American Economic Review Vol. 115 No. 9 2025
Test-Optional Admissions
Abstract
Many US colleges now use test-optional admissions. A frequent claim is that by not seeing standardized test scores, a college can admit a student body it prefers, say, with more diversity. But how can observing less information improve decisions? This paper proposes that test-optional policies are a response to social pressure on admission decisions. We model a college that bears disutility when it makes admission decisions that “society” dislikes. Going test optional allows the college to reduce its “disagreement cost.” We analyze how missing scores are imputed and the consequences for the college, students, and society.
- DOI
- 10.1257/aer.20231407
- Volume
- 115
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3130-3170
- Language
- en
- Sources
- bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref