How D3 sports recruits should decide what to do with their ACT & SAT scores
In this post, we’re getting you ready for admissions season with guidance on when recruits should submit their standardized test scores - and when they should go test-optional (if it is allowed).
We’ll cover common mistakes to avoid, plus real examples from D3 schools where test scores can unlock lower overall cost of tuition.
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How do D3’s like Carroll University value test scores?
Do D3 Schools Require SAT or ACT Scores?
There is no NCAA test-score requirement across the board for D3 athletes.
Each college or university sets its own admissions policy, which means your application list will likely include a mix of:
Test-optional schools, which admit students with or without scores
Test-required schools, which have reinstated a score requirement. MIT, which competes in the D3 NEWMAC league, is a well-known example.
Test-flexible schools, which accept other evidence in place of scores
Policies have changed several times in recent years and continue to shift, so always check each school’s current admissions page or the common app before you make a call.
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When should a D3 Recruit Submit Test Scores?
Submitting usually makes sense in these situations:
Your score is at or above the school’s median. If your score is in the middle 50% of admitted students or higher, it adds to your application instead of raising questions. Note: To find a school’s median score use Google or ask your favorite AI tool for help finding where you land.
Your score clears a merit scholarship threshold. Many D3 schools tie merit awards directly to a GPA and test score combination. If you’re above the line, the score can increase your aid offer.
Your GPA needs support. A strong score can offset a lower GPA, an unusual transcript, or a school that doesn’t report class rank.
You’re submitting a pre-read. Most of these are done now, but if you’re asking a coach to get an admissions read on you, a strong score gives the admissions office one more data point to work with.
The school requires it. If a school is test-required, applying without a score isn’t an option - you just have to submit.
When should a D3 Recruit Apply Test-Optional?
Going test-optional is usually the better choice in the following situations:
Your score is below the school’s 25th percentile, and your grades and course rigor are strong. A low score can pull down an otherwise solid file.
You can’t reach a scholarship threshold anyway, so a score wouldn’t change your aid.
Your score doesn’t reflect your performance, for example, a student with a very strong transcript and a one-off bad test day, where retaking isn’t realistic prior to submitting your application.
The school states that test-optional applicants get equal consideration for admission and merit aid. BUT - always confirm this in writing or take a screenshot of the school’s website before relying on hearsay.
Real D3 Examples Where Test Scores Unlock Aid
Here is how test scores connect to merit aid at several D3 schools, based on information in D3Direct’s school research.
Note: Award amounts and thresholds change from year to year, so always confirm current figures with each school before you apply.
Wittenberg College (Springfield, OH) - Awards range from $25,000–$32,000 annually. Here’s the description from their website:
Scholarships at Wittenberg College.
Carroll University (Waukesha, WI) - Combining GPA and submitted SAT/ACT scores gives you more leeway with GPA to qualify for automatic merit scholarships.
Carroll University’s Merit Scholarships.
Texas Lutheran University (Seguin, TX) - Merit scholarships range from $18k - 28k for first-year students. These are renewable
What this means in practice: A student applying to TLU with a 28 ACT who stays test-optional could miss out on a $2k award that is tied directly to that score.
At Carroll and Wittenberg, you can qualify for more merit aid than your GPA alone may unlock. In both cases, the decision to submit your test scores isn’t just about admissions. It can lower your net price of attending college by tens of thousands of dollars over four years.
How to Decide School by School
Use this process for each school on your list:
Find the school’s middle 50% score range for admitted students (usually on the admissions or Common Data Set page).
Compare your score to that range. At or above the middle, submit. Below the 25th percentile, consider test-optional.
Check the merit aid page for GPA and test-score thresholds. If your score clears one, submit.
Ask the coach and the admissions office. Coaches know how scores are viewed at their school and can tell you whether a score will help or hurt your pre-read.
Compare your net price under both scenarios, with and without scores, using each school’s net price calculator when possible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming “test-optional” means scores don’t matter for aid. Some schools consider scores for merit scholarships even when they aren’t needed for admission.
Submitting the same way everywhere. A score that helps at one school can hurt at another.
Waiting to ask about aid thresholds. If your target schools tie money to scores, you may want to retake the test before application deadlines.
Skipping the coach conversation. A recruit’s score often comes up during the pre-read. Be upfront about where you stand.
In Summary
Quick answer: Submit your SAT or ACT score to a Division III (D3) school if it is at or above the school’s middle range of admitted students, or if it clears a merit scholarship threshold like the ones at the three schools above.
Apply test-optional if your score falls below that range and the rest of your application (GPA, course rigor, essays, coach support) is strong. At some D3 schools, a qualifying score is what unlocks thousands of dollars in merit aid, so “optional” doesn’t always mean “no effect.”
D3 schools can’t offer athletic scholarships, so merit aid and need-based aid pay for most D3 athletes’ college costs. That makes the test-score decision a financial one as well as an admissions one. The right answer is different for each school on your list.
Need Help Building Your D3 List and Application Strategy?
Whether to submit scores is one of many decisions that affect your D3 admission odds and your final cost. D3Direct helps high school athletes and their families navigate NCAA Division III recruiting, admissions, and financial aid, including which schools to apply to and when to submit scores.
Note: Test policies, score thresholds, and scholarship amounts change each admissions cycle. Always confirm current details on each school’s admissions and financial aid pages before applying.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I submit my test scores to a D3 school? Submit them if your score is at or above the school’s median or clears a merit aid threshold. Apply test-optional if your score is below the school’s 25th percentile and the rest of your application is strong.
Does the NCAA require test scores for D3 athletes? No. D3 schools set their own admissions requirements, so the decision depends on each school’s policy.
Will submitting a low score hurt my chances? It can, especially if it falls below a school’s 25th percentile. If the rest of your application is strong, applying test-optional may be the better choice.
Should I retake the SAT or ACT if my score is close to a scholarship cutoff? Often, yes. A few points can move you into a higher merit tier at schools that use thresholds, so it’s worth comparing the potential aid to the cost of retaking.
Can a coach help me decide whether to submit scores? Yes. Coaches can tell you how scores are viewed in the pre-read and admissions process at their school.