of factors when evaluating an applicant for admission – the high school transcript, strength of curriculum, personal statement, involvement in activities outside of the classroom and letters of recommendation all offer valuable insight,” added Melissa Ward, Director of Admissions at Marymount. “Now, the choice to have test scores considered as part of the application process is up to the student.”

International students whose native language is not English must still demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo tests. Some specialized Scholar Programs at Marymount may still require a test score for acceptance as well.