The University of New Mexico has announced that first-year applicants for the 2021-22 academic year will not be required to provide a standardized test score as part of their admission application. Other admission standards are not anticipated to change, only the standardized test score requirement.

Several factors played a part in the decision, but the inability of students to take the ACT or SAT standardized tests in the near future was the primary reason.

Vice President of Enrollment Management Dan García hopes this will streamline the application process, “In these challenging and unprecedented times, requiring 100 percent of applicants to provide scores creates a burdensome and unnecessary obligation,” he said. “We want to ensure our admittance process for future Lobos is still rigorous but appropriate for the current conditions.”

While standardized test results will not be required to complete an application file, it is recommended that students submit a standardized test score if possible. In some cases, scores can be helpful for purposes of satisfying alternative admission criteria and placement in academic courses. Additionally, standardized scores may be necessary for consideration for some scholarships.

Details about “test-optional admission” are available on the admissions website.