Niagara University is now Test Optional

At yesterday's press conference, Niagara University announced that their admissions office is now offering a test-optional policy. Current seniors who apply to NU may opt to submit or not submit their test scores. Students without test scores will be considered for admission on a holistic review based mainly on their cumulative grade point average, strength of curriculum, and level of engagement at school. 

After the press conference, I spoke with Niagara's president, Rev. James Maher, and with several members of their enrollment management and admissions staff about the new policy. One of their goals is to increase access to college. Niagara joins a growing trend in admissions: hundreds of colleges and universities nationally - including others locally - have gone test optional, challenging what President Maher calls "the overreliance on standardized testing as an admission criterion."

More details of the announcement are available at https://news.niagara.edu/niagara-university-to-implement-test-optional-admission-policy/