25 Good Colleges That Aren't Only Looking at Test Scores

Syracuse Fans — Syracuse University came in at No. 1. Chris Keane/Reuters

2018-09-16T15:47:00.000Z

Applying to college senior year of high school is a life changing process and decision. Many students have high GPA's but fall short when it comes to SAT/ACT scores. If you have high grades but are a bad test taker, don't fret — several universities consider more than just a test score.

US News compiled a list of A+ schools for B students, looking at admission data, average freshman retention rates, and the school's rank on US News' Best Colleges list (the top three-fourths made this list).

To be considered an A+ school for B students, a university had to have a high freshman retention rate, and admit a large portion of students who didn't get straight A's in high school and have a range of SAT/ACT scores. SAT/ACT score averages are calculated based on the most common score of admitted students and represents the 25th-75th percentile. Read US News' full methodology here.

Below is a list of the top 25 national universities that classify as A+ schools for B students. Tuition and fees included below are for the 2018-2019 school year.

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

Overall rank: 115 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 84%

ACT: 22-29

In-state tuition and fees: $10,822

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,336

24. University of the Pacific

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 65%

SAT: 1070-1330

Tuition and fees: $48,040

23. University of South Carolina

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 72%

ACT: 25-30

In-state tuition and fees: $12,262

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $32,362

22. University of New Hampshire

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 77%

SAT: 1080-1260

In-state tuition and fees: $18,499

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $33,879

21. University of Arizona

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 84%

ACT: 21-28

In-state tuition and fees: $11,644

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $32,499

20. Temple University

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 57%

SAT: 1130-1310

In-state tuition and fees: $16,666

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,426

19. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 52%

SAT: 1150-1300

In-state tuition and fees: $8,568

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $18,218

18. University of Oregon

Overall rank: 102 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 83%

SAT: 1080-1270

In-state tuition and fees: $11,898

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $35,478

17. Clarkson University

Overall rank: 102 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 66%

SAT: 1143-1330

Tuition and fees: $49,444

16. University of Vermont

Overall rank: 96 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 67%

SAT: 1180-1350

In-state tuition and fees: $18,276

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $42,516

15. University of San Francisco

Overall rank: 96 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 66%

SAT: 1100-1290

Tuition and fees: $48,066

14. University of Denver

Overall rank: 96 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 58%

ACT: 25-30

Tuition and fees: $50,556

13. University of Colorado - Boulder

Overall rank: 96 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 80%

ACT: 25-30

In-state tuition and fees: $12,534

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $37,288

12. University of Iowa

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 86%

ACT: 23-28

In-state tuition and fees: $8,965

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $30,609

11. University of Delaware

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 60%

SAT: 1150-1330

In-state tuition and fees: $13,680

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $34,310

10. University at Buffalo - SUNY

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 57%

SAT: 1140-1310

In-state tuition and fees: $10,028

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $27,758

9. Marquette University

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 89%

ACT: 24-29

Tuition and fees: $41,870

8. Loyola University Chicago

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 71%

ACT: 24-29

Tuition and fees: $44,048

7. Howard University

Overall rank: 89 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 41%

SAT: 1090-1290

Tuition and fees: $26,756

6. University of San Diego

University of California San Diego graduates

Overall rank: 85 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 50%

ACT: 26-30

Tuition and fees: $49,358

5. Michigan State University

Overall rank: 85 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 72%

SAT: 1100-1320

In-state tuition and fees: $14,460

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $39,750

4. Texas Christian University

Overall rank: 80 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 41%

ACT: 25-30

Tuition and fees: $46,950

3. American University

American University Washington College of Law

Overall rank: 78 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 29%

SAT: 1180-1350

Tuition and fees: $48,459

2. Pennsylvania State University

Overall rank: 59 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 50%

SAT: 1160-1340

In-state tuition and fees: $18,454

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $34,858

1. Syracuse University

Overall rank: 53 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 47%

SAT: 1160-1350

Tuition and fees: $51,853

25 of the best colleges for good students who don't test well

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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25 of the best colleges for good students who don't test well

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

24. University of the Pacific

23. University of South Carolina

22. University of New Hampshire

21. University of Arizona

20. Temple University

19. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

18. University of Oregon

17. Clarkson University

16. University of Vermont

15. University of San Francisco

14. University of Denver

13. University of Colorado - Boulder

12. University of Iowa

11. University of Delaware

10. University at Buffalo - SUNY

9. Marquette University

8. Loyola University Chicago

7. Howard University

6. University of San Diego

5. Michigan State University

4. Texas Christian University

3. American University

2. Pennsylvania State University

1. Syracuse University

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Read next

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know