Can you get merit scholarships without SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, some colleges consider students for merit scholarships without SAT or ACT scores. You still need to check the specific award. A test-optional admissions policy does not settle every scholarship's requirements.
Start by separating three possibilities: scores are required, scores are optional, or scores are not considered. Those lead to different application decisions.
Read the scholarship wording, not just the admissions headline
'Test optional' generally gives an applicant a choice within the process being described. The important question is which process. An admissions page may not cover an honors scholarship, a department award or a separate competition.
Northern Illinois University explicitly says it does not consider ACT or SAT scores for general admission or merit scholarships. The same page notes that certain other competitive scholarships may require scores. Even a clear university policy can have a narrower scope than the phrase 'all scholarships.'
Make a note for each award: required, optional, not considered or unclear. Resolve 'unclear' with the scholarship office before choosing a submission strategy.
Search for the actual no-score route
Search the college's name with 'merit scholarships' and 'test scores,' then read the official award page for your entering class. Look at academic awards and separately listed competitive programs. A GPA-based route may sit beside an award that uses testing.
Outside scholarships have their own rules too. Horatio Alger's undergraduate FAQ says it does not require a minimum SAT or ACT score. Its other academic, financial and program requirements still apply. A no-score policy is one eligibility answer, not the whole application.
Keep English-language proficiency requirements separate if they apply to you. A scholarship's SAT or ACT policy does not answer which other documents an international applicant needs for admission.
If scores are optional, ask what submitting them changes
There is no useful universal rule that every student should submit or withhold a particular score. Ask whether scores affect eligibility, an award tier, competitive review or none of those. Use the college's published process and your own record.
Here is a question you can adapt: 'I am applying for [entry term] and want to be considered for [award]. Can I receive full consideration without SAT or ACT scores? Are there other merit awards at your college that require them?'
If you plan to test again, check the last accepted test date and the deadline for official reports. A later test cannot help with an earlier deadline unless the provider says it will accept it.
Keep the rest of the application specific
Report your coursework and GPA accurately, describe activities with concrete detail and complete the required responses. If scores are optional, you do not need to add an apology for leaving them out. Answer any requested question about testing or academic circumstances directly.
A transcript, recommendation or separate scholarship essay can still be required. Use the application checklist to confirm receipt of each item.
When comparing colleges, label the scholarship as confirmed only when you have the award decision. Being eligible without a test score is useful, but it does not by itself tell you what the college will cost.