Impact of Optional

An increasing number of postsecondary institutions have introduced test-optional admissions policies primarily due to criticism of standardized admissions tests as potentially biased predictors of student success. However, the impact of the test-optional movement is largely unknown. This study uses a quasi-experimental design and repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to examine the effects of test-optional policy implementation on institutional desirability, admissions selectivity, and the racial and socioeconomic diversity of the student body. Findings demonstrate that test-optional policy implementation results in enhanced institutional desirability (i.e., increased applications received) and socioeconomic diversity (i.e., increased proportion of Pell Grant recipients).