Test Optional
Carroll College is Test-Optional! This means that students can be admitted to the college and be awarded merit scholarships ranging from $17,000 to $24,000 without submitting an ACT or SAT test score. The admission decision will be based on the application materials, including high school transcripts, essay, and letters of recommendation.
However, students are required to submit an ACT or SAT score if:
- Students who have reported unweighted academic GPA of 3.0 or lower
- Students who are home-schooled, attend a school that does not provide letter grades, or have a GED/HiSet (High School Equivalency)
Applicants wishing to submit a test score should plan on taking ACT or SAT test before May 1, 2023 for use in course placement, academic advising, and potential merit award increase.
Applying Test Optional
Students can apply using either the Common Application or the Carroll College Application. All applications are automatically set as test optional. Carroll will include any submitted test score in the merit calculation if it is advantageous to the applicant.
Calculating Final Merit Awards
Initial merit awards are calculated based on the information submitted during the process. Until August 1, 2022 students may choose to submit test scores if and when it helps them gain additional merit aid. Students should work with their admission counselor to ensure the correct test scores are reported.
Test Optional student merit awards are based on GPA and range from $24,000 per year for four years, to $17,000 per year for four years.
Merit levels with GPA and test scores can be calculated using the Merit Aid Calculator.
Submitting test scores after the admission decision
In some cases, if a student has taken the SAT or ACT we may request test scores after the student has been submitted for help in placing them in the appropriate levels of Math and English. Submitting these scores after admission will not affect Financial Aid or the admission decision.
Carroll College Advanced Placement (AP) Test Policy
High school students who receive scores of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination are granted college credit in appropriate subjects. Courses and credits are posted to the student's Carroll transcript upon receipt of the official College Board scores. Note: Credit is awarded only for scores of 4 or 5.
Carroll College Advanced Placement (AP) Policy
| Examination Title | Credits Awarded | Carroll Course Equivalency | ||
| Test Scores | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Art: 2D Design | 3 | 3 | ART 289 (portfolio required) | ART 289 (portfolio required) |
| Art: 3D Design | 3 | 3 | ART 289 (portfolio required) | ART 289 (portfolio required) |
| Art: Studio Art - Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 112 (portfolio required) | ART 112 (portfolio required) |
| Art: Studio Art - General | 3 | 3 | ART 112 (portfolio required) | ART 112 (portfolio required) |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 110 | ART 110 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BI 101 | BI 101 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MA 131* | MA 131* |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 | MA 131* | MA 131* |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CH 111 | CH 111 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FL 189 | FL 189 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CS 110 | CS 110 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CS 189 | CS 189 |
| Economics: Micro | 3 | 3 | EC 201 | EC 201 |
| Economics: Macro | 3 | 3 | EC 202 | EC 202 |
| English Language/Composition | 3 | 4 | ENWR 101 | ENWR 102 |
| English Literature/Composition | 3 | 3 | ENLT 215 | ENLT 215 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | ES 189 | ES 189 |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HI 209 | HI 209 |
| French Language | 3 | 3 | FR 101T | FR 102T |
| German Language | 3 | 3 | GM 101 | GM 102 |
| Government & Politics: US | 3 | 3 | PO 104 | PO 104 |
| Government & Politics: Comparative | 3 | 3 | PO 102 | PO 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GIS 189 | GIS 189 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FL 189 | FL 189 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FL 189 | FL 189 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LA 101 | LA 102 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUS 189 | MUS 189 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 201 | PHYS 201 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 202 | PHYS 202 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 205 | PHYS 205 |
| Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 206 | PHYS 206 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 105 | PSY 105 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SP 101T | SP 102T |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SP 289 | SP 289 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MA 207 | MA 207 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HI 121 | HI 121 |
| World History | 3 | 3 | HI 103 | HI 103 |
*Students who accept this credit cannot then take MA 121-122 or MA 131. However, students who feel uncomfortable with their calculus background may opt to decline their AP calculus credit. No student may receive credit for both MA 121-122 and MA 131.
Revised July 2020
Carroll College International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam Policy
High school students who receive a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate higher-level examinations are granted college credit in appropriate subjects. Credit is not awarded for subsidiary level examinations, Theory of Knowledge, or extended essays. Courses and credits are posted to the student's Carroll transcript upon receipt of the official International Baccalaureate transcripts. Note: Credit is awarded only for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on higher-level exams.
Carroll College International Baccalaureate (IB) Policy
| Examination Title | Credits Awarded | Carroll Course Equivalency |
| Art (Visual) | 3 | ART 110 |
| Biology | 4 | BI 101 |
| Business & Management | 3 | BA 100 |
| Chemistry | 4 | CH 111 |
| Classical Languages | 3 | LA 102 |
| Computer Science | 4 | CS 189 |
| Economics | 3 | EC 202 |
| English Language & Literature | 4 | ENWR 102 |
| English Literature | 3 | ENLT 215 |
| Film | 3 | THT 189 |
| French Language & Literature | 3 | FR 102T |
| German Language & Literature | 3 | GM 102 |
| Geography | 3 | GEOG 201 |
| Global Politics | 3 | PO 115 |
| History of Africa | 3 | HI 189 |
| History of the Americas | 3 | HI 189 |
| History of Asia and Oceania | 3 | HI 189 |
| History of Europe | 3 | HI 209 |
| History, 20th Century World | 3 | HI 103 |
| Mathematics | 4 | MA 131* |
| Music | 3 | MUS 189 |
| Philosophy | 3 | PHIL 101 |
| Physics | 8 | PHYS 201 and PHYS 202 |
| Psychology | 3 | PSY 105 |
| Social/Cultural Anthropology | 3 | AN 204 |
| Spanish Language B | 3 | SP 102T |
| Spanish Language & Literature | 3 | SP 102T |
| Theatre | 3 | THT 111 |
*Students who accept this credit cannot then take MA 121-122 or MA 131. However, students who feel uncomfortable with their calculus background may opt to decline their IB calculus credit. It is noted in the catalog that no student may receive credit for both MA 121-122 and MA 131.
Revised July 2020
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Policy
CLEP may enable Carroll students to receive college credit for what they already know, to bypass introductory courses, or to fulfill Carroll College Core Curriculum or major and program requirements. Using CLEP credit to fulfill major and program requirements requires the approval of the department chairperson. Students will not receive credit for courses whose content is at a lower level than what they have already completed at Carroll College. See the Carroll College CLEP Policy
Questions?
We are happy to guide you through every step of the admission process. Contact your Admission Counselor or contact us at admission@carroll.edu, and we will make sure you get the information you need to make an informed college decision.