Yes, Loyola Marymount University is test optional. You can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores, and LMU states that no applicant will be disadvantaged for choosing not to send them. This applies to first-year applicants across all programs.
How the Test-Optional Policy Works
LMU lists SAT and ACT scores as optional on its first-year application checklist. If you choose not to submit scores, admissions reviewers evaluate your application based on the remaining components: your GPA, the rigor of your high school coursework, your essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. You do not need to submit a waiver or provide an explanation for withholding scores.
If you do have scores you’re proud of, you can still include them. Submitting strong scores can add another data point in your favor, but the university has made clear that applicants who skip scores are reviewed on equal footing.
Test Scores and Merit Scholarships
One common concern with test-optional schools is whether skipping scores hurts your chances for merit aid. At LMU, scholarship selection is based on academic accomplishment, which may include GPA, rigor of your college prep curriculum, class standing, or standardized test scores. The key detail: LMU explicitly states that “no student will be disenfranchised for not submitting standardized test scores.” In other words, you remain fully eligible for merit scholarships whether or not you send an SAT or ACT score.
That said, a high score could strengthen a borderline scholarship case. If your scores fall within or above LMU’s middle 50% range (1280 to 1400 on the SAT, 28 to 32 on the ACT), submitting them gives the scholarship committee one more reason to say yes. If your scores fall below that range, leaving them off is unlikely to hurt you and keeps the focus on the parts of your application where you’re strongest.
When You Still Need Test Scores
The SAT and ACT are optional, but international applicants whose native language is not English face a separate testing requirement. If you did not complete high school or a college degree in the United States or another country where English is the primary language, you need to submit one of the following English proficiency scores:
- TOEFL (iBT): 100 or above for exams taken before January 21, 2026, or 5 or above on the new scoring scale for exams taken on or after that date
- IELTS: 7.0 or above
- Duolingo English Test: 130 or above
These English proficiency exams are not the same as the SAT or ACT and are not optional for students who meet the criteria above. LMU’s school code for sending test scores is 4403.
Should You Submit Scores Anyway?
The decision comes down to whether your scores strengthen or weaken your overall application. A simple rule of thumb: if your SAT score is at or above 1280, or your ACT composite is at or above 28, your scores land within the range of recently admitted students and are worth submitting. Scores well above those marks can reinforce a strong academic profile.
If your scores fall noticeably below those benchmarks, you’re better off letting your GPA, course rigor, and essays carry the weight. Test-optional policies exist precisely for this situation, and LMU’s language makes clear that withholding scores will not count against you in admissions or scholarship decisions.