Towson University becomes ‘test-optional’ for 2021 applicants

SAT, ACT scores no longer mandatory for students seeking admission to TU for fall 2021 amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Towson University on June 18, 2020

close-up of pencil on standardized test answer sheet

Students seeking admission to Towson University for fall 2021 will no longer be required to submit standardized test scores as part of their application process as the university continues to respond to challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Towson University on Wednesday announced it will become a “test-optional” institution for students seeking entry for the TU graduating class of 2025, meaning SAT and ACT scores are no longer mandatory. The university will continue exploring this method for future classes, but the COVID-19 pandemic expedited the process for students pursuing admission for next fall.

“We feel that this decision will benefit our future applicants and it addresses the recent COVID-19 challenges surrounding the ability to complete standardized college testing,” says Dave Fedorchak, director of university admissions at TU.

TU has created test-optional FAQs to assist those deciding to apply without submitting test scores. The application period for fall 2021 opens in early August. Students applying should visit the TU Admissions website for more information. 

Students who apply test-optional will still be considered for competitive merit-based scholarships and the Honors College as long as they apply by the December 1 Early Action deadline.

Applicants still have the option to submit SAT or ACT scores—but can opt out of doing so in favor of emphasizing other areas of their application, such as their resume or their personal essay. 

The test-optional approach also improves equity for first-generation and low-income applicants who may not have had access to preparatory benefits for tests, lending further support to TU’s presidential priority of inclusivity.

Albeit a temporary adjustment to the admissions process for fall 2021 applicants, TU is among the first public, four-year institutions in Maryland waving consideration of standardized tests due to COVID-19 as part of its admissions practices. Recently, Johns Hopkins University, University of Virginia and the University of California system, among many others, announced plans to go test-optional for upcoming applicants, joining more than 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide that no longer require the submission of SAT or ACT scores.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: Diverse and Inclusive Campus.