Test-Optional Admission

• Home-schooled students
• Students who attend secondary schools that do not provide grades

Students may submit self-reported scores on the application for admission or the student status page, submit directly from testing services, or include on an official high school transcript. If self-reported, students are required to have official scores sent from the testing service or from the high school on an official transcript by August 1 prior to summer or fall admission or December 1 prior to spring admission.

Students who apply with test scores will be required to submit official test scores upon enrollment and students who apply without test scores are encouraged to submit official test scores upon enrollment so that they may receive appropriate academic advisement and course placement. The scores will also be used in the assessment of Butler’s test-optional program.

If you have questions about this policy, please reach out to your admission counselor.

You can decide at the time of application or you can change your mind one time prior to receiving an admission decision. If you decide at the time of application, both the Butler Application and the Common App will ask if you want your scores considered during our review process. If you do want your scores to be considered for admission, you can submit them in three different ways:

• Submit self-reported scores on the application for admission or your student status page;
• Submit directly from testing services;
• Ask your high school to send an official transcript if your high school includes test scores on its transcripts.

If, after applying, you change your mind about either applying with test scores or applying test-optional, you can change your standardized test score method one time prior to receiving an admission decision. You can do this by visiting the student status page, which is made available to you after applying. Additionally, if admitted, you will have the opportunity to provide new test scores through January 14, 2022.

If your scores truly reflect your academic preparation then consider submitting your scores. If not, consider being reviewed holistically without them. For reference, the fall 2021 class profile was the following:

• ACT (middle 50%): 27–30*
• SAT (middle 50%): 1200–1340*
  (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600–670*)
  (Math: 590–670*)
• GPA (middle 50%): 3.62–4.16

If you want your scores to be considered for admission, you can submit them in three different ways:

1. Submit self-reported scores prior to receiving an admission decision on either the application for admission or on your student status page, which you’ll gain access to after you submit your application.
2. Submit official scores directly from testing services.
3. Ask your high school to send an official transcript if your high school includes test scores on its transcripts.

If you self-report your scores, you are required to have official scores sent from the testing service or provided on an official transcript from your high school by August 1 prior to summer or fall admission or December 1 prior to spring admission. Students who apply with test scores will be required to submit official test scores upon enrollment and students who apply without test scores are encouraged to submit official test scores upon enrollment so that they may receive appropriate academic advisement and course placement. The scores will also be used in the assessment of Butler’s test-optional program.

Yes, you can change to or from test-optional admission one time, prior to receiving an admission decision. You may request that change on your student status page, which is available after you apply. Additionally, if admitted, you will have the opportunity to provide new test scores through January 14, 2022.

While not required, the programs below have historically been more selective in admission, and therefore applying with test scores may be advisable:

• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Engineering Dual Degree Program (EDDP)
• Exploratory Natural Sciences
• College of Education (In order to meet national accreditation standards, the College of Education prefers to have ACT/SAT scores reported. Admitted candidates who do not submit scores may be asked to take a national teacher pre-professional skills exam as part of their admittance into the program.)
• College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) (COPHS will suspend the standardized test score requirement for fall 2022 applicants. Majors within COPHS include Pre-Pharmacy, Health Sciences, and Healthcare and Business.)

Admitted students interested in applying to the Honors Program may want to consider submitting test scores. To be invited to apply to the Honors Program, students must apply Early Action and have at least one of the following criteria:

• A high school GPA of 3.95 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Combined SAT score of 1360 or higher or an ACT composite score of 30 or higher
• Top 5% of their high school graduating class (minimum class size of 100 for class rank to be considered)

If you indicate on your application that you are applying test-optional, scores will not be used (even if submitted) for admission or scholarship review.

Yes. Students who have been accepted to Butler University with an application date prior to November 1 who fit any of the following criteria will be invited to apply to the Honors Program. You must have applied with Early Action by November 1 to be considered as an entering Honors student.

• A high school GPA of 3.95 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Combined SAT score of 1360 or higher or an ACT composite score of 30 or higher
• Top 5% of their high school graduating class (minimum class size of 100 for class rank to be considered)

Transfer applicants who are required to submit test scores (those with fewer than 20 credit hours) have the option of applying test-optional.

If you applied with self-reported test scores, you will need to submit official scores by August 1 prior to enrollment.

If you have questions, please contact your admission counselor.

As always, academic scholarships are determined based on the entirety of your academic profile. Butler’s admission review process is holistic.  If you choose to submit scores, this is only one piece of information and will be viewed in context with your full academic record. We account for any combination of factors, and will only evaluate you on the information we have. If you apply without test scores, you will be fully considered for all academic scholarship awards.

If you are admitted—with or without test scores—and take a new test and want the score considered for scholarships, you may submit new test scores through January 14, 2022. These scores may be self-reported. New test score information will not change an admission decision. Applicants may not remove credentials from their admission file, meaning students may not ask to be reviewed test-optional after initially providing scores.

Your admission counselor is available to answer any questions you may have about anything Butler-related, including test-optional admission.