colleges in indiana that don't require an essay

26 August 2021

Common App Schools That Don't Require Extra Essays (2021-22)

Posted in Your College List , Class of 2026

The list includes schools that simply require the base essay (e.g. personal statement). Keep in mind that many of these schools may have "optional" prompts which you might want to complete anyway to strengthen your application.  

If you're a student or parent with a College Kickstart Plus or Premium subscription, this information is already available to you as part of our key application requirements view.

Click on Continue Reading for the list.

Common App Schools with No Extra Essays (Class of 2026 Edition)

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Frequently asked questions about applying

We’re here to make the application process as smooth as possible for you. In addition to the information provided in our How to Apply pages, here are a few more top questions students and families ask during the application process.

Which application do I choose?

Freshman applicants.

Indiana University Bloomington accepts the Apply IU Application and the Common Application. No preference is given for any one application platform, and the materials needed to complete each are the same. The application review process is also the same for both platforms. To learn more about which application may be the best option for you, we encourage you to visit the Apply IU Application and Common Application websites.

Transfer applicants

Apply for admission to IU Bloomington by using the Apply IU Application .

What is Advising & Major Exploration Services?

Advising & Major Exploration Services (or AMES, formerly known as University Division) provides academic advising for pre-business, pre-nursing, pre-social work, and exploratory students at IU Bloomington. 

Pre-business, pre-nursing, and pre-social work students who start in AMES can immediately begin their preparation for their preferred program. You'll have access to the same courses and prerequisites as direct admits, so you don’t have to wait to start pursuing your goals.

Exploratory students will work with AMES advisors to:

• Explore programs
• Learn about the requirements for your chosen major or majors
• Complete a formal application or automatically certify into a program

All along the way, students in AMES receive advising from experts who understand the many academic options available and can help guide them on a course to achieve their goals—both for their education and their career.

Learn more about AMES

What is direct admission?

At IU, direct admission refers to admission to specific academic programs and degree-granting schools. You may be admitted to IU through Advising & Major Exploration Services or be directly admitted into programs at one of IU Bloomington’s 12 schools.

To be directly admitted to a program, you must select an eligible major on your application for admission to IU and meet that school’s direct admission criteria. The eligibility requirements and processes for receiving direct admission are different for each school or college. To learn more about direct admission, including instructions on how to request review for direct admission, visit each school’s admissions page.

• College of Arts + Sciences
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• O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
• School of Education
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• School of Public Health-Bloomington
• School of Social Work
• The Media School

Can I apply using more than one application (freshman applicants)?

Although there are two applications to choose from, you should submit only one application. There is absolutely no advantage to submitting multiple applications and this may even result in a delay in the review of your application and receipt of your admission decision. In the event that you submit multiple applications, the first complete application will be considered for admission. Please also note that application fees are non-refundable.

Why am I experiencing issues submitting my application and/or fee payment?

If you are applying on a desktop or laptop, make sure you allow pop-ups and enable third-party cookies so that your application and fee payment will be submitted correctly. If you experience any payment issues, please contact us at [email protected] or 812-855-0661 . Please note that the Apply IU Application does not work properly with Internet Explorer.

What if I’m a 21st Century Scholar?

If you are an Indiana resident and a 21st Century Scholar, please indicate that you are a 21st Century Scholar when you are completing your application for admission to IU.

What if I have received a special type of diploma or honors?

When you are competing your application for admission to IU, please indicate if you will receive any special diploma or honors, such as the following:

• Core 40 Diploma
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What if I don’t have a major in mind?

Many students come to IU wanting to explore their options for a major—and that’s a good thing. If you are undecided about a specific major, mark “Exploratory (general)” on your application.

Note: The College of Arts and Sciences has its own Exploratory option. If you know you would eventually like to pursue a program in the College, but aren't sure which one, please choose "Exploratory (College)" on your application.

How much do you need to know about my high school senior year schedule (freshman applicants)?

To confirm that you will have met the high school course requirements for admission set by the IU faculty, we need to receive your full senior year schedule (not just your fall courses). We won't begin our review until this information is received.

Here are some additional pointers:

• If your school is on semesters , list your fall and spring classes.
• If you have full-year classes , list them once for fall and list the same classes again for spring.
• If you’re on trimesters , use fall, winter, and spring; list your classes three times, once for each term.

How can I ensure that my birthdate and other personal information are correct?

When entering your information, make sure to review your birthdate to make sure that you haven’t accidentally put numbers in the wrong order.

Making sure all the numbers and other information are correct will help avoid delays in processing your application.

Is an essay required?

As part of your application, regardless of which platform you choose, you will need to submit an essay. If you are applying through the Common Application, you can choose from any of the essay prompts in the application. If you are applying through Apply IU, you will need to submit the IU-specific essay using the prompt below.

IU-specific essay: In 200–400 words, describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used for scholarship consideration.

Should I submit supplemental information with my application, such as a counselor or teacher recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are not required as part of the application process. However, if you would like to submit these documents because they provide additional information about your academic and personal merit/accomplishments that is not indicated elsewhere in your application materials, we will accept one counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation. Recommendations or other supplemental documents should be submitted with your official high school transcript (using your school's process for submitting electronic or paper transcripts) or included as part of your Common Application submission if you are applying through this platform.

How do I qualify for a fee waiver?

Please note that the application fee can be waived for students who have demonstrated financial need. If you feel that your financial circumstances may qualify you for a fee waiver, make sure you request a fee waiver when completing your application. Also, if you are a 21st Century Scholar or a Balfour Scholar, the application fee will be waived if you indicate you participate in one of these programs when you complete your application.

If you are submitting the Apply IU Application, you will need to submit a completed ACT , SAT , or NACAC fee waiver form that has been verified by your high school counselor. If you are submitting the Common Application, you will need to complete the fee waiver section on your profile and your counselor will need to verify your eligibility. Please note that regardless of which application you submit, an admission decision will not be made until we receive a fee waiver form/verification or your $65 application fee.

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73 Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays – 2024

May 27, 2024

When college application season arrives, it’s easy for students to become overwhelmed about the essays. There’s the personal statement , which many students have a general idea about, and then there are the supplemental essays. Supplemental essays can cover a range of college-specific prompts that help the colleges better understand why you’d be a great fit . Due to how personal and varied the supplemental essays can be, students often end up spending weeks, if not months, writing them.

However, across the country, there are colleges that do not require supplemental essays at all. For some students, applying to colleges without supplemental essays can make the overall application process much smoother. Benefits include experiencing less stress in their application preparation and diversifying prospective colleges while focusing more on their priority schools. Sometimes, though, these schools do ask for program-specific essays or optional essays, depending on the applicant.

Best Colleges without Supplemental Essays

1) albion college.

At Albion College, the application essay is not required, but it is recommended. Students are encouraged to provide any more details that they believe the admissions team should consider.

2) Allegheny College

As noted on their website, Allegheny College has not required the supplemental essay since their 2013-2014 application cycle. Students will find more essay questions in the Member Questions section of the Common Application.

3) Augusta University

Augusta University joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays as they do not require a personal essay at all. They do still require SAT or ACT scores and GPA.

4) Bates College

Since 1984, Bates College has not required SAT Subject Tests or ACT scores in their applications. There is an optional arts supplement for students who are applying to study art, creative writing, dance, film, music, and theater.

5) Case Western Reserve University

At Case Western Reserve University, the Common Application personal essay is required. However, if you’re applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, then you’ll have to write supplemental essays.

Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays (Continued)

6) clemson university.

Clemson University does not require students to complete a personal essay with the Common or Coalition Application. There is also a test-optional policy that may appeal to some students.

7) Coe College

At Coe College, the personal essay is optional for students who meet the college’s minimum academic standards. Coe College joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays that also have a test-optional policy.

8) Colby College

Colby College accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application, and they do not have any additional writing supplements. Test scores are optional for applicants at Colby College, and there is no application fee.

9) Colgate University

Colgate University is one of the colleges without supplemental essays required, but there is the option to write them. As stated on their website, “These prompts are not meant to feel like essays; they are simply an added perspective.

10) College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross does not require supplemental essays, but the following are optional: personal interview, SAT or ACT scores, and supplementary materials.

11) Denison University

Denison University joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays. Their website states that they wish to provide “equal access” to a Denison education, and they are also test-optional.

12) DePaul University

For first-year student applicants at DePaul University, personal essays are not required but optional. They have also been a test-optional university since 2012.

13) Dillard University

Dillard University is the oldest HBCU in Louisiana and is one of the colleges with no supplemental essay requirements. However, if students do not meet the minimum GPA and standardized test score requirements, then they must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

14) Drew University

At Drew University, a personal statement is required, along with a counselor evaluation, teacher evaluation, and high school transcript.

15) Drexel University

Drexel University joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays. They do require all students to complete the 250 to 650 essay on the Common or Coalition Application. However, the short answer question is optional.

16) Fairleigh Dickinson University

At Fairleigh Dickinson University, all essays, résumés, and recommendations are optional.

17) Florida Gulf Coast University

The only essay required by Florida Gulf Coast University is a two-page personal essay that discusses academic performance, special talents, and what the student can contribute to the campus.

18) Florida State University

Although Florida State University is one of the colleges without supplemental essays, students should invest time into the Common Application personal statement.

19) Fordham University

At Fordham University, the Common Application essay is required, but there are also optional writing sections. If students choose not to write in these sections, they will not be penalized.

20) Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall College joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays. They do require the personal essay in the Common Application, as well as standardized test scores, recommendations and other materials.

21) Furman University

At Furman University, first-year applicants do not need to submit a personal essay, and they are also test-optional.

22) Gannon University

Gannon University does not require students to submit a personal statement. It is optional but recommended for students to submit a statement. However, it is required for LECOM 4+4 Medical Program applicants.

23) Gettysburg College

Although Gettysburg College joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays, it does require a personal statement on the Common Application.

24) Grinnell College

Grinnell College does not require supplemental essays and it also does not have an application fee. Standardized test scores are also optional.

25) Hamilton College

Although Hamilton College joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays, the optional essays are still encouraged.

26) Hampshire College

Hampshire College only requires supplemental essays from international students applying as first-year or transfer students.

27) Hanover College

Hanover College states on their website that the essay or personal statement is optional, alongside test scores, letters of recommendation and résumé.

28) Hollins University

At Hollins University, for first-year students no personal statement is required and standardized test scores are optional.

29) Howard University

Howard University requires students to complete the Common Application essay and there is one optional supplemental essay.

30) Indiana University – Bloomington

Students applying to Indiana University – Bloomington must write the one essay in the Common Application or through Apply IU.

31) Kent State University

At Kent State University, first-year students are not required to submit a personal essay or a letter of recommendation. Test scores are also optional.

32) Kenyon College

Kenyon College joins this list as it is one of the colleges without supplemental essays. For first-year and transfer students, test scores are optional and flexible.

33) Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University does require the Common Application personal statement, but as of its most recent admissions cycle, no supplemental essay is required.

34) Mercer University

At Mercer University, applicants who wish to be test-optional must complete the supplemental essays. They must also have a 3.5 GPA and letter of recommendation.

35) Miami University

Miami University, not to be confused with the University of Miami, requires the Common App personal statement but not the supplemental essays.

36) Michigan State University

Michigan State University requires students to write only one essay on the MSU application, Common Application or Coalition Application.

37) Middlebury College

Middlebury College is one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. They do still require the personal statement on the Common Application.

38) Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College requires students to submit the personal essay but no other supplemental essays.

39) New College of Florida

New College of Florida is one of the many colleges with no supplemental essays. However, they do still require a personal statement.

40) New Jersey Institute of Technology

New Jersey Institute of Technology only requires a personal statement included in the Common Application. There is no supplemental essay requirement.

41) New York Institute of Technology

Students applying to the New York Institute of Technology are required to write a 300 to 350 word essay as their only essay. They may require test-optional applicants to submit a graded essay.

42) Northeastern University

Northeastern is one of the best colleges without a supplemental essay requirement. They do require a personal statement, alongside other materials.

43) Nova Southeastern University

At Nova Southeastern University, the essay is entirely optional, and students can self-report their test scores.

44) Oberlin College

Oberlin requires a personal statement, but does not require any supplemental essays.

45) Ohio State University

Ohio State University only requires a personal statement. However, they also offer a COVID-19 impact statement on the Common Application for interested students.

46) Ripon College

At Ripon College, the personal statement itself is optional for applicants, along with other materials.

47) Rhodes College

Rhodes College does not require a supplemental essay, but they have the option for students to record an optional “ Elevator Pitch .”

48) Rowan University

Rowan University requires a personal statement in the Common Application, but joins this list as a college without supplemental essays.

49) St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University has no supplemental essay requirement, but it still requires the personal statement essay. They are also test-optional, depending on the applicant.

50) St. Mary’s University (San Antonio)

For students applying to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, the personal statement is only required if they choose not to submit test scores.

51) Seton Hall University

At Seton Hall University, the personal statement is required, but there are no other supplemental essays.

52) Siena College

Siena College has made the personal statement (open topic) optional for students applying.

53) Skidmore College

While Skidmore College does not require supplemental essays, students do often send in supplemental materials to further support their application.

54) Stony Brook University

At Stony Brook University, only a personal statement is required. However, students applying to the Honors, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine must write supplemental essays.

55) Sewanee: The University of the South

Sewanee does not require supplemental essays and SAT/ACT scores are also optional.

56) Susquehanna University

Susquehanna University only requires supplemental essay materials for students applying to the creative writing, graphic design, studio art, and music programs.

57) Temple University

Temple University offers an optional essay as part of the Common Application for students to tell more about themselves beyond grades or test scores.

58) Union College

Union College does offer an optional supplemental essay question as part of their application.

59) University of Alabama

At the University of Alabama, essay submissions and letters of recommendation are not required but they are optional.

60) University of Albany

University of Albany joins the list as one of the colleges without supplemental essays. However, it does require a personal essay of at least 250 words on the Common Application of SUNY Application.

61) University of Arkansas

At the University of Arkansas, first-year students are not required to submit a personal essay. They accept self-reported test scores and letters of recommendation are also not required.

62) University of Arizona

Although the University of Arizona does not require an application essay, they strongly encourage students to submit the 500-word personal statement.

63) University of Cincinnati

Students applying to the University of Cincinnati are required to write the Cincinnati personal statement and the Common Application personal statement. However, there are no other required essays.

64) University of Colorado-Denver

University of Colorado-Denver requires the personal statement on the Common Application, but not other supplemental essays.

65) University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut joins this list as one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. The university does require a personal essay on the Common Application or the Coalition Application.

66) University of Dayton

The University of Dayton does not require any supplemental essays, although it does require a personal statement. The university is also test-optional.

67) University of Denver

The University of Denver only requires the personal statement on the Common Application.

68) University of Houston

Students who apply to the University of Houston without a test score must submit a short admissions essay and extracurricular activities.

69) University of Iowa

The University of Iowa does require a personal statement as part of their application, but there is no supplemental essay requirement.

70) University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a college without supplemental essay requirements for first-year students. However, students applying to the Honors Program or the Engineering SELF Program must submit their responses.

71) University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky requires students to write one personal statement from seven of their given writing prompts.

72) University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For first-year students applying to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, the personal essay is not required, although it is encouraged.

73) University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not require a personal statement for first-year students. However, those applying to the Honors Program must write a 300-600 word essay.

Whether for the personal statement or any supplemental essay, writing college application essays can prove to be a challenging task. But if students plan ahead about how they want to approach the essays, it helps tremendously. Those who are about to apply to a college without supplemental essays can focus any extra time on other schools that do require them. It’s also great for students who wish to be considered primarily for their grades, test scores, personal statement and other reasons.

Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays – Additional Resources 

• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples 
• How to Write a Body Paragraph for a College Essay
• UC Essay Examples
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• Admission Essays

Colleges and Universities that Don't Require an Admission Essay to Apply

Writing and submitting an admission essay is possibly the most notorious step of the college application process. Students applying to schools spend months deciding what to write about, drafting, proofreading, and editing their admission essays. For international students, particularly those who speak English as a second language, writing an admission essay can be particularly daunting. Thankfully, there are a number of colleges and universities that don’t require an admission essay!

What is an Admission Essay?

Most US colleges and universities require applicants to write a short essay about themselves or a specific topic as part of the application process. These essays might be in response to a specific prompt, such as: “Who has been the most influential person in your life?” or “What event has most shaped the person you are today?” but most applications offer open-ended prompts that allow applicants to choose the topic they would like to write about.

Admission essays provide insight into your writing skills, but they also help admission boards get a sense of who you are as a person- something that test scores and GPA scores don’t allow. The essay gives you an opportunity to talk clearly about your goals, and can give admissions officers a better idea of how well you might fit in with the school.

However, these essays can be particularly difficult and stressful for international students, particularly students who speak English as a second language. The ability to write clearly and concisely about yourself in a foreign language is not an easy skill to achieve, and some international students may prefer to avoid the admission essay altogether. Luckily, there are a number of colleges and universities that don’t require an admission essay. This could be for a variety of reasons:

Why do some colleges not require an admission essay?

It takes an admissions officer a lot of time to read and evaluate college application essays. For small schools with less resources and large schools that receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, the resources required to read every essay from every applicant may outweigh the benefits of the extra information gained from the admission essay.

Many colleges choose to only require essays for the most competitive programs, such as honors programs, engineering, and nursing, or for scholarships, where additional information may be more instrumental in making decisions.

Some schools, particularly public schools, admit students based on a specific selection index, which is based on a combination of GPA, test scores, and/or class rank. If applicants meet the minimum index score cutoff, they are automatically admitted.

However, if you are a “borderline” candidate, meaning you don’t quite meet the minimum criteria, these schools often require or recommend that you write an admission essay. This will allow you the opportunity to provide additional information on why you feel you would be a good fit for the school in spite of not quite meeting the academic criteria.

Some schools hope that by eliminating the application essay they can make the application process easier and attract a wider variety of applicants. They hope that by presenting their application process as an easier alternative to more intensive applications, more students will apply to their institution.

How to Make Your Application Stand Out Without an Essay

Because so much of your interests and personality come through in your essay, if you’re not submitting an essay you need to make sure the rest of your application really pops. There are a few different ways that you can do that:

Obviously, you want to do well in all of your classes, but literature courses in particular will be seen as placeholders for your essay-writing skills. When schools don’t require an application essay, they will likely look more closely at your grades in classes that are more writing-intensive, to make sure that your writing skills are up to par.

Make sure that your recommendations are coming from the best possible people for you. You’ll want to ask people who know you well and can speak about who you really are, as well as your accomplishments. Without an application essay, you may not have the space in your application to talk about your extracurricular activities, so you’ll want to find references who can discuss this aspect of your life.

Many schools offer the option for students to submit a resume along with their applications. This is another chance for you to promote your extracurricular activities. Before you put together your resume, do some research and find a solid template. Make sure your resume is well balanced with academic and extracurricular accomplishments, is not longer than one page, and is free of typos and spelling errors

Colleges and Universities in the United States that Don’t Require an Admission Essay

If you want to know if a particular school requires an essay to apply, search “[name of school] international student admissions requirements” on Google. This should result in a list of guidelines for applying to that school. If you’re looking more generally for schools that don’t require essays, below is a list of a few US colleges and universities that don’t require an admission essay to apply:

• University of Alabama
• Alabama State University
• University of Alaska
• Arizona State
• Arkansas State University
• California State University
• University of Colorado - Denver
• University of South Florida
• Full Sail University
• University of Hawaii - Manoa
• University of Idaho
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• University of Southern Indiana
• Iowa State University
• University of Iowa
• Kansas State
• University of Kansas
• Kentucky State University
• Louisiana State University -Baton Rouge
• University of Louisiana - Lafayette
• Eastern Michigan University
• Western Michigan University
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi
• Mississippi State University
• University of Southern Mississippi
• University of Missouri
• University of Montana
• University of Nevada - Reno
• Daniel Webster College
• University of New Mexico
• University of South Dakota
• Tennessee State University
• Utah State University
• West Virginia University
• University of Wyoming

If you’re interested in applying to colleges or universities that do require admission essays, check out our Essay Writing Center for tips and advice you can use to improve your essay writing skills.

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Common App Schools That Don't Require Extra Essays (2022-23)

There are many colleges and universities that use the Common Application but do not require any additional essays or writing supplements as part of their application process. This can make the application process more straightforward and less time-consuming for students. Some of these schools include American University, University of Delaware, Georgia State University, Howard University, and University of Vermont, among others. However, it's important to note that even if a school doesn't require additional essays, they may still require other application materials such as transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation.

Here is a list of Common App Schools that do not require supplemental essays for the 2022-23 application cycle:

1. American University

2. Amherst College

3. Babson College

4. Baldwin Wallace University

5. Barnard College

6. Baylor University

7. Binghamton University

8. Boston College

9. Boston University

10. Bowdoin College

11. Brigham Young University

12. Brown University

13. Bucknell University

14. California Institute of Technology

15. Carnegie Mellon University

16. Case Western Reserve University

17. Claremont McKenna College

18. Colgate University

19. College of Charleston

20. College of the Holy Cross

21. College of William and Mary

22. Colorado College

23. Columbia University

24. Cornell College

25. Cornell University

26. Dartmouth College

27. Davidson College

28. Denison University

29. DePauw University

30. Dickinson College

31. Drew University

32. Drexel University

33. Duke University

34. Elon University

35. Emory University

36. Fordham University

37. Franklin & Marshall College

38. Furman University

39. George Mason University

40. George Washington University

41. Georgetown University

42. Georgia Institute of Technology

43. Gettysburg College

44. Gonzaga University

45. Grinnell College

46. Hamilton College

47. Hampshire College

48. Harvey Mudd College

49. Haverford College

50. High Point University

51. Hobart and William Smith Colleges

52. Hofstra University

53. Howard University

54. Illinois Wesleyan University

55. Indiana University Bloomington

56. Iona College

57. Iowa State University

58. Ithaca College

59. James Madison University

60. Johns Hopkins University

61. Juniata College

62. Kalamazoo College

63. Kenyon College

64. Lafayette College

65. Lake Forest College

66. Lehigh University

67. Lewis & Clark College

68. Louisiana State University

69. Loyola Marymount University

70. Loyola University Chicago

71. Loyola University Maryland

72. Macalester College

73. Marquette University

74. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

75. Miami University - Oxford

76. Michigan State University

77. Middlebury College

78. Mills College

79. Muhlenberg College

80. New College of Florida

81. New York University

82. Northeastern University

83. Northwestern University

84. Oberlin College

85. Occidental College

86. Ohio State University

87. Ohio University

88. Ohio Wesleyan University

89. Oregon State University

90. Pace University

91. Pennsylvania State University

92. Pepperdine University

93. Pitzer College

94. Pomona College

95. Princeton University

96. Providence College

97. Purdue University

98. Quinnipiac University

99. Reed College

100. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

101. Rhodes College

102. Rice University

103. Richmond, The American International University in London

104. Rochester Institute of Technology

105. Rollins College

106. Rutgers University-New Brunswick

107. Saint Louis University

108. Saint Mary's College of California

109. San Diego State University

110. Santa Clara University

111. Sarah Lawrence College

112. Scripps College

113. Sewanee: The University of the South

114. Siena College

115. Skidmore College

116. Smith College

117. Southern Methodist University

118. Southwestern University

In conclusion, applying to colleges can be a time-consuming and overwhelming process, but knowing which schools don't require extra essays can save you a lot of time and effort. The Common App is widely used by colleges and universities, and this list of schools that don't require extra essays for the 2022-23 application cycle can be helpful for students who want to streamline their application process. However, it's important to keep in mind that even if a school doesn't require extra essays, it's still important to put in effort into your application and showcase your strengths and unique qualities.

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33 Colleges Without Supplemental Essays

At many top schools, essays form a critical part of the college admissions process. Overwhelmingly, students find writing essays to be the most stressful part of the application process. So, when applying to multiple schools, many applicants look for colleges without supplemental essays. Colleges that don’t require essays allow students to focus on other aspects of their application like extracurriculars, test scores, or recommendation letters. 

However, finding colleges that don’t require supplemental essays can be tedious. That’s why we’ve created a list of 33 colleges without supplemental essays to make the search easier.

Contrary to what you may have heard, you can find college application requirements without supplemental essays. Moreover, a lack of supplemental essay requirements doesn’t mean a university isn’t good.  

This guide will help you find colleges without supplemental essays that meet your needs. In addition to discussing colleges that don’t require essays, we’ll also talk about other college application requirements. By the end of this article, you’ll be better prepared for the college application process. 

What is a supplemental essay?

Before you start searching for colleges that don’t require supplemental essays, it’s important to understand what they actually are. Supplemental essays are extra essays that each school requires; some schools require only one, while others require several. They cover a range of prompts from the “why school” essay to the cultural diversity essay and more. Usually, supplemental essays are rather short, hovering in the 50-250-word limit range. They serve as an opportunity to showcase an applicant’s strengths, moments of personal growth, and personality. 

It’s important to note that supplemental essays are different from the personal statement on the Common Application . The Common App essay prompts allow you to submit one personal statement to every college where you apply. In other words, you’ll almost certainly write this personal statement plus supplemental essays for each college on your list . You can also look up each school’s supplemental writing requirements on the Common App site. 

There aren’t many colleges that don’t require essays at all. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any colleges that don’t require supplemental essays. With that said, most American universities have some essay requirements, even if they don’t ask for writing supplements.

Supplemental essays vs. Personal Statement

Often, top colleges without supplemental essays will require students to write a personal statement . Recall that supplemental essays vary in length and number of essays to complete depending on the school. In contrast, the personal statement is one essay that most schools have as a part of their college application requirements. However, both supplemental essays and the personal statement are important when it comes to creating an authentic application narrative . 

The personal statement is a part of the Common Application. There are seven prompts to choose from, one of which is open, meaning you can write anything you’d like. The personal statement is longer than most supplemental essays at 650 words. While you’ll just write on one of these prompts, the others touch on common college essay topics. Don’t hesitate to brainstorm for a few of the Common App prompts, not just one.

Supplemental essays are usually shorter than the personal statement. School requirements will vary. While there are colleges without supplemental essays at all, others may have as many as six!

While there are many nuances to the college admissions process, there are several key steps to be aware of. Take our quiz to see just how prepared you are to submit your college applications!

How many supplemental essays do college require?

While there are competitive colleges without supplemental essays, the majority of universities require at least one supplemental essay. However, the number of required supplemental essays will vary greatly. 

For example, Northeastern University doesn’t have a writing supplement requirement on the Northeastern application. However, that doesn’t necessarily make the Northeastern application easier than other universities. Since it’s a top school, applicants will still need to do everything possible to make their Northeastern application stand out. 

Unlike the Northeastern application, the University of Chicago has one required “why school” essay and various supplemental essay prompts to choose from. In total, students applying to UChicago will write two supplemental essays. 

When it comes to the number of supplemental essays a school requires, there is no single answer. All schools will be different, so be sure to check each school’s individual application requirements on their admissions sites. 

What kind of colleges require essays?

Generally, it is rare to find colleges that don’t require essays at all. While there are some colleges without supplemental essays, most still require students to submit the personal statement. Therefore, most colleges in the U.S. require essays in some form. Even if you’re applying through a different platform like UC Apply or the Coalition Application , you’ll have to write.

A better question might be: why do colleges require essays? The majority of universities’ admissions teams use a holistic evaluation process. That means that each of the college application requirements receives equal consideration. Your supplemental essay is an opportunity to share more about yourself with admissions. Successful college essay ideas will center on stories that show personal growth and self-reflection. 

What are college application requirements?

If you’re looking for colleges without supplemental essays, then you’ll need to sift through each school’s requirements. Simply put, college application requirements are all the materials that applicants need for a complete application. 

Here are some of the most common application requirements: 

• Basic biographical and demographic information
• Extracurricular activities
• Personal statement
• Application fee
• Transcripts
• Counselor and/or Teacher letter(s) of recommendation

In the application, students will be able to add their essays. Keep in mind that each school’s college application requirements vary, so you should confirm specifics on their websites. 

Do all colleges require supplemental essays?

Luckily for those who dread essay writing, there are colleges without supplemental essays. Soon, we’re going to provide you with a comprehensive list of well-known colleges that don’t require supplemental essays. 

However, keep in mind that most schools do require students to complete the personal statement. So, for those who are hoping to find colleges that don’t require essays of any kind, it will be challenging. Nevertheless, students who have an extreme aversion to essay writing will find some top colleges without supplemental essays. 

Why apply to colleges that don’t require essays?

There are a few reasons that students want to apply to colleges without supplemental essays. Some students may feel like the essays are too stressful. And while there are ways to manage that stress and write compelling essays, some students may just prefer not to. 

However, probably the number one reason that students are intrigued by colleges without supplemental essays is time. Thinking of college essay ideas and writing essays is time-consuming. When you consider that some students apply to as many as 15 schools, it can feel overwhelming. Even adding just a few colleges that don’t require essays to your college list will lighten the burden. 

Additionally, there are many competitive colleges without supplemental essays. Just remember: if you apply to colleges without supplemental essays, make the rest of your application as competitive as possible. It certainly isn’t an excuse to slack on your application narrative. In fact, with colleges that don’t require essays, you must pay extra attention to your demonstration of academic achievements and extracurricular involvement. 

As stated above, colleges without supplemental essays usually still require a personal statement. However, this essay can be used for multiple schools. That is to say, once it’s written, you’re set for all of your applications to colleges without supplemental essays. 

33 Best Colleges without Supplemental Essays

Finally, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Let’s check out some colleges without supplemental essays. 

Top 33 Colleges without Essays

1. colby college.

This small liberal arts school in Waterville, Maine, is the first to make our list. As the 12 th oldest liberal arts school in the US, Colby College has ample experience providing students with an intimate learning environment. If you’re interested in a liberal arts education from a small Northeastern University, then check out Colby’s application requirements .  

2. Grinnell College

Students who attend Grinnell are encouraged to “pursue passions with purpose.” While it may seem surprising that such a school numbers among colleges that don’t require essays, take advantage of it and apply ! Grinnell College is consistently a high-ranking liberal arts school. Here, students are encouraged to create a course of study that best supports their intellectual freedom.

3. Middlebury College

Another of the many liberal arts colleges without supplemental essays on our list is Middlebury College. Located in Vermont’s Champlain Valley, the natural beauty will inspire your learning as a natural laboratory is just outside. Its acceptance rate is 13%, so you’ll need an impeccable application in the absence of supplemental essays. 

4. Colgate University

Located in New York state, Colgate University provides its students with a high quality liberal arts education. Like all others on our list, the Colgate application doesn’t include supplemental essays. There are 56 majors for students to choose from. Colgate values a curious mind, so be sure to show your curiosity in your Colgate application. Check out what you need to complete your Colgate application. 

5. Temple University

This is the first public research university on our list of colleges without supplemental essays. Temple University has 17 schools and colleges in which to study, but an emphasis is placed on experiential learning. Given Temple’s location in the heart of North Philadelphia, students will have all the opportunities that the city provides. 

6. Oberlin College

The one-of-a-kind education provided by Oberlin College allows students to explore both academics and the arts. Indeed, the Oberlin College ranking across metrics speaks for itself: the Oberlin College ranking in national liberal arts colleges is #39 . And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Oberlin College ranking in Most Innovative Schools is #16 . Of course, the Oberlin College ranking isn’t everything. But, the Oberlin College ranking does speak to the school’s quality, unique liberal arts education. For Oberlin College (not the conservatory) no supplemental essay is needed. 

7. Case Western Reserve University

There are hundreds of programs at Case Western Reserve for students to pursue. However, overall, the student population is committed to making a difference, with education a stepping stone to an impactful career. In addition to being one of our colleges without supplemental essays, Case Western Reserve is also test-optional through fall 2024. 

8. Bates College

The Bates way is all about “aligning who you are with what you do.” Students will be a part of a community with values such as social responsibility and diversity and inclusion. Check out the requirements for what it takes to be a part of this unique campus. Keep in mind that the Bates College acceptance rate is quite competitive. In fact, the Bates College acceptance rate is considered most selective at 17% . So, although Bates is among the colleges that don’t require essays, the Bates College acceptance rate means intense competition for admittance. 

9. Northeastern University

This well-known university in Boston , Massachusetts, is among the most competitive colleges without supplemental essays with an 18% acceptance rate. Experiential learning and research are among the core parts of a Northeastern University education. If you’re interested in innovation and impact, then see what you need to apply .

10. Hampshire College

It may be unsurprising that Hampshire College, the self-proclaimed “original disruptors of higher education,” is among the colleges that don’t require essays. Hampshire believes that their radical education experience leads to greater impact. This is a community that values experimentation, discovery, and investigation in a non-traditional manner. If that sounds up your alley, take a look at their application requirements. 

11. DePaul University

This large private university in Chicago, Illinois, is next on our list of colleges without supplemental essays. Faculty provide high-quality teaching in order to give their students the best educational experience. DePaul aims to provide an experience that combines “mind, place, people, and heart.”

12. Drexel University

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University is arguably one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. It’s nationally recognized for its co-op experience. This learning model allows all students to have ample hands-on experience in their field of interest before even graduating. Drexel admissions may not seem super competitive with an acceptance rate of 83% . However, that doesn’t mean you should slack on the application. Impressing Drexel admissions could lead to scholarships, which are also an extremely important part of the college application process. 

13. Kenyon College

This college may not be a household name, but they’ve played a huge part in the model of faculty advising nationwide. In fact, according to Kenyon College , they invented it. So you can imagine the quality attention the learning experience that students will receive here. 

14. Dillard University

Louisiana’s first private liberal arts HBCU makes our list of colleges without supplemental essays. The undergraduate population is around 1,200, making it a small school. At Dillard, students can expect personalized attention and a tight-knit campus community. After applying and being accepted, students will have 22 majors to choose from. 

15. Skidmore College

Creative thinking is at the heart of Skidmore’s education model. Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, this private university offers students an excellent education in a bucolic college town . At Skidmore College , students are encouraged to explore a variety of educational interests as all majors are interdisciplinary.

16. Ohio State University

Located in Columbus, Ohio—the fastest-growing metropolitan in the Midwest — Ohio State University places an emphasis on improving local and global communities. In fact, they have contribution efforts in every county in Ohio. And, with six campuses throughout the state, students can choose which location will best serve them. 

17. Louisiana State University

As a leading research university in Baton Rouge, LSU is among the best colleges without supplemental essays. No matter their major, every student is able to participate in research opportunities. LSU ’s emphasis on research is a crux of the community as it comes from a drive to improve the world. 

18. University of Alabama

With over 100 areas of study in 8 schools and colleges, the University of Alabama provides students with ample options. At the University of Alabama, research is highly valued, but students are ultimately encouraged to pursue their passions. Check out the freshman requirements to learn more about applying. 

19. University of Cincinnati

Another large public research university makes our list of colleges without supplemental essays. UC has excellent co-op and internship programs from which students can gain practical professional experience while studying. University of Cincinnati students will gain an excellent education and hands-on experience.

20. Clemson University

Clemson admissions prides itself on the university’s tireless work ethic. Through this, they encourage their students to “change lives, change perceptions, and…to change the world.” Students willing to work hard to achieve their future goals should check out the application requirements . Clemson admissions falls in the middle when it comes to selectivity. The Clemson admissions rate is 49% . Logically, we can see from the Clemson admissions rate that nearly half the students that apply will gain admittance. 

21. University of Pittsburgh

Located in the heart of the city, the University of Pittsburgh is among the top colleges without supplemental essays. This large public university focuses on innovation as a path to positive change. With a prime location, students are encouraged to take advantage of all that the university and city have to offer.  

22. Wesleyan University

Forming students to be “intellectually agile” is a huge part of the Wesleyan curriculum. With 45 majors to choose from, students are encouraged to take advantage of the large range of available courses. Additionally, there are over 5,000 internships opportunities available starting from your first year on campus. 

23. Miami University

You may have seen this school ranking in the top 50 public universities in the US. There’s certainly no doubt that Miami University in Ohio is one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. With many dynamic undergraduate programs available, students will be able to pursue a wealth of careers in their chosen fields. An active student body helps in forming a strong campus community in a location brimming with natural beauty. 

24. University of Connecticut

As a large university with a rural location, the UConn campus community is like a small town of its own. Students can enjoy a wide range of study options, ample student organizations and clubs, and renowned leaders as faculty members. Learn more about the application requirements. 

25. University of Delaware

The beautiful campus and experienced faculty of the University of Delaware provide for about 18,000 students. Through research, internships, and study abroad opportunities, students are encouraged to find their authentic way of changing the world. 

26. Florida State University

FSU is one of the best value colleges without supplemental essays. Students here are intellectually curious, academically driven, and socially conscious. The FSU experience is centered around providing students with the tools to achieve their goals. 

27. University of Georgia

Even though this is a large university, students are seen as “the individual they are.” The University of Georgia is committed to accessibility and inclusion. Additionally, 92% of the university’s graduates are employed or continuing their studies within six months of graduation. 

28. University of Houston

As the third largest university in Texas , the University of Houston is one of our top colleges without supplemental essays. As a diverse campus community, the university aims to change lives and communities for the better. It emphasizes discovery and conversation as a foundation for students’ development.

29. Indiana University – Bloomington

The possibilities are endless when you study at Indiana University Bloomington . Students will gain hands-on experience in their field either in the lab or on the ground. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to learn from faculty who are renowned in their discipline. 

30. University of Kansas

There is certainly no lack of options when studying at the University of Kansas . There are over 400 degree and certificate programs to choose from spread out over 14 schools. Innovation, research, and the pursuit of knowledge are pillars of the UK educational experience. 

31. University of Kentucky

Another UK makes our list of colleges that don’t require supplemental essays. The University of Kentucky offers over 200 degree programs in 16 schools. One of the university’s main values is finding ways to advance Kentucky—from education, to health, economy, and culture— to ensure its progress. 

32. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Located in an ideal college town, UMass Amherst is the largest public research university in New England. The school offers over 110 majors on campus. In addition, students are encouraged to be curious explorers through study abroad opportunities. 

33. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

This large university with a city campus encourages students to discover the unknown. Whether it’s through internships or research opportunities, students are challenged to pursue their interests and push their academic limits. Learn more about the application requirements to get started.

As you review this list, please note that college essay requirements are subject to change. With this in mind, make sure to visit each school’s admissions website to confirm all supplemental essay requirements.

It may seem alluring to apply only to these colleges that don’t require essays. However, keep in mind that these institutions place more importance on GPA and extracurriculars. So, when considering applying to schools without supplemental essays, think about these factors. Will your application narrative be impactful to admissions teams without additional essays? Will your personality and values shine through? 

What is the best school that doesn’t require supplemental essays?

Looking at the acceptance rates of the colleges that don’t require essays, we can determine which schools are the most selective. In this case, Colby College ( 9% ), Grinnell College ( 11% ), and Middlebury College ( 13% ) have some of the most selective acceptance rates. However, the Bates College acceptance rate also makes it quite selective. In fact, the Bates College acceptance rate is similar to that of Northeastern University. 

The best colleges without supplemental essays will vary depending on what you’re looking for. So, how can you determine your top colleges without supplemental essays? Well, when making your college list you should consider factors such as majors, location, size, and campus culture. This will help you focus your college search on a few key criteria.

Firstly, make a list of what you want in your university. For example, do you want to go to school in a large city? Are internship or co-op programs important to you? Is your major available, and are you intrigued by its curriculum? Ideally, you want to be excited imagining yourself on a college’s campus. As you think about your college list priorities, you’ll be better able to identify which university is best for you. In fact, you may have already started by determining you want to look at colleges that don’t require essays!

College Application Requirements: Beyond Essays

Coming up with college essay ideas might be one of the biggest stressors in the college application process. And yet, there is certainly much more to completing an application than just essays. Colleges that don’t require essays still have other requirements that applicants will need to send by the school’s application deadlines . 

For example, let’s look at Colby admissions, which features on our list of colleges that don’t require essays. The Colby admissions site states the application requirements are the completed application, academic records, and financial aid application. Non-native English speakers may also be required to submit a language proficiency certification.

Additionally, there are optional materials you can add to enhance your application, which vary from school to school. Colby accepts standardized test scores , additional recommendation letters, an arts supplement, and an “elevator pitch” video.

Of course, these are just application requirements outlined by Colby admissions. Drexel admissions, Clemson admissions, and any other college admissions office will have other—often similar—application requirements. When comparing colleges to add to your college list, these requirements will likely be an important factor. 

Students can usually count on the following materials being required during the application process: 

• Completed application
• Academic records
• Teacher/counselor letters of recommendation
• Language proficiency exam (where applicable)

Many schools are continuing test-optional policies first instated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some do require standardized testing scores as well. Always check the admissions site for the application requirements and deadlines. For example, Colby and Drexel admissions have slight differences in their requirements, even though they’re both colleges that don’t require essays. Always confirm requirements on admissions websites!

How to make your college application stand out!

Even when applying to colleges that don’t require essays, you still need to carefully craft a compelling application narrative. Creating a cohesive application narrative or personal brand during the college application process can be tricky. Ideally, your application should tell the story of who you are and what drives you, both academically and personally. You’ll show this through your grades, courses, achievements, and extracurricular activities . 

Regardless of other college essay ideas you need, you will need to write the Common App personal statement. This is the only significant writing the admissions teams will see from applicants at colleges that don’t require essays. In light of that, it needs to be an excellent example of your writing skills while also demonstrating your personality. 

The Common App provides students with a few college essay topics to choose from. In order to generate the best college essay ideas, choose to write on college essay topics that genuinely excite you. While brainstorming , make a list of college essay ideas from the given college essay topics. Think about anecdotes, meaningful experiences, and personal growth that pertain to the college essay topics. Successful college essay ideas lead to authentic essays, which is the key in standing out to admissions. 

Essay Guides and Essay Resources

As we’ve mentioned, even when applying to colleges that don’t require essays, most applicants must complete the personal statement. Don’t stress about coming up with college essay ideas on your own! CollegeAdvisor.com provides ample free resources for students at every step of the college application process—including the essays. 

Unfortunately for those aiming to apply to colleges that don’t require essays of any kind, most require the personal statement. The best way to generate college essay ideas is by reading successful essay examples. Check out some of these Common App essay examples to understand what works. And, before even worrying about college essay ideas, learn more about the Common App essay in this article . We’ll outline the most important factors when writing this essay. 

If you’re reading this, you probably want to apply to colleges that don’t require essays. However, don’t let that limit you in the college application process. If you love a school, but they require supplemental essays, keep it on your list. Don’t let a disdain for essays keep you from attending your dream school .

CollegeAdvisor has many school-specific essay guides covering everything from college essay ideas to revising that final draft. Check out our USC , Yale , UChicago , and many more college-specific supplemental essay guides. If you’re stuck on thinking up college essay ideas, then these guides are a good place to begin.

Colleges Without Supplemental Essays – Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, supplemental essays are one of the most stressful parts of the college application process for many students. From choosing college essay topics to generating college essay ideas and actually writing essays, there’s a lot of effort involved.

However, as you can see from this article, there are many colleges that don’t require essays. So, if you’re crunched for time or feel overwhelmed by needing various impactful college essay ideas, you have options. It’s never a bad idea to add some schools that don’t require essays to your college list. 

Keep in mind, though, that you’ll most likely still need to write the personal statement essay. But one essay is better than six. And, remember that CollegeAdvisor can provide personalized attention for anything from brainstorming college essay ideas to applying for financial aid. Reach out if you’d like some guidance in your college application process. Otherwise, take advantage of our large library of free resources!

This article was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Colleges Without Supplemental Essays

• By Annie Burdick

Published March 19, 2020 | Last Updated September 9th, 2023 at 03:25 pm

You’re ready to apply for colleges, and perhaps you’ve already begun the process of selecting your preferred schools and filling in their long applications.

No matter where you apply, it’s likely that you’ll come across similar application processes with countless questions about how to contact you, what you did in high school (facts and figures at the forefront), and what you want to do in college.

But the component that some schools will also demand–one or more supplemental application essays –is something you can avoid by doing some research and applying only to particular schools that don’t have these requirements.

That means if writing essays is a major issue or red flag for you, it is possible to tailor your list of school options and applications to schools that won’t demand extra time for essay-writing when you already have enough on your plate. 

Why Are There Colleges Without Supplemental Essays?

While certain types of colleges base many of their acceptance decisions on the dreaded application essays, others don’t require them at all.

This may seem counterintuitive at first, and it may seem to imply that the schools without supplemental essays are of a lower caliber.

This isn’t necessarily the case. There are a few key reasons why a university may opt not to ask for essays:

• Resources and Time: Reading thousands of individual essays is a lot to put on the plate of admissions officers and often means some essays would go unread. While this is a waste of students’ hard work and the admission offers’ time, it’s something they avoid.

Instead, small schools without enough staff or time to read essays often don’t require them. And similarly, very large schools that get many thousands of applications each year often choose to forego essays as well, and focus instead on scores and numbers and availability in particular programs.

For instance, a liberal arts college and an engineering college at the same large university will also have different application components, different admission requirements (scores and GPA, for instance), and different numbers of accepted students each year.  

• Straightforward Set of Admissions Criteria: Other schools choose just to make things easier on themselves and use a very paired-down set of criteria: GPA, test scores, and class rank, most commonly–that instantly determine if someone is in or out.

In these cases, some applicants do become what’s known as “borderline” and are right on the edge of some or all of the criteria (or perhaps they exceed some and fall short in others).

In these cases, to strengthen their chances, students may be given the option to add a supplemental essay to their application, making them a stronger candidate and demonstrating their interest.

• Focusing on Diversity: Some colleges want to attract a more diverse and large group of applicants.

As essays can be a deterrent for many, including students with learning or other disabilities or less spare time due to work or circumstances, these schools opt out of requiring them altogether and thus make their application process much more accessible to any student who is interested. They’re of the mindset that anyone, regardless of background, might be a great student for their university.

How Can You Find Colleges That Don’t Require Essays?

You could go about this in two different ways. The first is to start by using other criteria to find a list of schools that are of interest to you.

The presence or lack of an application essay is likely not your number one quality in a college. So explore your options first, and compile a list.

What factors are most important to you? Location? Degree program or learning opportunities? Tuition and other costs? Size? There are so many things to consider. 

Once you’ve come up with a solid list, if you want to narrow down your top applications to the schools with no supplemental essays, take a look at their application pages.

If you look on their sites or even start an application, it should be quite clearly stated what is involved in the application (the fee, the requirements, any essays).

If they don’t require one, congrats!

Do keep in mind, though, that if they provide the option for an essay and you’re on their borderline for scores and grades, adding an essay will make you stand out.

The other option is to go about it in the reverse order.

If the lack of an essay is a huge deal for you, there are many places that list major schools with no supplemental essay requirements.

This article is among those places, as we’ve included a list of many schools below.

You can narrow down those lists further by your other criteria like the ones mentioned above. Come up with a small list of applications to prioritize and work from that!

Once you’ve done some essay-less applications, if you have the motivation or time you could always do one or two extra applications that do have essays but are schools at the top of your list. 

What Colleges Don’t Require Essays?

There are many, so this list is by no means all of the schools that don’t require one.

And, because there are many, it’s also broken down by type/size of school. 

Notably missing from any list of universities without application essays are Ivy League schools and most private colleges.

As you can probably guess, these schools have much more involved applications and, in the case of Ivy League schools, likely multiple essays among other application components. 

Lar ge Universities

Among these are many Big 10 schools, major state universities, and highly desirable universities from around the country (though you’ll notice a trend toward Southern, Midwestern, and Western states and none in New England).

• University of Alabama 
• University of Alaska 
• Arizona State 
• University of Colorado-Denver 
• DePaul University
• University of South Florida 
• University of Hawaii-Manoa 
• Iowa State University 
• University of Iowa 
• Kansas State 
• Kent State University
• Louisiana State University -Baton Rouge 
• Eastern Michigan University 
• University of Minnesota 
• University of Mississippi
• University of Missouri 
• University of Nevada – Reno 
• University of New Mexico 
• University of Pittsburgh
• Utah State University
• West Virginia University

Smaller Universities

These smaller schools are some of the many in that category that don’t mandate application essays (and some of the more popular among those). These schools have a smaller student body size, which is appealing to some students, based on their individual preferences. 

• Alabama State University
• Arkansas State University
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• University of Idaho
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• University of Southern Indiana
• Kentucky State University
• University of Southern Mississippi
• St. John’s University (NY & MN)
• University of Montana
• University of South Dakota
• University of Wyoming 

For the record, approximately one-third of Common App members don’t require “supplements”   or college-specific essays. 

Choosing where you’ll spend the next years of your life is no simple matter, and we know there is a ton of thought that goes into it.

But, no matter the long list of other factors going into your top colleges list, if avoiding hours of essays is important to you, there are certainly schools to stick to that will help you in achieving that goal–great ones, at that. 

Use  R2C Insights  to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.  

Other Articles You Might Like: 

Everything You Need to Know About The College Waitlist

How Parents Can Help Students handle Admissions Decisions

The College Waitlist Game Just Got More Interesting

JOIN ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS & CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS: 

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, do any colleges not require essays for admission.

Hi everyone! I'm a junior starting my college search, and I'm curious if there are any colleges out there that don't require essays for admission. It'd be nice to have a few less essays to write! Thanks in advance.

Yes, there are colleges that don't require essays for admission! These schools often have a more streamlined application process and look at other factors, such as GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores (if applicable), when evaluating prospective students.

Many state schools, such as all California State Universities (those in the Cal State system), do not require essays as part of their application process. Additionally, some smaller schools and community colleges also don't require essays for admission.

That being said, you'll still find that most colleges do require essays. So, don't rule out a school automatically just because it requires essays - rather, be thoughtful about not overextending yourself in terms of the number of essays you're committing to writing, and make sure that the ones you do write are as strong as possible. Admissions essays help colleges understand who you are as an individual beyond your academic profile, and thus can make a significant difference in the decision process, if the school requires them.

Finally, even if a particular school doesn't require any school-specific supplemental essays, there's a decent chance it will still require a main personal statement, which you can submit to all of your schools through a platform like the Common App. Since you may well end up needing to write this essay, even if none of your schools have any supplements, you may find CollegeVine's guidance on how to tackle it useful: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays/.

Overall, while there are certainly schools out there that don't require essays, odds are at least some of your schools will, and it's important to craft high-quality responses for these institutions. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Lists & Rankings > College Admission > Colleges For B Students, Late Bloomers, And Underachievers

Colleges and Universities That Don't Require Supplemental Essays

List produced by the facts.

* Green "Yes, connect me!" buttons indicate a featured school

• Albion College (Albion, MI): An application essay is recommended but not required.
• Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY): No additional essays are required, but students may submit special talent supplements. Yes, connect me!
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH): Additional materials are an optional way to enhance your application. Yes, connect me!
• Clemson University (Clemson, SC): No personal essay is required with the Common or Coalition Application.
• Colby College (Waterville, ME): Supplemental essays aren't required, but students may opt to submit a video through InitialView Elevator Pitch.
• Connecticut College (New London, CT): No supplemental essays are requested beyond the Common Application personal statement requirement.
• DePaul University (Chicago, IL): Personal essays are optional and not required for first-year student applicants; however, test-optional applicants are encouraged to submit the essay through the Common App.
• DePauw University (Greencastle, IN): An additional essay beyond the personal statement is required to be considered for the Honor Scholar Program.
• Dillard University (New Orleans, LA): If a first-year applicant doesn't meet certain requirements, they must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement (a three-to-five-paragraph essay outlining your future aspirations) for further consideration.
• Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA): A 250–650-word essay via the Common or Coalition Application is the only writing requirement for most applicants, while certain programs in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design require an additional writing supplement. Essays submitted on paper or emailed directly to the University are not accepted.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ): Essays, résumés, and recommendation letters are optional but welcome.
• Fordham University (Bronx, NY): An essay as part of the Common Application is required, but other writing opportunities are optional; applicants will not be penalized if they choose to skip these sections. Yes, connect me!
• Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA): No fee to apply and no required supplement.
• Kent State University (Kent, OH): Personal essays aren't required for first-year applicants.
• Kenyon College (Gambier, OH): Prospective students who have an interest or talent they would like to share may submit an optional portfolio.
• Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT): A supplemental essay is not required; any additional materials submitted beyond what are required are not guaranteed to be reviewed by admissions readers.
• Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA): Only a personal essay is required of applicants.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ): An additional essay on a specific topic is required to apply to the Honors College.
• Northeastern University (Boston, MA): Additional essays are not required beyond the personal statement through the Common or Coalition Application. Yes, connect me!
• Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ): An essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement. Yes, connect me!
• Siena College (Loudonville, NY): The essay is optional for the majority of applicants, though many students still choose to submit one to help the admissions team learn more about them. Applicants also have the option to submit a graded English or history paper from junior or senior year to show off their best work. Yes, connect me!
• Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY): Supplemental materials will be reviewed but aren't required; however, an additional essay is required in order to apply for the College's Porter-Wachenheim Presidential Scholarships in Science and Mathematics.
• Spelman College (Atlanta, GA): Students who are invited to the honors program will be required to submit an additional essay.
• Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ): Just one personal statement is required of applicants.
• Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY): Additional essays are required for Honors, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine applicants.
• The Ohio State University—Columbus (Columbus, OH): Freshman applicants to the Columbus campus are only required to write a Common Application essay, while no essay is required for admission to OHIO's regional campuses. Yes, connect me!
• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): No personal essay is required for first-year student applicants.
• University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY): The University may ask applicants to submit a personal statement and/or mid-year grades if they apply without test scores.
• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): A personal essay isn't required through the Common App, but supplemental essay prompts are available for students who would like to apply for scholarships.
• University of Colorado, Denver (Denver, CO): The personal statement is the only writing sample submitted during the application process. Yes, connect me!
• University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT): A personal essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement for prospective students. Yes, connect me!
• University of Dayton (Dayton, OH): Just one essay is required of applicants.
• University of Denver (Denver, CO): No essays are required beyond the Common App personal statement. Yes, connect me!
• University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): If a student doesn't provide ACT or SAT scores at the time of application, they may be required to submit additional academic documents or a personal statement to receive an admission decision. Yes, connect me!
• University of Minnesota—Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): No essays are required, but applicants have the option to submit short answers to supplemental questions.
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln (Lincoln, NE): A personal essay isn't required for admission, but applicants must write a 500-word essay about themselves with a focus on leadership, career goals, and community service to be considered for the University's Leadership, Service & Diversity Enhancement Scholarships.
• University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH): No supplemental essays or writing prompts are required other than the essay required as part of the Common Application.
• University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): A personal statement or the Common Application essay is required for scholarship consideration as well as for students applying test-optional. It could also increase your chances with guaranteed admission programs or help explain extenuating circumstances. Yes, connect me!
• University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN): Applicants aren't required to answer the University's essay questions, but it's "highly recommend" to do so, especially if you apply without test scores.
• University of Vermont (Burlington, VT): An optional essay is available as a chance for the University to get to know you better. Yes, connect me!
• University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA): A personal statement is the only writing requirement for prospective students.
• Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT): The submission of supplemental materials is optional.

Source: Moon Prep

Want more information on how this list was compiled? Find out more about  where our Lists & Rankings come from .

About This List

Having schools on your list that don’t require supplemental essays gives you more time and energy to apply to more colleges and programs. The following schools do not require supplemental essays as of the 2022–2023 application season. Please keep in mind that if you're interested in special programs such as honors, Nursing, or scholarship opportunities, you may still be required or encouraged to write essays—especially if you don't submit standardized test scores. (This list was compiled by our friends at Moon Prep , with additional research by CollegeXpress.)

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More From Forbes

Over 40 colleges without supplemental essays 2022-23.

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As high school seniors begin the college application process, they quickly realize that applying to colleges can take a lot of work! Putting together the personal statement—a 650-word essay that helps demonstrate to colleges what type of person you are—activity list and supplemental essays are a time-consuming process that many students spend months preparing.

Seniors applying to college this year can easily apply to these schools with no supplemental essays. ... [+]

On average, the number of applications submitted to Common App, one of the biggest college application platforms, has increased yearly, with 14.4% more applications submitted in 2020- 21 than in 2019-20. As students apply to more schools, some of the top universities have gotten even more competitive, with Columbia University and Harvard University accepting less than 4% of their applicants for the class of 2026.

Because of the increased competition, many students are trying to beat the odds and will apply to ten or more universities. It’s not uncommon for some students to apply to more programs, especially if they are applying to highly selective schools or programs like direct medical programs. According to Nicole Gress , a counselor at Moon Prep, her direct medical students will typically apply to a mixture of BS/MD, Ivy League, and other traditional colleges for a total of 25-30 schools.

However, it is essential first to build a balanced college list rather than applying to only the most competitive schools. Having a list with colleges categorized as safeties, matches, and targets ensures that students will get into a number of schools, giving them options on May 1 when making their college decision.

How To Build A Balanced College List

As students build their college list, they should consider various things: career/major goals, financial aid needs, school size, location, and more. To start, students should get organized and begin tracking this data in Google Sheets and later use it as a reference. Research the acceptance rate, standardized testing policies, average scores, and early admissions options.

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Once this information has been gathered, students can start categorizing their school list into safety schools, match schools and reach schools. A mixture of these three types of schools can help them create a balanced college list.

• Safety schools. Accepted students will have average GPAs and standardized test scores lower than yours. The acceptance rate will be at least 40%.
• Match schools. Accepted students will have similar GPA and standardized test scores as you. The acceptance rate will be 25% or above.
• Reach schools. Accepted students will have higher GPAs and standardized test scores than you. The acceptance rate is typically lower than 25%. However, schools with an acceptance rate of 10% or less are a reach for everyone, even for valedictorians with perfect standardized test scores.

Students should aim to have at least 2-3 schools in each category to ensure that they have a well-balanced college list.

Applying To Schools With No Supplemental Essays

Here is a list of schools that don’t require supplemental essays to apply to their undergraduate program. Check the school website to make sure the information is accurate. Also, note that you might have to write essays for these schools if you are interested in their honors programs, scholarships, or a specific program within the school. By adding some schools that don’t require a supplemental essay to your college list, students can pad their numbers, apply to more schools, and have more options.

• Albion College
• Case Western University
• Clemson University
• Colby College
• Connecticut College
• Dillard University
• DePaul University
• DePauw University
• Drexel University
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Fordham University
• Grinnell College
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University
• Seton Hall University
• Siena College
• Skidmore College
• Spelman College
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stony Brook University
• SUNY Binghamton University
• SUNY Buffalo
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado-Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa
• University of Minnesota
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of New Hampshire
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of St. Thomas
• University of Vermont
• Wesleyan University

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Colleges That Don’t Require Any Supplemental Essays

• Adelphi University
• Alaska Pacific University
• Albion College
• Alma College
• Baldwin Wallace University
• Barry University
• Bates College
• Bay Path University
• Beloit College
• Bryant University
• Butler University
• Caldwell University
• Capital University
• Centenary College of Louisiana
• Christopher Newport University
• Clarkson University
• Colby College
• College of Saint Benedict
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Cornell College
• Cottey College
• DePaul University
• Elmira College
• Gettysburg College
• Grinnell College
• Hanover College
• Hellenic College
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Iona University
• Juniata College
• Kenyon College
• Lyon College
• McKendree University
• Menlo College
• Middlebury College
• Northeastern University
• Northern Vermont University Johnson
• Northern Vermont University Lyndon
• Ohio State University
• Ripon College
• Pace University
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Sacred Heart University
• Salisbury University
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• SUNY Binghamton University
• Susquehanna University
• Temple University
• Trinity University
• Union College
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Colorado Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Idaho
• University of Missouri – St. Louis
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• University of New Hampshire
• University of Rhode Island
• Wesleyan University
• Whitman College
• Wilkes University
• Woodbury University

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Give our College Essay Writing Course a try!

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Category: Admissions , College Admissions , Uncategorized

Tags: Admissions , admissions help , advice , application , applying to college , college application , college applications , college essay advisors , college list , colleges , list

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, complete list: which colleges require act writing.

ACT , ACT Writing

You've just signed up for the ACT. But did you know that there is an optional Writing test for the ACT? More importantly, do you know if your dream schools require or recommend this ACT section?

Check out our regularly updated list of schools to find out if the Writing ACT is worth your time and money. We'll then give you our top tips for acing the ACT Writing section.

What Is the ACT Writing Test?

The ACT Writing test is an optional essay test you can take immediately after the other sections of the ACT. It costs an additional $25 and 40 minutes of your time. It's available to take after the ACT on all national testing dates in the USA .

Keep in mind when deciding to take it or not that you cannot just take the ACT Writing test on its own —you can only take this section after suitably exhausted after taking all the other ACT sections!

The writing test is meant to measure the writing skills you should have learned in your English classes throughout high school. It also claims to be a measure of how you might do in entry-level composition classes in college.

So, what exactly is the test like? First, you'll be given a prompt that tells you about an issue. You will also be presented with three possible points of view on this topic. You then must write an essay on your point of view. You can either borrow and elaborate on one of the ones provided, or offer up a fourth viewpoint. (Sound tough? See this article for top ACT Essay strategies .)

Your ACT Writing score (which is scored on a scale of 2-12) is not part of your composite ACT score (out of 36), which consists only of your English, Math, Reading, and Science scores. Instead, your essay score is used alongside your English and Reading scores to give you what is called an English Language Arts (ELA) score.

Read our guide for a full breakdown of how the ACT is scored .

Why Do Some Schools Require ACT Writing?

You might be surprised to learn that most schools don't require the ACT Writing test! In recent years many schools that previously required ACT Writing have opted to make the section optional or not even review it at all if students choose to take it. This became especially true after the SAT discontinued its essay section in 2021 .

However, those schools that do require it think they have a pretty good reason to do so. These schools think that your essay score, combined with your English and Reading ACT scores, can help them understand your grasp of English and your ability to produce a sample of writing under pressure.

This is quite a different skill compared to what they see when you submit your personal statement and other essays in your applications. They are assuming that those have been proofread by 50 of your closest friends and family members, and that they have been heavily edited and reviewed for hours on end.

So while your personal statement is more like a heavily photoshopped selfie in flattering lighting, ACT Writing is more like a candid snapshot of your writing abilities.

Your writing is kind of like a selfie, if a selfie was just words.

Specifically, these colleges want to get a better idea of your reasoning skills and your ability to defend a point of view. Can you write logically and coherently? Can you use proper sentence structure without Microsoft Word telling you what you've done wrong? The Writing Test is your chance to prove you have all these skills.

Apart from your application, the combined English Language Arts score has another use for many schools. For example, colleges might use your score to help place you in different levels of English classes. So this could potentially save you the trouble of having to take a placement test once you arrive at college in the fall!

What Kind of Colleges Require ACT Writing?

Now then, what colleges actually require ACT Writing? The answer to this question might surprise you! Read on to learn which schools require the Writing section of the ACT—and which don't.

Fact Check: Most Top Schools Don't Require ACT Writing

Perhaps surprisingly, most top-ranked colleges and universities do not require ACT Writing. In recent years, many top schools, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, and Brown have stopped requiring the ACT Writing test. Currently, none of the Ivy Leagues require ACT Writing.

Many top public colleges, including the University of Michigan, and University of Texas, have also stopped requiring ACT Writing (and the UC schools have stopped requiring test scores altogether!).

You'll have to write your essay, but no red ink allowed!

Do Top Journalism, Humanities, and English Programs Require ACT Writing?

Not really. Pepperdine and George Washington University, which are known as great journalism schools , do not require ACT Writing.

Similarly, Georgetown and the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts offer great English degrees and do not require the ACT with Writing.

Hamilton College in New York, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, and Colorado College all have great writing programs and do not require the Writing ACT.

Several well-known, smaller liberal arts colleges do not require (although they might recommend) the ACT with Writing; these include Amherst, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Pomona, Haverford, and Davidson College.

Finally, the University of Chicago is great all around for humanities and does not require it.

Do Top Technical/Math/Science Schools Require ACT Writing?

As you might expect, most of the top tech/math/science schools don't require the ACT Writing, including Caltech, MIT and the University of Michigan.

Yes, STEM programs also care about your writing ability.

Why Should You Care About ACT Writing?

Below, we list every college that either requires or recommends the ACT Plus Writing.

Keep in mind that although you don't have to take the ACT with Writing (unless you want to apply to a college on the first list below), you still have the option to if you wish.

You can still submit the Writing test to colleges even if they don't require it. By doing this, you allow them to consider your essay along with the rest of your application. Some schools will treat ACT Writing equally important as the other ACT sections, whereas others will give it less weight or not consider it at all. But the bottom line is this: a strong Writing score will often help you out. If you opt to take the test and score well on it, it could be a way to enhance your application and give you an edge!

If you're thinking of taking the ACT Plus Writing, either because you have to or because you just want that extra bright point in your application, it is definitely worth your time to study and practice so that you can master the ACT Essay .

Another point: you might change your mind about what colleges you want to apply to, and that is another reason it's a good idea to take the ACT Plus Writing. If your plans change, you don't want to have to retake the whole ACT just because you didn't think ahead!

Where are your dream schools on the list?

Full List of Colleges That Require ACT Writing

As of 2023, there are only 3 schools in the US that still require the ACT with Writing (or haven't clarified otherwise):

• Martin Luther College (MN)
• Soka University of America (CA)
• United States Military Academy (West Point) (NY)

If you apply to any of these schools, you  must  take the ACT with Writing, otherwise your application won't be considered complete, and it won't be reviewed.

Full List of Colleges That Recommend ACT Writing

While few schools still require the ACT Writing section, it's still recommended for some schools. Note that when a college recommends ACT Writing, they're explicitly stating that a high score on your essay will give a decent boost to your college application and is a piece of information they appreciate seeing from applicants. This is different from schools that simply accept ACT Writing scores.

If a school accepts ACT Writing, that means they'll review your essay score if you take and send it. However, it's not something they're hugely interested in, and it may not have much or any impact on your application, even if your score is particularly high or low.

Recommending ACT Writing means that the college doesn't require it, but that scoring well on it will improve the strength of your application and help you reach equal footing with other applicants who do take it.

Many more schools used to recommend ACT Writing, but with the recent rise in test-optional admissions , as well as the SAT ending its essay section, almost no schools explicitly recommend it. Currently, most schools will view your ACT Writing scores if you send them, but it won't at all be an important part of your application.

Currently, four schools specifically state on their website that they recommend taking ACT Writing:

• Colorado School of Mines (CO)
• Bethune-Cookman University (FL)
• Morehouse College (GA)
• Molloy College (NY)

You can still get accepted into any of these schools if you don't take ACT Writing, but taking the essay can give your application a boost. If you're concerned about your chances of getting into one of these schools, a high ACT Essay score will give you a bit of an extra edge over the competition.

These policies can change at any time and, additionally, many schools aren't particularly clear  how/if they review ACT Writing scores. If there's a school you're particularly interested in, check their admissions page (usually under "standardized test policies" or something similar) to see if they state their policy on ACT Writing. If they don't, a quick email or phone call to the school's admissions office will clear the issue up and help you decide if you should take the ACT Writing section or not.

What's Next?

Students might have the opportunity to take a digital ACT in the future.  Here's what you need to know.

Now that you know whether you need to take ACT Writing, make sure you do well on it. Learn the prompts that ACT Writing tests, 15 strategies to improve your ACT Writing score , and how to get a 12 on the essay .

Ready to work for a killer ACT English Language Arts Score? Make sure to remind yourself of what's actually tested on ACT English and ACT Reading .

For top strategies for scoring a 36 on ACT English, check out this article .

Don't forget the rest of the test —here are tips for getting a perfect ACT score, by a 36 full scorer .

Mary Ann holds a BA in Classics and Russian from the University of Notre Dame, and an MA from University College London. She has years of tutoring experience and is also passionate about travel and learning languages.

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Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

College applications require a lot of hard work and dedication. At times, it can feel difficult to stay organized during the application process. Especially if you have a sizable college list. Between writing a successful college essay and chronicling your various extracurricular activities , there are a lot of application sections to focus on. And that doesn’t even take supplemental essays into account! 

Knowing how to find the right college for you often requires a lot of research. That said, referring to a list of colleges without supplemental essays can be a great way to add to your college list. Especially if you don’t have time to write more essays. Ultimately, this is why having a list of colleges with no supplemental essays can be such a helpful tool. 

In this article, we review over 40 colleges that don’t require supplemental essays. Again, these colleges can serve as great last-minute additions to your college list!

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Northeast: colleges without supplemental essays

Let’s take a look at some of the best colleges without supplemental essays. As you go through this list, research the universities without supplemental essays that most stand out to you. And remember, there are lots of top colleges without supplemental essays!

Midwest: colleges without supplemental essays

Alternatively, if you’re interested in attending college in the midwest and are still wondering what colleges don’t require supplemental essays? consider some of these competitive colleges without supplemental essays.

South: colleges without supplemental essays

Still wondering what colleges don’t have supplemental essays? Take a look at some of these good colleges without supplemental essays located in the south. 

Deciding on your list of colleges

As you assemble your college list, you’ll likely want to research the differences between colleges and universities . You’ll also want to consider questions such as: Do you prefer urban or rural settings? Smaller or larger classes? etc. During your initial college research, you might also want to consider some of the ​​ top public universities in the West , as well as liberal arts colleges in the East . 

Ultimately, you’ll come up with a list of preferences, as well as other criteria, that will help you decide which colleges you want to apply to. It’s important to use these same standards when deciding which colleges without supplements you should add to your college list. In other words, although it may be easier to apply to schools that don’t require supplemental essays, you should always research each college thoroughly before choosing to apply. 

Key takeaways and moving forward

Colleges without supplemental requirements can make excellent additions to your college list. In fact, purposefully selecting several colleges without supplemental essays can help you save time and stay organized during the college application process . After all, it takes a lot of work to put together a strong college application. Writing your personal statement, asking for letters of recommendation , preparing scholarship essays , and continuing to engage in your extracurricular activities are all incredibly time-consuming. That said, if you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance while you work on your college applications, reach out to learn more about our services .

• January 13, 2023

40+ Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

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The Best Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• Sasha Chada
• October 21, 2022

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Supplemental essays can add a lot of time, stress, and effort to the college application process. Some schools require four or five additional essays, and over a thousand words in addition to the personal statement. We’ve written before about the best ways to answer these essays , but today we’re taking a different approach.

There are some colleges which don’t require supplemental essays at all. Not all of these schools are great, but some are well ranked and regarded, and offer excellent academic opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore these schools, and explain how these schools can add value to your college list. Let’s get started!

How to Use These Schools in Your College List

When building your college list , one thing you need to think about is how much effort each additional school will require of you. While we explain how to limit your overall workload in our supplemental essays article , each school which requires essays is additional effort.

These schools are a good way to fill out your college list. We do recommend only applying to colleges which you actually want to attend, but if any of these schools appeal to you, then you can submit applications to them with minimal additional effort. 

How you should handle this depends on whether a given school is a reach, target, or safety for you . Here is how we recommend approaching the various levels: 

• Reach: if you are interested in these schools as reaches, and they are a realistic reach for you, we recommend applying to as many as you want. A shotgun approach is valid here. We still recommend only applying to schools you want to attend.
• Target: These schools are good for rounding out a list of target schools. You should not add all of them, but two or three added to your target list can give you additional options down the line. 
• Safety: These schools can work as safety schools, and we recommend doing this if you think you can get a good merit aid offer from one of them. Note that merit aid, especially from honors colleges, may require separate essays to apply for.

Overall, these schools are a nice thing to know about, especially if you are stressed about writing your college essays. Now, we’ll give you a brief introduction to each school, and discuss how difficult each is to gain acceptance to.

Best Colleges that Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

This list is not comprehensive, and will be updated in the future, as schools are consistently reevaluating their admissions practices and policies. These are schools we have found which offer essay free admissions, and which are also consistently well ranked.

Case Western Reserve University

We have a fact sheet on Case Western if you are interested in a more in-depth look at what they offer. Their current acceptance rate is 27%, though their acceptance rate is 36% for students who apply early. 

Located in Cleveland Ohio, Case Western has a focus on STEM subjects, though they still offer a full liberal arts curriculum for students who want it. The school is an R1 research university, and has a full complement of graduate schools. They are known for computer engineering, and had one of the first computer engineering programs in the country.

Grinnell College

Located in Grinnell, Iowa, Grinnell is a private liberal arts college. They are entirely need blind in admissions, and guarantee meeting the full need of all admitted students. Their acceptance rate this past admissions cycle was 11%. Grinell is a traditional liberal arts college, and their course offerings reflect this, with a focus on undergraduate education, and no graduate courses offered. Grinnell is considered on of the “Little Ivies” due to its high academic performance.

Kenyon College

Located in Gambier, Ohio, Kenyon is a private liberal arts institution, focused on undergraduate education. Their acceptance rate this past year was 37%. They are Ohio’s oldest private college, and require students to take courses in the humanities, social sciences, arts, and natural sciences. They do not offer courses for graduate students. 

Middlebury College

Located in Middlebury, Vermont, Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college. Their acceptance rate last year was 15%, and was the same for applicants who applied early. They offer a liberal arts curriculum for undergrads, though they don’t offer courses for graduate students. While it does not have its own engineering program, students interested in engineering may take part in a joint program the school offers with Columbia and Dartmouth. 

Northeastern University

If you are interested in a more in-depth look at Northeastern, check out our fact sheet on them . Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern is a research university, offering a full range of undergraduate and graduate coursework. The school is well ranked, though often overshadowed by other universities in the Boston area. It is especially well known for its internship programs, and has remarkable success connecting students with opportunities which lead to careers in the future.

Oberlin College

Located in Oberlin, Ohio, Oberlin is the oldest coeducational private liberal arts college in the country, and continues to offer students a range of academic opportunities. Oberlin is also a conservatory, which handles admissions separately from the undergraduate college as a whole, and which is more competitive. Last year, Oberlin’s acceptance rate was 34%, though the conservatories acceptance rate was only 8.6%. Oberlin is a traditional liberal arts college, and does not offer courses for graduate students. 

The Ohio State University

Located in Columbus, Ohio, OSU is a major research university, and is also well known for its football program. It is an R1 research university, and offers courses at undergraduate and graduate levels across an array of disciplines. Last year, it’s acceptance rate was 54%, with an early acceptance rate of 67%. While admissions to the college as a whole does not require a supplemental essay, students interested in applying to the honors program will have to answer a supplemental essay prompt. OSU is by far the largest school on this list by undergraduate population, with 47,100 students attending.

Temple University

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Temple is a public research university, and is one of the largest professional schools in the country. Its acceptance rate last year was 72%. As an R1 research university, Temple offers coursework in all fields and disciplines. While general admissions does not require an essay, an audition is required for the music and dance programs. 

University of Pittsburgh

Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pitt is an R1 public research university. While it is a major research institution, they have a liberal arts style curriculum and experience for those students who want it. Their admissions rate last year was 67%. While general admissions does not require an essay, the honors college does. 

Wesleyan University

Located in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan is a Liberal Arts college, and is considered one of the “Little Ivies.” The school is often associated with Brown, though they are not officially linked, and offers a liberal arts curriculum. Last year, their acceptance rate was 16.3%. While they do not have an engineering program themselves, they have partnered with Caltech and Columbia to provide engineering opportunities for their students. While they focus primarily on undergraduates, there are a limited number of graduate students at Wesleyan. 

Final Thoughts

Writing college essays is often the most stressful part of college applications, and is the thing we spend the most time on with our students. Not all students enjoy writing however, and for some the stress of having to craft a perfect essay overwhelms all other concerns. We hope that this list of schools gives you more options when you are applying to college. 

If you want help writing your college essays, or want to hear how else we can help you on the road to college, schedule a free consultation today. We have a depth of experience in helping students express themselves fully, and are eager to help you tell your story to the college of your dreams.

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Indiana has pushed to make college easier to enroll in and more affordable in recent years. But across its public higher education system, students of color and those from low-income families still struggle with completing college. (Sanjin Wang / Getty Images)

Indiana is expanding college access, but are students actually prepared to earn a degree?

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As a teenager, Mike Utley’s college prep often came via Google and Reddit.

He had few people he felt he could turn to for advice, so he searched for answers online. He also reviewed pamphlets and went on college visits — but even the tours, he said, felt like going to the zoo and looking at an exhibit through glass.

“The concept of what this thing was was so foreign to me, that every part of college life was an adjustment,” said Utley, who graduated from Indianapolis’ Shortridge High School in 2018 and was a first-generation college student. “Every single part.”

Once he enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington, several factors made life challenging. His mother was battling cancer. He switched majors multiple times within the Kelley School of Business without finding a subject he was passionate about studying. And looking back, he said, he didn’t have a good understanding of his own mental health.

He dropped out in 2021, during the second semester of his junior year. In fact, of the Indianapolis Public Schools students like Utley who graduated in 2018 and enrolled in a public, in-state four-year college within a year of graduation, just 23.6% graduated on time, according to data from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education . Fewer than 6 in 10 made it to their second year at any public state institution.

In Indianapolis and across the state, education officials and legislators have enacted several initiatives designed to expand college access and increase college enrollment. Students frequently hear about the benefits of higher education. But the experiences of people like Utley raise a key question: Are students actually prepared enough to finish it, even if their academic records suggest they are?

The recent expansion of college-access programs might make the answer to that question more important.

Indiana students in seventh and eighth grade who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch are now automatically enrolled in the state’s 21st Century Scholars program, which offers college tuition for qualifying students (Utley participated in this program). Every high school student in Indiana must now fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid .

And this year, IU Indianapolis will admit its first round of IPS students through an automatic admissions program for students with a GPA of at least 3.0 .

Research suggests that college completion in Indiana and elsewhere is often hardest for students of color , students from low-income families , and those who are the first in their family to attend college . Researchers and experts say students withdraw from college for several reasons, and students of color in particular can struggle to feel at home on many campuses.

Low college completion rates are rooted in societal inequities that affect students beginning in prekindergarten and pose major challenges to K-12 schools, said Bryan Cook, director of higher education policy for the Center on Education Data and Policy at the Urban Institute.

“There are inequities that are not getting addressed in K-12 among different populations of students by race and income, and those inequities perpetuate themselves in higher education,” Cook said, “even if students are able to be successful in high school to the point where they can get admitted into a four-year college.”

Both IPS — which says different data paints a better picture for its graduates — and higher education institutions say they’re working on the issue in various ways.

Officials in the college prep space must focus on systemic issues like homelessness, a lack of transportation, and food insecurity that can affect students’ emotional and social readiness for college, said Joe Zachery Jr., the director of the College Prep Institute at the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis.

“Yes, you were exposed to good education,” he said. “But you’re not really focused on that because you’re having a difficult time just surviving on a daily basis.”

Leaving high school unprepared for college

Utley, who is Black, said his family didn’t have a lot growing up. He and his siblings moved between shelters and other transitional housing with their mother.

But he still did well in IPS. He attended Sidener Academy, the district’s school for high-ability students. He did International Baccalaureate classes at Shortridge High School, where he said college enrollment was heavily stressed. He said he had a high school GPA of about 3.8.

Academically, he said, his high school experience prepared him for college. But in other ways, it did not.

He wishes someone had helped him understand college majors and careers, or how to take an effective gap year and explore career options. In general, he said, he needed someone to demystify adulthood.

“My high school was real big on, ‘This is a college prep school,’ so I understand why … they were so adamant on college enrollment, and that’s it,” he said. “But that’s not it.”

IPS officials say college completion rates for graduates have improved since 2018, based on National Student Clearinghouse data that includes private, public, and out-of-state colleges. But they have also boosted efforts at college preparation since Utley’s graduation in 2018.

These include the 2018 launch of Future Centers at each of the district’s four traditional high schools, and the creation of a Postsecondary Readiness team around the same time.

The goal of these centers, officials say, is to prepare students for college, employment, or enlistment in the military. Next school year, the district hopes to boost staffing at these centers by adding a college and career counselor and a college specialist.

But students from challenging circumstances like many in IPS, where nearly 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals due to their low-income backgrounds, need not just academic but also social support, said Carey Dahncke, executive director of the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis.

Dahncke’s center runs the Urban College Acceleration Network, which helps high schools in IPS and other districts become Early College High Schools accredited through the center. These schools not only offer dual credit options for future academic success, but also help students with early planning so they understand how higher education works and college coursework, Dahncke said.

“The theory with early college is if you understand the gaps, the problems that exist, you can put interventions in place to get a different outcome,” Dahncke said.

‘I wanted to make money because I was poor’

Enamored by the prestige and reputation of IU’s business school, he chose to enroll there — even though he naturally gravitated toward art.

“I wanted to make money because I was poor, and I’m going to the business school — that’s where they make all the money,” he said. “That was the mentality.”

The pressure of being a first-generation student and attending a prestigious program also piled on.

“You owe it to your community, you owe it to your parents, you owe it to your siblings, you owe it to the next generation to be successful,” he said. “Every decision I made until I was a sophomore was in relation to that pressure.”

Utley’s home life made college even harder: He frequently returned to Indianapolis to see his mother, who was battling cancer, and at times that led him to miss classes. Then his mother passed away in 2020. All these factors culminated in his withdrawal from IU.

At IU Bloomington, Black students complete college on time at the same campus at a lower rate than white or Asian students. The trend is similar at other public university campuses where many IPS students go, including Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Ball State. (IUPUI will split into IU Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis later this year.)

Among students who, like Utley, entered IU Bloomington in 2018, only 51.5% of Black students finished a degree from the university on time, compared to 71.1% of white students, according to data from the higher education commission.

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And Indiana’s completion rates for students from low-income backgrounds, even those who receive financial aid through the 21st Century Scholars program, are also lower than for their wealthier peers.

“Higher education does treat students like adults,” said Vasti Torres, the university’s interim vice provost. “But we also understand that we have to explain how the system works.”

IU Bloomington offers programs for students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. That includes a program called Groups that brings low-income students together in the summer before their freshman year, and a pre-college summer business program for students of color.

As part of a long-term strategic plan, the university will also start having advisers work with students who have not yet declared a major, Torres said. And beginning this year, Torres will teach a first-year seminar that reviews how students can engage with the campus community.

Higher education officials also hope programs such as the new dual admissions program between Ivy Tech and IU Indianapolis will boost college completion by allowing students to first attend community college before transitioning to a four-year institution. But historically, Indiana’s outcomes for that general approach haven’t necessarily been encouraging .

IU Indianapolis, which admitted 121 IPS students this year through its automatic admissions initiative, has also made its summer Bridge program mandatory for all incoming freshmen. The program, which used to be voluntary, runs one week prior to the start of the semester and helps students acclimate to the college environment. It’s also trying to make its advising more proactive.

Helping students help themselves

When Zachery talks to college admissions offices, he frequently hears them stress the importance of having students ready to advocate and act for themselves.

That’s what programs at the College Prep Institute try to do, from teaching them financial literacy to the importance of showing up on time to class. The center’s low-cost programming primarily serves students of color, Zachery said.

There’s no single person or organization Utley blames for his withdrawal from college. He knows where he needed help, and he knows which things he would’ve done differently. Today, he’s considering going to Ivy Tech to get an associate’s degree.

Utley, who is now 24, frequently calls his brother DeWayne, a freshman at IU Bloomington. He tells him: Just go to class. Learn what you want to learn about for four years. Know that the pressure is not all real.

“Your only allegiance, really, in college is to yourself,” he said. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to pursue a thing to make his older siblings happy.”

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Lawrence Township schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at [email protected] .

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Today is Juneteenth. What to know about what will be closed and why we celebrate

Today is Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

Here's everything you need to know about the holiday from what will be closed today and why we celebrate.

When is Juneteenth 2024?

Juneteenth always falls on June 19. For 2024, it happens to be a Wednesday.

Is Juneteenth a national holiday?

Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and has been  since 2021 .

Are banks open on Juneteenth?

Like most federal holidays, you can expect your local banks and credit unions to be closed in observance of Juneteenth, so make sure you plan ahead if you need anything from your bank on Wednesday.

Are government offices open on Juneteenth?

All nonessential federal and Indianapolis city government offices are closed Wednesday, June 19, for the holiday, but Indiana offices will be open.

Indiana offices will be open and state employees will not be off Juneteenth, according to Kirollos Barsoum, communications director for the Indiana State Department.

Juneteenth is not on Indiana's list of  recognized state holidays .

Things to do: Looking for Juneteenth celebrations? Indy has everything from jazz performances to boxing

Will the BMV be open on Juneteenth?

Yes, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Indiana will be open on Wednesday, June 19. The Indiana BMV does not have Juneteenth listed on its  2024 holiday schedule .

What's closed today?: Here's what will be open and closed on Juneteenth

Will I get mail on Juneteenth?

You won't get your regular mail delivered on June 19 because the  United States Postal Service  will not be delivering.

However, you may still get deliveries:  FedEx  and  UPS  will be open and offering their usual services.

Are schools closed for Juneteenth?

Most schools should already be out for the summer, but if not, public schools will be closed for the federal holiday.

For private schools and universities, check their calendar to see if they are closed.

Will stores, restaurants close for Juneteenth?

Even though it is a federally recognized holiday, individual businesses can decide whether they would like to be open Juneteenth. You may want to call local stores or restaurants you're planning on going to and ask if they'll be open.

Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a holiday marking slaves in Texas learning in 1865 that they had been freed by President Abraham Lincoln's  Emancipation Proclamation . The executive order outlawed slavery in Confederate states beginning Jan. 1, 1863, the midpoint of the Civil War.

The holiday rose to prominence in 2020 amid the nationwide protests about racial inequality after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia,  Breonna Taylor  in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minnesota.

President Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.

Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter  @itskatiewiseman .