New Testing Option Opens Doors for Students at Some Colleges

A growing number of colleges are moving away from the traditional testing model, giving students fresh options and more pathways to higher education.

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is one such option now accepted by a set of institutions as an alternative to the more familiar SAT or ACT. The CLT was designed for students educated under a classical curriculum—one that emphasises liberal arts, classical literature and grammar, The Alabama Baptist is reporting.

According to the CLT website, more than 300 colleges and universities will accept scores from the exam in place of the SAT/ACT. One key benefit of the CLT is that it is shorter—two hours instead of roughly three—and it is proctored online so students can test from home. Amy Dufrene, Director of Counselling Services at Louisiana Christian University, noted that “High-stakes tests, such as the SAT or ACT, can be triggering for those who experience this type of anxiety due to the unfamiliarity of testing sites and/or time constraints associated with the exam.”

In Alabama, several Christian Universities have adopted CLT scores. Samford University, University of Mobile, Faulkner University and Kingdom College are now among the schools accepting CLT results.

Hali Givens, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Services at the University of Mobile, said the change provides a fair chance for homeschooled students or those from classical Christian schools. “It just kind of made sense for us to accommodate those students who have come in and have proven to be very high academic students and well-performing students.”

At the same time, the University offers a test-optional route—students may choose whether to submit standardized test scores at all. Givens explained that “If a student has a 2.75 GPA, they actually can opt out of a standardized test.” At Samford University, Brian Kennedy, Dean of Admissions, reported that “Typically, less than one-third of our applicants apply test-optional.”

The University also uses a conversion chart so CLT scores can be mapped to ACT equivalents; for example, a perfect ACT score of 36 equals a perfect CLT score of 120.

Many institutions are shifting away from requiring the SAT or ACT entirely. According to the nonprofit FairTest, more than 2,000 four-year colleges in the U.S. are not requiring SAT/ACT scores for fall 2025 applicants. Another review found that among 588 schools, about 79.7% were test-optional and 63.1% reported they were permanently test-optional.

Proponents say these changes benefit students who may not perform well on a single test day, or who don’t have access to costly test-prep resources. For instance, one article explained:

“Standardised tests can be high-pressure environments. Test-optional policies reduce the weight of a single test day and allow students to present themselves more holistically.”

That said, some institutions are returning to test requirements. For example, Yale University found that including test scores “can help increase the diversity of the student body rather than decrease it.”

This changing testing landscape opens more doors for Alabama students. For those who attended a classical curriculum or a non-traditional school, the CLT may be a good fit. For those who prefer not to submit test scores, test-optional policies mean the decision is in their hands.

The following is a partial list of Alabama Schools and their test-acceptance policy as of this writing. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to confirm this information with their chosen schools(s) prior to making any decisions about their testing options.

• Samford University (Homewood, AL) — Accepts the CLT exam as an alternative to SAT/ACT.
• University of Mobile (Mobile, AL) — Accepts CLT.
• Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL) — Accepts CLT.
• Kingdom College (Headland, AL) — Accepts CLT.
• University of Alabama (UA) — Test-optional for ACT/SAT for students applying for Fall 2026.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) — Test-optional for ACT/SAT for summer and fall 2026; students choose whether to apply with test scores or not.
• University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) — Test-optional for the 2026–2027 application cycle; they will notconsider the Science section of the ACT for admission.
• Alabama State University (ASU) — Test-optional for ACT/SAT.
• University of North Alabama (UNA) — Test-optional: students may apply without SAT/ACT scores, but submitting them can help with scholarships or placement.
• Auburn University — Limited test-optional: For Fall 2026, only very strong applicants (GPA ≥ 3.6) may apply without test scores. Important: Beginning Fall 2027, Auburn will require ACT or SAT scores again.